Vertigo – Symptoms, Myths, Causes, and Disability Benefits

 

Vertigo is a highly prevalent and often misunderstood balance disorder that affects millions of people around the world. Studies show that up to 20–56% of adults report these symptoms at some point in their lives.

40% of the 2,672 respondents to a large survey reported experiencing vertigo at least once.

This article not only explores the common myths about vertigo but also addresses questions like:

Is vertigo a disability?

Can you get SSI for vertigo?

What is Vertigo?

Basically, vertigo is the sensation that the world around you is spinning or swaying even though it is not. It can often be associated with vomiting, nausea, sweating, or difficulty walking. Dizziness, a common symptom, may worsen when you move or slightly tilt your head.

Is vertigo a serious medical condition?

It depends on the underlying cause. Mild or occasional vertigo can occur due to benign conditions such as Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). It is uncomfortable but not dangerous.

Persistent or severe vertigo is linked to serious medical issues such as stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), brain tumor, inner ear infections or disorders, or neurological disorders affecting balance.

Vertigo Severity Spectrum

Severity Level	Symptoms
Mild	Short duration Nausea (without vomiting)
Moderate	Need to lie down to relieve vertigo Occasional vomiting Mostly able to keep fluids down
Serious	Dizziness persists even when lying down Severe vomiting Unable to keep fluids down

What are Vertigo Symptoms?

The most common symptoms of vertigo include:

• Spinning or rotating sensation (you or your surroundings feel like they’re moving)
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Loss of balance or unsteadiness, especially while walking
• Nausea and vomiting
• Sweating
• Headache
• Fatigue or weakness
• Motion sensitivity (symptoms worsen with head movement)

The dizziness can last for a few seconds or even days, and it may recur.

According to the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, the elderly are three times more likely to suffer vestibular vertigo than other age groups.

What Are Myths About Vertigo?

Here are some of the more common myths you may have heard about the condition:

Myth 1: Vertigo Is the Fear of Heights

The fear of heights is called “acrophobia.”

Vertigo, on the other hand, is not a fear but a medical symptom. It is an illusion of movement that makes the room seem to spin. You can also feel like you are spinning.

• If you think that your surroundings are moving, this is called objective vertigo.
• If you feel yourself moving, this is called subjective vertigo.

It can happen at any time and not just at high altitudes.

Myth 2: Vertigo is a Medical Condition

It is more of a symptom than an actual condition. You may have trouble noticing this feeling, or you may find it challenging to complete daily tasks. Episodes of vertigo may last only a few seconds and appear suddenly, or they may last for much longer.

Sometimes symptoms can last for several days. You may have difficulty in walking, feel dizzy, and have nausea and vomiting. You may be missing work due to vertigo.

Vertigo is often caused by a more severe underlying medical condition, usually a problem in the inner ear or a brain injury. Most of the time, vertigo is short-lived and harmless, but chronic vertigo can cause severe limitations.

Myth 3: Lightheadedness and Vertigo are the Same Things

Lightheadedness is entirely different from vertigo, although you can experience both at the same time. It can make you feel like you are about to pass out, but this feeling may subside if you lie down.

Even if you feel dizzy, you may not feel as though your surroundings are moving. Vertigo can make you or your surroundings feel as if you are spinning, flipping, falling, or losing your balance. It can be caused by allergies, anxiety, illness, medications, and other factors.

The symptoms can vary from person to person. But, if you are over the age of 50 and thinking of filing a claim, you should proceed according to the disability Rule after 50.

Is Vertigo a Disability?

Depending on the severity of your condition, you may not be able to perform normal daily activities or earn a living. Your symptoms and illness can be so severe that they change the course of your life by interfering with your daily life and ability to work. In short, if your vertigo is severe, it can make you disabled.

You should see a doctor to evaluate symptoms of vertigo and determine what the underlying cause might be. Many cases are harmless, but you should consider seeking a doctor’s advice as a precaution. You may need to take some prescribed medicines to help you.

If you also have double vision, headache, weakness, difficulty speaking, abnormal eye movements, and difficulty walking, you need to see a doctor sooner rather than later. Depending on the diagnosis, your vertigo treatment may include:

• An intravenous injection, patch, or oral medication
• Antibiotics
• A low salt diet, especially important for people with Ménière’s disease
• Surgery
• An appointment with an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist
• Transdermal Scope
• Other drugs are available, but it depends on your diagnosis

You should always schedule follow-up appointments if you have been diagnosed with vertigo to make sure your condition improves with treatment.

What Causes Vertigo?

The following are the common causes of vertigo:

Infection

A viral infection of the vestibular nerve, called vestibular neuritis, can lead to vertigo. If the inner ear is affected and you experience sudden hearing loss, the condition may be labyrinthitis.

Poor Blood Circulation

Conditions such as transient ischemic attack, cardiomyopathy, heart attack, and heart arrhythmia can cause dizziness. Any decrease in the blood volume can cause inadequate blood flow to your brain or inner ear.

Meniere’s Disease

The disease involves an excessive buildup of fluid in the inner ear. It is characterized by sudden symptoms of vertigo that last for several hours. You may also experience fluctuating hearing loss, a feeling of a plugged ear, and ringing in the ears.

Drop in Blood Pressure

A sudden drop in systolic blood pressure can cause a feeling of faintness or lightheadedness. It can occur after sitting or standing up quickly. The condition is also termed orthostatic hypotension.

Types of Vertigo

The following table shows the four types of vertigo:

Type	Origin/Cause	Symptoms
Peripheral Vertigo	Inner ear or vestibular nerve BPPV Ménière’s disease Vestibular neuritis / labyrinthitis	Sudden onset Triggered by head movements Nausea and vomiting Imbalance Usually short-lived
Central Vertigo	Brainstem or cerebellum Stroke or TIA Brain tumors Multiple sclerosis	Gradual or sudden onset Less intense spinning than peripheral vertigo Neurological symptoms (double vision, slurred speech, weakness)
Positional Vertigo	Inner ear crystals (otoconia) shifting abnormally Often BPPV	Triggered by specific head positions (turning in bed, looking up) Short episodes lasting seconds to a minute
Vestibular Migraine	Migraine affecting the vestibular system	Vertigo with or without headache Can last minutes to hours Light sensitivity, nausea, motion sensitivity

How to Get Disability Benefits for Vertigo?

People with vertigo, especially severe vertigo, often ask this one question:  

Does vertigo qualify for Social Security disability?

To successfully get vertigo disability benefits, you must pass a comprehensive medical examination with a neuro-otolaryngologist (ENT specialist). Your doctor should provide detailed information about your vertigo: 

• How often do you have dizzy spells
• How long do they last
• How severe your spells are
• How dizziness prevents you from working and participating in activities

You should keep a diary of your vertigo symptoms for several months. To indicate you have vertigo, you must present the results of several hearing tests. These should include:

Hearing Test	Purpose
Directional Audiometry	Assesses ability to localize sound sources in space
Békésy Audiometry	An audiometric test in which the subject monitors the duration of a tone
Speech Audiometry	1.8076Tests speech hearing and word recognition
Vestibular Function Test	Examines the inner ear to assess balance and vestibular function

 

For most people who experience repeat or ongoing dizziness, vertigo is not severe and responds well to treatment. A person may be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) from the Social Security Administration (SSA) due to disability for vertigo if their condition is severe and does not respond to treatment.

Things to Keep in Mind

Vertigo Has Nothing to do With the Ear

Usually, dizziness is caused by an inner-ear imbalance. It can also involve the brain, but an imbalance in the ear is the most common reason for vertigo symptoms. You may feel dizzy due to conditions such as:

• Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
• Ménière’s disease
• Migraines
• Vestibular neuritis

These are all ear-related conditions. Other symptoms accompanying these conditions may include hearing loss, tinnitus, and a high temperature.

You Cannot Use Home Remedies to Help Vertigo

Getting medical treatment is not the only option. You can also use home remedies to improve the condition once you have been diagnosed. There are several natural vertigo home remedies that can help you relieve dizziness, including:

• Vitamin D supplements
• Herbal remedies like ginger root
• Acupuncture
• Drinking plenty of water

Always consult a medical professional before attempting home remedies. In addition to home remedies, there are several things you can do in your daily life to reduce your risk of dizziness and its consequences. These include:

• Exercises to relieve your symptoms
• Sleeping with head slightly elevated
• Being extra careful on stairs and escalators
• Standing up slowly
• Avoiding bending over to pick up objects
• Moving head carefully
• Following the physician-prescribed physical therapy

Symptoms should subside automatically over time, but they do not always, in spite of precautionary measures and treatment.

The question is: Can you continue to maintain a full-time job despite experiencing symptoms from vertigo or side effects of medications?

If you are unable to continue working, you should consider filing a claim with the help of an experienced disability lawyer in Florida.

They will take the best steps to win vertigo disability benefits so that you can concentrate on your health without worrying about the legal process.

FAQs

Is vertigo a disability?

Vertigo can be considered a disability if it has a long-term and substantial effect on daily activities.

What should vertigo patients avoid?

If you are suffering from vertigo, then you should avoid head movements, high-risk activities, alcohol, caffeine, stress, and sleep deprivation.

How long does vertigo last?

The duration of vertigo depends on its cause:

• BPPV – lasts seconds to minutes
• Vestibular Neuritis – hours to days
• Ménière’s disease – minutes to hours

What can worsen vertigo?

Sudden movements, bright or flashing lights, stress, certain medications, and dehydration can worsen vertigo.

What helps with vertigo immediately?

Sitting or lying down, focusing on a fixed point, resting, hydration, BPPV maneuvers, or motion sickness medication can help.

Is vertigo a permanent condition?

Vertigo is mostly temporary. However, depending on the underlying condition, vertigo can be a chronic illness.

Can vertigo stop you from working?

Severe or recurring vertigo can limit work, especially tasks involving driving, standing, or balance.