While vertigo itself does not cause seizures, both sensations can arise as symptoms of underlying neurological or medical conditions. These occurrences often point to a shared origin within the brain or nervous system, rather than one directly triggering the other.
Understanding Vertigo
Vertigo is a sensation of spinning, swaying, or tilting, where an individual feels as though they or their surroundings are moving when they are not. This is distinct from general dizziness, which might feel like lightheadedness or unsteadiness. Vertigo symptoms can range from barely noticeable to severe, potentially making daily tasks challenging. The spinning sensation often leads to nausea and vomiting.
Vertigo stems from issues within the balance-controlling parts of the inner ear or from problems in the brain. Common inner ear causes, known as peripheral vertigo, include Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), where dislodged inner ear crystals create false signals with head movements. Other peripheral causes are Meniere’s disease, involving fluid buildup in the inner ear, and labyrinthitis or vestibular neuritis, which are infections or inflammations of the inner ear or vestibular nerve. Central vertigo, originating in the brain, can be caused by conditions like stroke, brain tumors, multiple sclerosis, or certain medications.
Understanding Seizures
A seizure is an uncontrolled disturbance in the brain’s electrical activity, leading to temporary changes in awareness, muscle control, behavior, or sensations. Brain cells, or neurons, fire signals uncontrollably, overloading affected brain areas. Seizures are not always characterized by convulsions; they can manifest in various ways depending on which part of the brain is affected.
Seizures are broadly categorized into generalized seizures, where abnormal electrical activity begins on both sides of the brain simultaneously, and focal seizures, which start in one specific brain region. Generalized types include absence seizures, causing a blank stare, or tonic-clonic seizures, involving full-body shaking and loss of consciousness. Focal seizures can cause altered behaviors or movements, sometimes without affecting awareness. Common causes of seizures include epilepsy, head injuries, strokes, brain tumors, infections, and metabolic imbalances, though the cause remains unknown in about half of all cases.
The Relationship Between Vertigo and Seizures
Certain types of migraines, such as vestibular migraine, can present with vertigo and sometimes a seizure as a complication, though this is rare. In some cases, vertigo can be an “aura” or a pre-seizure symptom in rare forms of epilepsy. Abnormal electrical activity in the temporal or parietal lobes of the brain can cause a spinning sensation as part of the seizure manifestation. Brain tumors or strokes affecting specific brain regions that control balance can also lead to both vertigo and seizures. Symptoms of vertigo or disorientation can sometimes be mistaken for seizures, or vice versa, requiring thorough evaluation.
When to Seek Professional Medical Advice
Individuals experiencing vertigo, especially if it is recurrent, persistent, or accompanied by other concerning symptoms, should seek medical attention. If vertigo occurs suddenly or severely, or if it disrupts daily life, a healthcare professional should be consulted for a proper diagnosis. This is particularly true if there is no clear cause.
Immediate medical care is advised if vertigo is accompanied by symptoms such as a sudden, severe headache, weakness or numbness in the limbs or face, difficulty speaking, changes in vision (like double vision), confusion, or any suspected seizure activity. These additional symptoms can indicate a more serious underlying neurological issue, such as a stroke or brain tumor, requiring urgent evaluation.