What is the difference between vertigo and dizziness?

Dizziness is a broad term covering several different sensations, including feeling faint, light-headed, woozy, or unsteady. Vertigo is more specific: the definite illusion that you or your surroundings are spinning, tilting, or moving when they are not. The distinction matters because the causes differ — feeling faint on standing often points to blood pressure or the heart, whereas true spinning usually points to the inner ear or, less often, the brain. Describing exactly what you feel, in your own words, helps your doctor go down the right path from the start.

Can BPPV be cured in one appointment?

Often, yes. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is caused by tiny crystals that have moved into the wrong part of the inner ear, and a repositioning manoeuvre such as the Epley guides them back through a specific sequence of head movements. Many people notice a substantial improvement immediately or within a day or two, and one or two treatments resolve most cases. It can recur later, and some people are taught exercises to do at home. Because the manoeuvre depends on identifying which ear and canal is involved, an accurate description of your triggers really does help.

When is vertigo a sign of something serious?

Most vertigo comes from the inner ear and is not dangerous, but certain accompanying features suggest a problem in the brain and need emergency assessment. These include new weakness or numbness, slurred speech, double vision or loss of vision, severe unsteadiness where you cannot walk, a sudden severe headache, or sudden hearing loss in one ear. Vertigo that begins after a head injury also needs prompt review. If any of these are present, go to an emergency department rather than waiting for a routine appointment.

Why do I get dizzy when I roll over in bed?

Vertigo triggered specifically by changing head position — rolling over, lying down, sitting up, or tipping your head back — is the classic pattern of BPPV. The episodes are typically brief, lasting seconds to a minute, intense while they last, and often accompanied by nausea. Between episodes you usually feel normal, though some people feel generally off-balance. This positional trigger is such a distinctive pattern that it strongly points to the inner ear rather than another cause, and it is the pattern most likely to respond to a repositioning manoeuvre.

Preparing for Appointments with Vertigo

Quick answer: Vertigo is the false sensation that you or the world around you is spinning or tilting — it is a symptom, not a diagnosis, and it is different from feeling faint or light-headed. The most common cause is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), where brief, intense spinning is triggered by head movements such as rolling over in bed or looking up, and which can often be cured in a single appointment with a simple repositioning manoeuvre. Because the cause is worked out almost entirely from timing and triggers, the appointment hinges on your description: how long each episode lasts, what sets it off, and whether hearing is affected.

Vertigo is frightening out of proportion to how serious it usually is. The reassuring headline is that the commonest cause, BPPV, is both benign and often fixable on the spot with a manoeuvre that repositions displaced crystals in the inner ear. But the doctor can only get there if you can describe the episodes precisely — because duration and triggers are what separate BPPV from the other causes. This guide helps you capture those details before you go, and flags the warning signs that mean vertigo needs urgent rather than routine assessment.

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Duration and Triggers Are the Key Clues

Pattern	What it may suggest
Seconds to a minute, triggered by head position	BPPV — often treated with a repositioning manoeuvre
Hours, with hearing loss, ringing, and fullness	Ménière’s disease — needs specialist assessment
Days, constant, often after a viral illness	Vestibular neuritis or labyrinthitis
With slurred speech, double vision, weakness or severe headache	Red flag — seek emergency care immediately

Vertigo accompanied by new weakness, numbness, slurred speech, double vision, difficulty walking, or a sudden severe headache needs emergency assessment, as it can indicate a stroke. Sudden hearing loss with vertigo is also urgent. Ordinary positional vertigo, in contrast, is usually assessed by a GP, an ENT specialist, or an audiologist.

What to Track Before Your Appointment

How long an episode lasts: seconds, minutes, hours, or days — this is the single most useful detail
What triggers it: rolling over in bed, lying down, looking up, standing quickly, or nothing in particular
Hearing symptoms: hearing loss, ringing, or a feeling of fullness in one ear
Associated symptoms: nausea, headache, visual changes, or unsteadiness between attacks
Your medicines and history: some drugs cause dizziness. A appointment notebook with the date, duration, and trigger of each attack is far better than trying to recall it in the room

Assessment and Treatment

Assessment usually involves positional tests, in which your head is moved into specific positions to see whether the vertigo and characteristic eye movements can be reproduced, plus a neurological examination and sometimes a hearing test. For BPPV, a repositioning manoeuvre such as the Epley is often carried out in the same visit and frequently resolves it, sometimes immediately. Other causes are treated differently — vestibular rehabilitation exercises, medicines for a short period, or management of an underlying condition. Scans are not routinely needed unless red flags or unusual features are present.

Helpful for this appointment

appointment notebook — recording the duration and trigger of each attack is the most valuable single thing you can bring to a vertigo appointment
weekly pill organiser — an organiser helps if short-course anti-sickness or other medicines are prescribed

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Questions to Ask Your Doctor

What is causing my vertigo, based on the pattern I have described?
Can a repositioning manoeuvre be done today, and how likely is it to work?
Are there exercises I should do at home, and how often?
Is my hearing affected, and should it be tested?
Which symptoms would mean I need emergency care rather than a routine appointment?

Regional Notes

Singapore: Managed by GPs, ENT specialists, and audiologists; repositioning manoeuvres and vestibular rehabilitation are available at hospitals and clinics.

Australia: GP-led with ENT, audiology, or vestibular physiotherapy referral; many services attract a Medicare rebate.

United States: Managed by primary care, ENT, audiology, and vestibular physical therapy; coverage varies by plan.

KEY SOURCES

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Medical Disclaimer: This guide is for informational and preparation purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified medical professional for guidance specific to your situation.