January 21, 2013 By Harvey B. Simon, M.D. Harvard Medical School
Feeling dizzy? If so, you're in good company. Nearly everyone
has felt dizzy at some time. It's an unsettling sensation when
it occurs unexpectedly, but can also have a certain appeal when
it's triggered by a carousel or roller coaster. Dizziness called
vertigo by doctors can indicate a serious illness that needs
prompt medical care. But in most people, dizziness is a mild
problem that goes away on its own. To know if your dizziness is
worrisome or not, you should understand the types of dizziness
and the major causes of this common complaint. Back to top What
is Vertigo? Some doctors go into a tailspin when their patients
complain of dizziness. That's because it means different things
to different people. In fact, people use the word to describe
several different sensations, including lightheadedness, near
fainting and loss of equilibrium. But when doctors diagnose
dizziness, they are speaking of vertigo. Vertigo is also a word
with many meanin