Vertigo is a false sensation of motion or spinning that leads to dizziness and discomfort.

Vertigo is not the same sensation as light-headedness. People with this condition feel as though they are actually spinning or moving, or that the environment itself is spinning.

There are two types of vertigo: peripheral and central. Peripheral vertigo occurs if there is a problem in the vestibular labyrinth (semicircular canals), the portion of the inner ear that controls balance. Central vertigo occurs if there is a an abnormality in the brain, particularly in the brainstem or the cerebellum (back part of the brain).

Disorders associated with peripheral vertigo include the following:

• Benign positional vertigo
• Meniere's disease
• Labyrinthitis (sometimes causes vertigo)
• Trauma

Disorders associated with central vertigo include the following:

• Stroke (most common)
• Multiple sclerosis
• Tumor
• Infection (abscess)
• Inflammatory conditions
• Neurodegenerative illnesses that affect the brain stem or cerebellum