Definition
Rotational vertigo is a very common and unspecific symptom that can be traced back to numerous diseases. In most cases, the vertigo is harmless, only very rarely there are diseases behind it, which make treatment necessary. Rotational vertigo describes, as the name suggests, a symptom in which the affected person feels a sense of rotation with a tendency to fall.
Particularly when lying down and at night, the symptom can be very unpleasant and prevent the affected person from sleeping. Occasionally, the rotation dizziness is so severe when lying down that the affected persons have to get up and walk around. If the dizziness persists over a longer period of time, there may be diseases behind it that require medical clarification.
Causes
There are many causes of rotational vertigo. The harmless and uncomplicated causes are much more common than rare and dangerous diseases. Most people suffer from a slight dizziness every now and then, which is often due to fluctuations in blood pressure.
A low blood pressure can lead to slight oxygen deficiency in the brain, which can cause the dizziness to the point of fainting. A pathologically elevated blood pressure can also trigger a form of dizziness. In addition to fluctuations in blood pressure, anemia or cardiac dysfunction can also be present, which can lead to fluctuations in the cardiovascular system and temporary reduced supply to the brain.
Furthermore, numerous metabolic or hormonal disorders can cause blood pressure fluctuations and dizziness. These include the intake of drugs or toxins such as alcohol and coffee, as well as diseases such as diabetes mellitus and arteriosclerosis or pregnancy. A frequent muscular cause of dizziness symptoms is the cervical spine syndrome.
This is a frequently chronic pain in the area of the cervical spine that leads to muscular tension, which in turn can cause neurological symptoms such as rotational vertigo when lying down. Rare causes of rotational vertigo lie in the organ of equilibrium. This is located on both sides of the ears and consists of a complex system for maintaining balance.
Diseases that disturb the organ and can cause vertigo are “benign positional vertigo“, an inflammation of the vestibular nerve, “Meniere’s disease” or “acoustic neuroma“. These are rare causes of rotational vertigo that require treatment. The consumption of alcohol can cause acute spinning dizziness while lying down.
Especially young people and occasional drinkers are affected by this symptom. The alcohol unfolds its effect in many areas of the brain, whereby depending on the amount drunk, a sometimes strong disturbance of balance occurs. When lying down, the balance disturbance manifests itself as rotational vertigo, often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
The only thing that is effective against vertigo is a reduction in the alcohol level. Even walking around for a short time, sitting up in bed or putting your feet on the floor can restore your sense of balance for a short time. The cervical spine syndrome is a pain syndrome of the cervical spine that can be attributed to several factors.
It is often based on muscular tension in the muscles of the cervical spine, which can result from poor posture, monotonous activities, but also trauma in sports and after exertion. Vertebral body blockages can also occur due to muscular tension. The cervical spine syndrome can lead to neurological symptoms with headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and fainting.
