Vertigo
Also called: dizziness and falls, BPPV
What it means
Vertigo is a false sense of spinning or movement, often caused by inner ear problems like BPPV, and it raises the risk of falls.
Vertigo can cause falls, and a fall is one of the most common ways people with weaker bones break a hip, wrist, or spine.
Vertigo is the sensation that you or your surroundings are spinning or moving when you're actually standing still. It's not a bone condition itself, but it matters a lot for bone health because it increases the chance of losing your balance and falling. One common cause is BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo), where tiny calcium crystals in the inner ear shift out of place, triggering brief spinning episodes with certain head movements.
For someone with osteopenia or osteoporosis, a fall caused by vertigo can lead to a fragility fracture, especially at the hip, wrist, or spine. This is why doctors take dizziness seriously in older adults, not just as an inner-ear nuisance but as a real fall risk factor. Other causes include low blood pressure changes (orthostatic hypotension), inner ear infections, migraines, certain medications, and vision or vestibular system problems.
If you experience vertigo, it's worth discussing with your doctor to find the cause and appropriate treatment, which may include specific repositioning maneuvers for BPPV, balance therapy, or medication review. Supervised balance training and addressing home safety hazards are often part of a broader plan to help manage fall risk while the underlying cause of vertigo is being treated.
Vertigo raises fall risk, and falls are a common way people with weaker bones break a hip, wrist, or spine.
Where this leads
WordVertigo often comes from inner ear problems that throw off balance. See how the vestibular system normally helps keep you steady.
Related words
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A falls history questionnaire is a simple set of questions doctors use to check how likely you are to fall, based on…
Fear of falling is ongoing worry or anxiety about losing your balance and falling, which can make people limit their…
Balance training is practice that improves your stability and coordination so you're less likely to fall — and falls…
The vestibular system is the part of your inner ear and brain that senses motion, head position, and balance. It…
Orthostatic hypotension is a sudden drop in blood pressure when you stand up, which can make you feel dizzy or…
Education only, not medical advice. Decisions about tests, medications and treatment belong with your own doctor. OsteoStrong does not diagnose, treat or cure any disease.
