Vertigo often misunderstood despite affecting millions of Australians
Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 10 Oct, 00:55 · Archive
Vertigo, often mistaken for dizziness, creates the false sensation of movement and can be instantly debilitating.
Vertigo is often mistaken for a minor spell of dizziness, but the condition is far more disruptive than that. It creates the false sensation that a person or their surroundings are moving when they are not, and can bring on nausea, imbalance and a loss of confidence that lingers long after the spinning stops.
One of the most common forms is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, or BPPV, according to guidance published by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. It happens when tiny crystals in the inner ear become dislodged and move into the wrong part of the balance system, often triggering spinning sensations when a person rolls over in bed, looks up or bends down.
Sunshine Coast grandmother Megan Bennett has lived with vertigo for more than 15 years. She described an attack as 'instantly debilitating'. 'I go to sleep like any other night for months and months but can then be woken during the wee small hours when turning over, the world spinning uncontrollably,' she said. Bennett first experienced vertigo in her mid-40s and recognised it immediately because her mother had also lived with it from time to time.
How it is being reported
- Vertigo in Australia: Why one common condition is often misunderstood and dismissedFor many Aussies, a simple movement can suddenly leave the world spinning, the body struggling to stay upright and even the most ordinary moment turning into something frightening.The West Australian · 10 Oct, 00:41
- Vertigo in Australia: Why one common condition is often misunderstood and dismissedFor many Aussies, a simple movement can suddenly leave the world spinning, the body struggling to stay upright and even the most ordinary moment turning into something frightening.Perth Now · 10 Oct, 00:41
In this story: Megan Bennett · Royal Australian College of General Practitioners · Sunshine Coast · Australia
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