Vertigo is a symptom that causes a person to feel like they or their surroundings are moving, even when they are not. It is often described as a spinning or swaying sensation and can make it difficult to balance. Vertigo can last from a few seconds to days and can be constant or sporadic.

Dizziness is a broader term that includes a general feeling of being off-balance, unsteady, lightheaded, feeling faint, or having difficulty with movement or walking.

Common diagnoses applied to people with these symptoms can include:

• Vestibular Migraine which consists of episodes of vertigo and other vestibular symptoms associated with migraine features such as headache, nausea, or visual disturbances.

• Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD) is a chronic disorder characterized by non-spinning dizziness and unsteadiness that persists for three months or more.

• Mal de Débarquement Syndrome (MdDS) is a rare disorder characterized by a persistent sensation of motion, typically described as rocking, swaying, or bobbing. Often begins after disembarking from a boat, plane, or other transportation.

Vertigo and dizziness can be caused by organ disease or structural damage. If medical evaluations do not identify any disease or injury, or if treatments fail to provide expected improvement, it is likely that the brain plays a role in generating or contributing to the pain or illness. This is called a neuroplastic symptom.