Vertigo is not a condition as such, but a symptom of other conditions that affect areas involved in regulating balance and space awareness in the inner ear (peripheral vertigo) or in specific parts of the brain (central vertigo).[1] People affected often describe it as a spinning sensation of various intensities, which can start suddenly and last a few seconds, days, or longer. The term vertigo is often misused to describe the fear of heights, but the fear of heights, which is known as “acrophobia”, is actually unrelated to vertigo.
What is vertigo?
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•Last Updated: May 16, 2025
Vertigo is a symptom rather than a standalone condition and results from issues in the inner ear or brain that affect balance and spatial awareness. It is often described as a spinning sensation and is commonly confused with acrophobia, the fear of heights.