Vertigo natural history, complications and prognosis

If left untreated vertigo can affect quality of life and could a symptom of a more serious underlying cause. Common complications include mood instability, falls. Prognosis depends upon the etiology.

• If left untreated persistent or permanent vertigo can lead to depression, falls, dependency, decreased physical activity, social and work limitations.^[1]
• It can be detrimental if the symptom is not evaluated for an underlying cause as some causes of vertigo can be fatal: brainstem stroke, cerebellopontine angle tumor, hypertensive crisis, drug overdose, cerebellar hemorrhage.

• Complications include:
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Difficulty performing daily tasks
  • Diminished quality of life
  • Impaired balance and coordination
  • Falls

• Prognosis of vertigo depends upon treating the underlying cause. However, vertigo due to a tumor has a poor prognosis compared to other causes of vertigo.

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