What does vertigo describe?

Vertigo is specifically characterized as a sensation of spinning or dizziness, often described as the feeling that either the person or the environment around them is in motion, commonly referred to as the room spinning. This distinction is crucial, as vertigo is a specific type of dizziness that stems from issues typically related to the inner ear or central nervous system.

While fainting, loss of balance, and intense headaches can be related symptoms or result from other medical conditions, they do not define vertigo. Vertigo focuses on the perception of movement, rather than on fainting or general disorientation, making it a unique clinical symptom that specifically indicates a disturbance in balance and spatial orientation.