Hearing often is acutely affected as well. Vestibular retraining attempts to reset the vestibular apparatus of the body. Central vertigo also is problematic. Caused by damage to the eighth cranial nerve and pathways that travel through the cerebellum and brainstem, central vertigo usually is the result of either hypoxia, a vascular condition such as stroke, or traumatic brain injury. Persistent dizziness, nausea, vomiting and associated disability may occur.
Recovery can take up to six months.
Faintness and syncope can be attributed to cardiac or noncardiac disorders. Cardiac disorders include infarction or heart attack, congestive heart failure, valvular disease, pericardial tamponade and congenital heart disease. These can cause fainting from reduced cardiac output and decreased blood flow to the brain. Cardiac arrhythmias and pacemaker malfunctions also can contribute to these symptoms. Various interventions help treat these conditions, including pharmacologic agents to improve cardiac output and reduce afterload pressures on the heart, blood thinners to maximize cerebral perfusion, and electrophysiologic assessment of arrhythmias to guide placement of appropriate pacemakers or anti-arrhythmic medications.