Vertigo episodes can vary widely in duration depending on the underlying cause. Generally, a vertigo attack can last from a few seconds to several minutes or hours. In some cases, particularly with severe vertigo, symptoms may persist for several days or even months

. Duration by common causes:

• Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV): Episodes typically last less than a minute, often around 20 to 40 seconds, but may recur frequently

• Ménière’s disease: Vertigo episodes can last several hours to days, often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and hearing symptoms

• Inner ear infections or inflammation (e.g., labyrinthitis, vestibular neuritis): Vertigo may last until inflammation subsides, which can be days to weeks

• Stroke or head injury: Vertigo may become chronic or long-lasting in some cases

Most vertigo improves without treatment, but if symptoms persist, recur frequently, or severely impact daily life, medical evaluation is recommended

. Managing vertigo often involves specific exercises, medication, or treating the underlying condition. In summary, vertigo can last from seconds to minutes in mild cases, but severe or underlying conditions may cause symptoms to last for days, weeks, or longer