A

Acne

Acne vulgaris, the most common type of acne, is a chronic inflammatory skin disease affecting hair follicles, and sebaceous glands and ducts. It occurs on the face in 99% of those affected and, less often, on the back and chest.(Layton 2010)

Allergic Rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis (perennial and seasonal) affects around 10-40% of the population worldwide, and can have a substantial health and economic impact on the community.(Sibbald 1991).

Anxiety

Accurate information about the incidence and prevalence of anxiety disorders is difficult to obtain; a survey by the Office of National Statistics (ONS 2000) found that 164 people per 1,000 had a neurotic disorder in the week before interview, which represents about 1 in 6 of all adults. They found that the most prevalent neurotic disorder among the population as a whole was mixed anxiety and depressive disorder (88 people per 1,000).

Arrhythmias and Heart Failure

A cardiac arrhythmia is a problem with the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat: the heart can beat too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia) or with an irregular rhythm (National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute 2014). Most arrhythmias are harmless, but some can be serious or even life threatening. During an arrhythmia, the heart may not be able to pump enough blood to the body, and result in a lack of blood flow to the brain, heart and other organs; arrhythmias increase mortality and diminish quality of life (National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute 2014).

Asthma

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways characterised by variable airflow obstruction and airway hyper-responsiveness, and the presence of symptoms (more than one of wheeze, breathlessness, chest tightness and cough) (British Thoracic Society 2012). Around 5.4 million people in the UK are currently treated for asthma – 4.3 million adults and 1.1 million children (Asthma UK). Up to 5% of adults with the condition have severe disease that responds poorly to treatment (Dennis 2008), while childhood asthma can be difficult to distinguish from viral wheeze (Keeley 2005).

B

Back Pain

Back pain can affect anyone at any age and most people will suffer from it at some point in their lives. It is the UK’s leading cause of disability and one of the main reasons for work-related sickness absence.

Bell’s Palsy

Each year in the UK, around 1 in 5,000 people develop Bell’s palsy, which is characterised by unilateral facial weakness of rapid onset (Rowlands 2002,Holland 2004). The condition can develop at any age, but seems to be most common in those aged between 15 and 60 years (Peitersen 1982).

C

Cancer Care

Cancer and the treatments for cancer are associated with various symptoms. Fatigue is the most common symptom reported by survivors of cancer (Johnston 2007). Forty percent of people with early or intermediate stage cancer, and 90% with advanced cancer, have moderate to severe pain; up to 70% of those with cancer pain do not receive adequate pain relief (Paley 2011).

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome comprises potentially disabling sensory and/or motor symptoms in the hand. Around 1 in 10 people develop carpal tunnel syndrome at some point, and it is particularly common in women (Hughes 2007), with one study in the UK indicating an incidence of 139.4 cases per 100,000 women per year and 67.2 cases per 100,000 men (Bland 2003). The condition carries considerable implications for employment and healthcare costs (Bland 2007).

Childbirth

Pregnancy is a physiological state, but even when a woman has an uncomplicated pregnancy she may suffer with back and pelvic pain, nausea, indigestion or emotional problems such as anxiety and depression.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is characterised by severe, disabling fatigue, and other symptoms such as musculoskeletal pain, sleep disturbance, impaired concentration and headaches (Reid 2007).

Chronic Pain

Persistent (chronic) pain is a widespread problem that affects around 8 million people of all ages in the UK (Chronic Pain Policy 2010). In 22% of cases, chronic pain leads to depression, and some 25% of those diagnosed with chronic pain go on to lose their jobs (Chronic Pain Policy 2010). In fact, around £3.8 billion a year is spent on incapacity benefit payments to those diagnosed with chronic pain (Chronic Pain Policy 2010).

Colds & Flu

Acute upper respiratory tract viral infections are the most commondiseases of human beings (Eccles 2005). Adults have two to five common coldseach year and school children have from seven to ten colds per year (Johnston1996).

COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is thought to be the fourth most common cause of death worldwide, and the World Health Organisation anticipates that by 2020 it will have become the third (WHO 2006). In 2004, 27,478 men and women living in the UK died of chronic obstructive lung disease; more than 90% of these deaths occurred in those aged over 65 years (BTS 2006).

Coronary Heart Disease

Coronary heart disease (sometimes called ischaemic heart disease) occurs when cholesterol builds up in the coronary arteries and atherosclerotic plaques form. Over time, this causes narrowing and hardening of the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart. Oxygen supply to the heart muscle is reduced and this can lead to angina pectoris (chest pain) and eventually myocardial infarction (heart attack) or heart failure.

Cystitis

Cystitis (inflammation of the bladder) is often due to a bacterial infection of the lower urinary tract. Each year, around 5% of women present to their GPs with typical symptoms of cystitis, such as pain when passing urine and urinary frequency, about half of whom are found to have a urinary tract infection (Hamilton-Miller 1994).

D

Dementia

An estimated 637,000 people in the UK have dementia syndrome and the annual cost of their care is £17 billion(Alzheimer’s Society 2007). Alzheimer’s disease is the commonest type of dementia (affecting around 60% of those with dementia), followed by vascular dementia (20–25%) and dementia with Lewy bodies (10–15%)(Overshott 2005; DTB 2003).

Dentistry

In 1998, 87% of people living in the UK had some natural teeth, while 13% had lost all their natural teeth (Kelly 1998). Those with teeth had an average of 1.5 decayed or unsound teeth. Indeed, over half (55%) had at least one such tooth, and every year nearly half the population experiences some form of dental pain or discomfort, with 25% seeking dental treatment as a result. In a UK survey of adults’ feelings about going to the dentist, around 64% identified with being nervous of some kinds of dental treatment.

Depression

Depression is a common mental health problem that affects people of all genders, ages, and backgrounds. About two thirds of adults will at some time experience depression severe enough to interfere with their normal activities (Mintel/YouGov, 2006, Stewart et al, 2004).

Dysmenorrhoea

Dysmenorrhoea is painful cramps originating in the uterus just prior to or during menstruation. It can be primary (i.e. without any organic pathology) or secondary (i.e. associated with a pathological condition, such as endometriosis or ovarian cysts). The pain usually lasts between 8 and 72 hours.(Fraser 1992)

E

Eczema & Psoriasis

Atopic eczema (also known as atopic dermatitis) is a very common inflammatory skin condition.(Guidelines 2006) It is characterised by an itchy red rash that typically tends to involve the skin creases (e.g. behind the knees, folds of elbows, around the neck), and is usually relatively mild.(Emerson 1998) In the acute stage, eczematous lesions are poorly defined and red with oedema, vesicles, and weeping. In the chronic stage, lesions are marked by skin thickening.

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a chronic condition characterised by growth of endometrial tissue in sites other than the uterus, most commonly in the pelvic cavity, but also in other parts of the body (RCOG 2006).

F

Facial Pain

Facial pain commonly results from temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder. Many practitioners refer to TMJ disorder, or syndrome, as a single disorder but there are various sub-diagnoses (e.g. myofascial pain, temporomandibular joint inflammation). The disorder is common and most often occurs in people aged between 20 and 40 years (NICE 2009). Around 33% of the population has at least one temperomandibular symptom and 3.6% to 7% of the population has TMJ disorder with sufficient severity to cause them to seek treatment (Wright 2009).

Female Fertility

Infertility is the inability of a couple to get pregnant despite having regular unprotected sex. A couple is regarded as infertile if, after regular sexual intercourse, they have not conceived in two years. It is estimated that one in seven UK couples has difficulty conceiving (HFEA, 2006).

Fibromyalgia

Around 1 in 25 of the UK population has fibromyalgia, a lifelong condition involving widespread musculoskeletal pain and tenderness, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and functional impairment, without any known structural or inflammatory cause (Annemans 2008; Hauser 2008; De Silva 2010; Burckhardt 1994). This problem is costly in terms of consultations, prescriptions and sick leave (Annemans 2008; Busch 2007; Boonen 2005; Hauser 2010).

Frozen Shoulder

Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) is a common, painful and sometimes disabling condition that can last for months or years. It affects around 2% of adults (Lundberg 1969). The characteristic symptoms are pain, stiffness, and limitation of active and passive shoulder movements (particularly external rotation of the joint) (DTB 2000). They may be severe enough to interfere with everyday activity (e.g. driving, dressing or sleeping), and may prevent some patients from working.

G

Gastrointestinal Tract Disorders

Around 2-4 in 1,000 people in Northern Europe have ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease (Rubin 2000). Both are chronic, relapsing, inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract with several shared clinical features, but with largely distinct risk factors, genetic, immunological, anatomical and histological features, and response to therapy (DTB 2003). Their treatment, which includes medical and surgical approaches, is usually considered in two phases: the induction of remission in an acute attack, and the long-term maintenance of remission (DTB 2003).

Gout

Acute gout is an intensely painful condition, and can reduce patients’ quality of life.(Annemans 2008; Jordan 2007) Around 1.4% of the UK population have gout, the prevalence of which increases with age to around 3% in women and 7% in men aged over 75 years.(Mikuls 2005; Annemans 2008; Jordan 2007) It occurs when serum uric acid concentration rises (hyperuricaemia) and stays above the solubility threshold of monosodium urate, leading to urate crystal formation that causes arthritis, gouty tophi (nodules) in subcutaneous tissues and renal calculi.(Jordan 2007; Roddy 2007; Fels 2008)

H

Headache

Headache is one of the most frequent reasons for medical consultations, in both general practice and neurology clinics.(Steiner 2007) Migraine has been covered in a separate Fact Sheet so this one will focus on tension-type headache. These occur in up to around 80% of the UK adult population(Steiner 2007), and are more prevalent in women (65% of cases in one survey).(Friedman 1954) Symptoms begin before the age of 10 years in 15% of people with chronic tension-type headache, and prevalence declines with age.(Lance 1965) The origin of tension-type headache is multifactorial, but the pathogenesis is still unclear; there is a family history of some form of headache in 40% of people with chronic tension-type headache.(Russell 1999).

HIV Infection

HIV infection is a chronic disease and estimates suggest that over 100,000 people in the UK are infected (HPA 2011; HPA 2009). About 54% of those infected acquire HIV heterosexually, 42% through sex between men, and the rest through, for example, injecting drug use, mother-to-child transmission and blood product. (HPA 2010.)

Hypertension

Hypertension is a major risk factor for stroke (both ischaemic and haemorrhagic), myocardial infarction, heart failure, chronic kidney disease, peripheral vascular disease, cognitive decline and premature death worldwide.(Kearney 2005) If the condition is untreated, there is a progressive rise in blood pressure, which often results in a treatment resistant state due to vascular and renal damage (itself caused by the untreated hypertension).(NICE 2011).

I

Infertility ART

Currently, about 17% couples in industrialised countries seek medical advice for infertility (Cahill 2002). The definition of infertility is usually the failure to conceive after 1 year of unprotected intercourse (European Society 1996). Infertility can be primary, in women who have never conceived, or secondary, in women who have previously conceived. In the UK, about 10-20% of infertility cases are unexplained (Isaksson 2004). The rest are the result of ovulatory failure (27%), tubal damage (14%), endometriosis (5%), low sperm count or quality (19%), or other causes (5%) (Effective Health Care 1992).

Insomnia

According to a survey by the Office of National Statistics (ONS 2000), around 29% of adults reported experiencing sleep problems the week before interview. Such problems are more common in women (34%) than men (24%) (ONS 2000).

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) describes a collection of symptoms, commonly including chronic abdominal pain, bloating, flatulence and altered bowel habits. It is a functional disorder of the intestines, occurring in the absence of visible structural abnormality.

K

Kidney Stones

Urolithiasis (stones in the urinary tract) is a common medical problem with a prevalence of around 2–3% in the general population.(Srisubat 2009) Fifty per cent of patients with previous urinary stones have a recurrence within 10 years (Portis 2001 ), and they are at least twice as common in men as in women.(Pearle 2007)

M

Male Infertility

The clinical definition of male infertility is the presence of abnormal semen parameters in the male partner of a couple who have been unable to conceive after 1 year of unprotected intercourse (Dohle 2010).

Menopausal Symptoms

The menopause, defined as the end of the last menstrual period, occurs at a median age of 53 years (Hardy 2005). The change in hormone levels during the perimenopause and menopause, particularly the decline in levels of oestrogen, can cause acute menopausal symptoms; for example, about 30-70% of women in Western countries will experience vasomotor symptoms, such as hot flushes and night sweats (Freeman 2007; Melby 2005).

Migraines

Migraine is a primary headache disorder manifesting as recurring attacks, usually lasting for 4 to 72 hours and involving pain of moderate to severe intensity (IHS 2004).

Multiple Sclerosis

Around 100,000 people in the UK have multiple sclerosis (MS) (MS Society 2012), an autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system (Compston 2006). Most patients with MS present with a relapsing-remitting disease that, over years, typically leads to a progressive phase of permanent and increasing disability (secondary progressive disease) (Hawkins 2000).

N

Nausea & Vomiting

Many patients undergoing chemotherapy experience nausea and vomiting (Gralla 1999; Hesketh 1998). The symptoms can be severe, impairing a patient’s quality of life (Osoba 1997), causing emotional distress (Love 1989), and aggravating cancer-related symptoms such as cachexia, lethargy and weakness (Griffin 1996; Roscoe 2000).

Neck Pain

Neck pain is one of the three most frequently reported complaints of the musculoskeletal system. Twenty-six to 71% of the adult population can recall experiencing an episode of neck pain or stiffness in their lifetime. Neck pain is usually a benign and self-limited condition, but can be disabling to varying degrees. As such, it has a large impact on healthcare expenditure, due to visits to healthcare professionals, and sick leave, disability and the related loss of productivity.(Trinh 2010).

Neuropathic Pain

Neuropathic pain results from damage to, or dysfunction of, the system that normally signals pain. The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP 2007) defines neuropathic pain as follows: ‘Pain initiated or caused by a primary lesion or dysfunction in the nervous system. Peripheral neuropathic pain occurs when the lesion or dysfunction affects the peripheral nervous system. Central pain may be retained as the term for when the lesion or dysfunction affects the central nervous system’. A review of the epidemiology of chronic pain found that there is still no accurate estimate available for the population prevalence of neuropathic pain.(Smith and Torrance 2010)

O

Obesity

Around 60% of adults in England are either overweight or obese (DOH 2011), and 2% are morbidly obese (Body Mass Index (BMI) above 40kg/m2) (Information Centre 2008). In fact, if present trends continue, 60% of all men, 50% of all women, and 25% of all children will be obese by 2050.

Obstetrics

Pregnancy is a physiological state, but even when a woman has an uncomplicated pregnancy she may suffer with back and pelvic pain, nausea, indigestion or emotional problems such as anxiety and depression.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis involves damage to articular cartilage and other structures in and around joints, with variable levels of inflammation.(Hunter 2006) The most commonly affected joints are the knee and the hip.

P

Palliative Care

Palliative care is the active holistic care of patients with advanced progressive illness, such as those with advanced cancer, end-stage renal disease, AIDS, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD)(WHO 2002). Management includes treatments for pain and other symptoms (e.g. fatigue, nausea and vomiting, breathlessness, anxiety, depression, vasomotor symptoms, xerostomia), as well as the provision of psychological, social and spiritual support (NICE 2004). Up to 457,000 people in the UK need good palliative care services every year but around 92,000 people are not being reached (Hughes-Hallett 2011).

Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative condition. In the UK, around 16–18 in every 10,000 have Parkinson’s disease.(Mutch 1986) It is loss of dopamine-containing cells in the substantia nigra area of the brain that results in the typical symptoms of rigidity, bradykinesia, tremor and postural instability.(Mutch 1986) Parkinsonism can also be caused by drugs, and conditions that are less common than PD. These include multiple cerebral infarction and degenerative conditions such as progressive supra-nuclear palsy (PSP) and multiple system atrophy (MSA).(NICE 2006).

PCOS

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the most common female endocrine disorder. Up to one-third of women in the UK have polycystic ovaries (i.e. 10 or more follicles per ovary detected on ultrasound), and around a third of these are thought to have the syndrome.(DTB 2001) PCOS is strongly associated with hyperandrogenism, ovulatory dysfunction and obesity.(Stener-Victorin 2008) The syndrome also increases the risk for metabolic disturbances such as hyperinsulinaemia and insulin resistance, which can lead to type 2 diabetes, hypertension and an increased likelihood of developing cardiovascular risk factors and impaired mental health later in life.(Stener-Victorin 2008).

Post-operative Pain

Pain after surgery is common, often severe and largely unnecessary. Effective relief of post-operative pain is vital, and not just for humanitarian reasons. Such pain probably prolongs hospital stay, as it can affect all organ systems, including: respiratory (e.g. reduced cough, sputum retention, hypoxaemia); cardiovascular (e.g. increased myocardial oxygen consumption, ischaemia); gastrointestinal (e.g. decreased gastric emptying, reduced gut motility, constipation); genitourinary (e.g. urinary retention); neuroendocrine (e.g. hyperglycaemia, protein catabolism, sodium retention); musculoskeletal (e.g. reduced mobility, pressure sores, increased risk of DVT); and psychological (e.g. anxiety, fatigue). There is now evidence that post-operative pain relief has significant physiological benefit (Charlton 1997).

Post-traumatic stress disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a severe, long lasting psychological reaction to a distressing event, which can cause significant impairment (Reed 2012). It can develop after a major traumatic event (such as a serious accident, a violent personal assault or military combat), and can affect people of all ages.

Premenstrual Syndrome

Most women of reproductive age experience at least mild premenstrual symptoms at some time in their lives (O’Brien 1987). However, around 2–10% of women have premenstrual symptoms that severely disrupt daily living (O’Brien 1987, DTB 1992, Wittchen 2002). These more troublesome symptoms are usually termed ‘premenstrual syndrome’ (PMS), if they comprise recurrent psychological and/or physical symptoms that occur specifically during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and usually resolve by the end of menstruation (O’Brien 1987).

Puerperium

The puerperium covers the 6-week period following birth, during which time the various physiological changes that occurred during pregnancy revert to the non-pregnant state Guzman 2010). Although for most women, the postnatal period is uncomplicated, care during this time needs to address any departures from expected recovery after birth.

R

Raynaud’s Disease

Raynaud’s phenomenon is caused by episodic vasospasm and ischaemia of the extremities (especially the fingers and toes) in response to a fall in temperature (even taking a cold milk bottle out of the fridge or a cool wind on a hot beach (RSA 2012)) or an emotional stimulus.(Goundry 2012) This response results in a characteristic colour change in the extremities from white, to blue, to red. In about 89% of people, Raynaud’s occurs in direct response to a stimulus and there is no known underlying cause. In the other 11%, it results from an underlying condition, most commonly a connective tissue disease such as systemic sclerosis, mixed connective tissue disease.(Goundry 2012).

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic condition that can cause pain, stiffness, progressive joint destruction and deformity, and reduce physical function, quality of life and life expectancy.(Östör 2009; DTB 2008) Estimates indicate that around 0.5-1.0% of the UK population have rheumatoid arthritis.(NICE 2008) The condition involves synovial joint inflammation.(Smolen 2003); both T- and B-cells are implicated in the underlying immune pathology, as is the over-production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-?), interleukin-1 (IL-1) and IL-6.(NICE 2008; Panayi 2005; Smolen 2003).

S

Sciatica

Sciatica, more accurately termed lumbar radiculopathy, is a syndrome involving nerve root impingement and/or inflammation that has progressed enough to cause neurological symptoms (e.g. pain, numbness, paraesthesia) in the areas that are supplied by the affected nerve root(s) (Tarulli 2007). Posterior sciatica involves pain that radiates along the posterior thigh and the posterolateral aspect of the leg, and is due to an S1 or L5 radiculopathy.

Sinusitis

Each year, around 2% of the UK population consults their GP about a suspected sinus infection (Ashworth 2005). Most people with acute sinusitis recover with or without treatment within 10 days of seeing a GP (Williamson 2007), but about 92% are prescribed an antibacterial, even though it makes little difference to outcome.

Sports Injuries

Sports injuries are common, and vary from minor toe injuries to major complex trauma. Usually, only soft tissue is damaged, but there can also be fracturing of bone. Soft tissue injuries include sprains, strains and bruising. A sprain is a partial or complete rupture of a ligament, a strain is a partial tear of muscles and a bruise is a rupture of tissue leading to a haematoma. Any soft-tissue injury can lead to a tenderness, swelling, haematoma, scarring, fibrosis and loss of function.

Stress

Up to half a million people in the UK experience work-related stress every year, which often results in illness.(Health and Safety Executive 2011) Other factors that affect stress levels include alcohol, smoking, exams, pregnancy, divorce, moving, death in family, lifestyle, drugs, poor nutrition and unemployment.

Stroke

Stroke is defined as a neurological deficit of sudden onset which results from cerebrovascular disease and persists for longer than 24 hours (DTB 1998). Stroke is very common, with, for example, around 110,000 people each year in England alone experiencing a first or recurrent episode (DH 2007). Consequences of stroke can include disability and early death, and the condition costs the UK economy around £7billion annually (NICE 2008).

Substance Misuse

In the UK, the prevalence of substance misuse is around 9 per 1,000 of the population aged 15-64 years, and around 3 per 1,000 inject drugs, in most cases opioids (NICE 2007). In 2005/6, around 181,000 people were using drug treatment services in England and Wales (Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection 2006). Also, research in England in 2005 estimated that 7.1 million people, or 23% of the adult population, could be categorised as hazardous or harmful alcohol users (Drummond 2005). Indeed, in England, 150,000 hospital admissions annually result from acute or chronic alcohol use, and alcohol use is implicated in 33,000 deaths each year (Academy of Medical Sciences 2004).

T

Tennis Elbow

Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) is characterised by pain and tenderness over the lateral epicondyle of the humerus. In the UK, the annual incidence of lateral elbow pain in general practice is around 4/1000 to 7/1000 people.(Hamilton 1986) It is most common in people aged between 40 and 50 years (Allander 1974); for example, the incidence is as much as 10% in women aged 42 to 46 years.(Chard 1989; Verhaar 1994).

Thyroid Disease

Thyroid disease includes hypothyroidism, a clinical consequence of deficient secretion by the thyroid gland, and hyperthyroidism, where overproduction of thyroid hormone leads to a state of thyrotoxicosis, (Weetman 2003).

Tinnitus

Tinnitus is the perception of sound in the ear or head that does not arise from the external environment, from within the body (e.g., vascular sounds), or from auditory hallucinations related to mental illness. Up to 18% of the general population in industrialised countries are mildly affected by chronic tinnitus and, for 0.5%, tinnitus has a severe effect on their ability to lead a normal life (Coles 1984).

Type-2 Diabetes

Type-2 diabetes (adult-onset or non-insulin-dependent diabetes) is a common metabolic disorder in which the body is unable to regulate the amount of glucose in the blood. The condition affects nearly 1.5 million people in the UK (Diabetes UK, 2004), and may be undiagnosed in as many as a million more. It develops when insufficient insulin is produced by the body, or when the body’s cells no longer respond to insulin (insulin resistance).

U

Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence affects around 3.5 million people of all ages in the UK (DoH 2000; the Continence Foundation 2000). For many, urinary incontinence severely restricts their routine activities and damages their quality of life and self-esteem. It can be due to several problems, the most common being urge urinary incontinence and stress urinary incontinence.

V

Vertigo

People with vertigo have the illusion that the environment is moving about them, or that they are moving with respect to the environment.(DTB 2009) The condition usually originates in the peripheral nervous system, for example, due to a disorder of the inner ear such as Ménière’s disease, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), or labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis. It can also be due to pathology in the CNS (central vertigo), such as haemorrhages, ischaemia, or CNS tumours, infection or trauma. Neck pathology can also cause vertigo.