Is she going to die?

Technically – yes – we all die.
From vertigo alone, unlikely. As a symptom of something else, maybe…

My father has had vertigo his entire adult life. I don’t get the connection. Has your grandmother been ill?

She may just have a case of labyrinthitis. Wait and see what the Doctors say before you let yourself get too upset.

Here’s the differential diagnosis: http://en.diagnosispro.com/differential_diagnosis-for/vertigo/25030-154.html

It’s a long list of scary stuff. But most likely it’s a benign condition like Ménière’s Disease, which is treatable and not life-threatening. Of course an actual medical evaluation would require—you know—history, physical, tests…

She needs to go to the doctor and have the reason for her vertigo checked out. Most likely it will be nothing serious and will be treatable.

Some examples:

My grandmother had vertigo for twenty years, successfully treated with a daily pill, and eventually died from something totally unrelated at the age of 89.

My father has had vertigo due to Ménière’s Disease since he was in his fifties. He takes Meclizine and generally has no problem at all. He’s 84 now.

I have periodic bouts of vertigo due to Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. It was treated with physical therapy. Although it comes back sometimes, I am not dying any faster than any of us dies. I just keep going one day at a time.

Instead of worrying about whether your grandmother is dying, perhaps you could help her decide to go to a doctor.

There are numerous causes of vertigo….I’m not a doctor, but I am pretty sure most of them are not life threatening, and may even be treatable. What did her doctor say? I hope whatever the diagnosis & prognosis end up being will set your mind at ease.

As others have noted, vertigo is a symptom, not a disease… so the individual’s prognosis depends on the cause of the vertigo. It may require several tests to rule-out certain causes and to confirm others, since so many conditions can make a person feel dizzy.

Vertigo is so disconcerting for the person suffering, because they feel a lack of control. People who are prone to anxiety often become anxious about the vertigo and that exacerbates the symptoms, too.

There have been many discussions about vertigo here on Fluther… search through them and you may find more beneficial information.

I hope your Grandmother feels better soon!