Course of vertigo in old age
The course of dizziness in old age is strongly dependent on the cause. For example, if there is an inflammation of the vestibular organ, this can be treated with medication. This usually leads to a significant improvement of the symptoms after a few days.
However, dizziness in old age is often an interplay of many factors. These must be determined together with a doctor in order to achieve an improvement. As a result, the course of the disease is usually longer and more complex.
A decisive factor in the case of dizziness in old age is also the prevention of the affected person’s impaired vision. Vertigo can depend on numerous factors. For this reason it is advisable to have a look at the main pages:
- Dizziness and trembling
- Dizziness and palpitations
- Dizziness, nausea and headaches
Prognosis of vertigo in old age
The prognosis of dizziness in old age is usually very good if the cause is identified early and clearly. If, for example, the causative interaction between drugs is identified and the medication is changed accordingly, the affected persons can usually recover without major consequences. Unfortunately, however, the occurrence of dizziness in old age often leads to gait insecurity and falls.
As a result, older people often suffer bone fractures and injuries, which limit their movement and make them increasingly unable to move. Therefore, the insecurity of walking must be counteracted early. In this context it is of great importance to deal with the “fall in old age”: Fall in old age
Treatment of vertigo in old age
The treatment of vertigo in old age depends on the underlying cause. In case of an acute dizziness attack, a hold should be sought first. In addition, the affected person should lie down if possible, fix a point and wait with calm breathing until the attack passes.
If the cause of the dizziness can be determined, an attempt should be made to treat it. For example, so-called antivertiginosa can help if the organ of balance in the inner ear is diseased.These are drugs that help against dizziness caused by a disturbance in the function of the vestibular organ. Eye diseases, such as cataracts, can also be treated by surgical methods.
If the dizziness in old age is caused by a so-called systemic disease, i.e. one that affects the entire body, it should also be treated. This can include, for example, the adjustment of blood pressure or blood sugar. Existing medications should be checked if necessary.
Interactions between medications can also lead to dizziness and should be considered accordingly. An important part of any treatment of dizziness in old age is the so-called fall prophylaxis. Walking aids or hand grips in the bathroom are just as important here as encouraging the person not to be restricted too much by the insecurity of walking.
You can find an overview of the individual illnesses that can lead to dizziness, and how you can remedy them, at
- Dizziness therapy
- Dizziness due to problems in the inner ear
- Eye diseases in humans
Various exercises can help to prevent dizziness in old age. The various systems that are important for balance should be exercised regularly. This includes extensive movement of the eyes, head and body.
Various coordination exercises can also help. For example, a small ball can be thrown from one hand into the other. Another exercise is to practice standing up from a stool with your eyes closed.
Balancing on one leg with eyes open and closed also sharpens coordination. Helpful exercises explained in detail can also be found under:
- Vertigo training – How to eliminate vertigo
- Self-treatment of the positioning vertigo
There are several homeopathic remedies that can help with dizziness in old age. Ferrum phosphoricum helps with dizziness, which is mainly caused by a disturbance of the body’s circulation.
Anamirta cocculus can improve dizzy spells that occur after getting up quickly. Gelsemium helps against dizziness that occurs together with pain in the neck area. Bryonia may be helpful in cases of dizziness in combination with nausea or vomiting. Arnica can reduce the feeling of rotational vertigo. In addition to the homeopathic remedies that can be used against dizziness, which are linked in the text section, you will find a list concerning homeopathy at What you should know about homeopathy
All articles in this series: