Diagnosis
Recurring dizziness in the morning must be diagnosed by a doctor. First the doctor asks the patient detailed questions about the type, duration and accompanying symptoms of dizziness. The doctor also looks at previous illnesses, allergies and medications that are taken regularly in order to find possible clues to a cause of the dizziness.
In addition, blood pressure and pulse are checked. This is followed by a physical examination, in which the physician focuses on the patient’s neurological status. These neurological tests mainly include walking and vision tests, which test the vestibular system. By means of electroencephalography (EEG), brain waves are measured to see if there is a connection with morning dizziness. If there is a suspicion that structural changes in the brain are responsible for the dizziness, the doctor will also arrange for a magnetic resonance examination (MRI) of the skull.
Therapy
Most morning dizziness attacks are harmless and of short duration. They do not require any drug therapy. Careful standing up or balance exercises can reduce the dizziness.
In case of benign positional vertigo, a doctor may recommend simple exercises that remove the ear stones from the disturbing places. Persistent complaints with accompanying symptoms should be clarified by a doctor. Not every vertigo attack is harmless or a sign of temporary weakness, but can also be an expression of a serious illness. In these cases, however, the dizziness does not usually occur in isolation in the morning, but also throughout the day. This topic may also be of interest to you:
- Vertigo training
Prognosis and duration
In most cases, an occasional dizziness in the morning is harmless and disappears within ten to 30 seconds. Even in patients suffering from benign positioning vertigo (BPPV), the dizziness should not last longer than a few seconds. If the dizziness lasts longer, a neurologist or an ear, nose and throat doctor should be consulted to rule out serious diseases.
