Vertigo, dizziness, vertigo or vertigo are commonly known expressions for the disturbed feeling of balance or spatial orientation. Often, sufferers experience the sensation as if the room around them is swaying or spinning.
What is vertigo?
Dizziness is mostly, if not e.g. by artificially caused rotation, a symptom of a disease and is almost always based on a disturbance of the nervous system. As already noted, the term vertigo stands for a disturbed perception in the surrounding spatiality or in movements. Often, vertigo is also coupled to balance disorders. Vertigo is mostly, if not e.g. by artificially caused rotation, a symptom of a disease and is almost always based on a disturbance of the nervous system. The feeling of being dizzy or lightheaded is something almost everyone has experienced at least once and, along with headaches, is one of the most common complaints seen in German general practices. The older the patients are, the more frequently dizziness may occur.
Causes
The causes of dizziness are very diverse. In addition, there are different forms of dizziness, so an exact diagnosis is not easy. Especially in the way of dizziness can differ. However, all forms of vertigo have their cause in the sensory organs that are affected during movement. These include the tactile senses, such as somatory sensors in the muscles, the eyes and, of course, the organ of balance in the ear, the so-called vestibular system. The vertigo is now triggered by an inaccurate or disturbed synchronicity or lack of correspondence of the information received. Normal dizziness, which is not pathological and is mostly caused by external stimuli (e.g. fast spinning in a carousel), serves as a protective mechanism of the body and should indicate a potential danger. Thus, vertigo can also include fear of heights or the well-known seasickness. The second form of dizziness is usually an accompanying symptom of an existing disease. For example, the affected person may become dizzy if he does not get enough oxygen or is subject to poisoning. Changes in blood pressure, dehydration (lack of fluid intake), heart and circulatory diseases can also cause dizziness. The third form of dizziness is probably the most dangerous, as it usually occurs as a leading symptom of a serious illness. Especially diseases that directly affect the organ of equilibrium cause massive attacks of vertigo. Typical diseases here can be: Neuritis vestibularis (inflammation of the vestibular nerve), migraine and tumors. Likewise, medications can also cause dizziness with their side effects. Other diseases that have dizziness as a symptom can be found below.
Diseases with this symptom
- Cardiovascular disease
- Alcohol addiction
- Acoustic neuroma
- Concussion
- Sunstroke
- Stroke
- Hypotension
- Anemia
- Circulatory disorders
- Metabolic disorder
- Inner ear infection
- Motion sickness
- Carotid stenosis
- Drug addiction
- High blood pressure
- Meningitis
- Ménière’s disease
- Transient ischemic attack
Diagnosis and course
In order to diagnose vertigo, various tests must be performed to check the function of the organ of balance. In addition, the medical professional checks the hearing, since this and the organ of balance are connected by the identical nerve cord. The diagnosis also includes determining what type of vertigo it is. The course of the vertigo is determined by the cause. If the cause can be eliminated by specific treatment, the course of the disease has a good prognosis. In this case, the vertigo disappears at the end of treatment. However, there is also permanent vertigo, which is often psychological and can persist for many years.
Complications
Vertigo can lead to several complications. First, there is a risk that the vertigo will become chronic and last for weeks or months. This also increases the risk of accidents and other adverse health effects.Thus, permanent balance disorders can negatively change behavior and well-being and, in the further course, lead to psychological problems. Serious complications can occur if the dizziness is caused by a serious underlying condition such as a concussion or heat stroke. Then the symptoms are often accompanied by nausea and vomiting, and other symptoms. Dizziness as a result of anemia is accompanied by feelings of weakness and lassitude; in addition, general well-being usually decreases considerably. Complications are to be expected during treatment if the therapeutic measures are not optimally adapted to the underlying condition. Medication can intensify the dizziness, as can physiotherapy or a change in lifestyle. In the course of time, the dizziness can develop into acute spinning vertigo or positional vertigo or vertigo of the head. In most cases, however, dizziness does not cause any major complaints, provided that the cause is diagnosed by a doctor as soon as possible and treated adequately.
When should you go to the doctor?
In most cases, it is not necessary to see a doctor for dizziness. This is especially true if the symptom occurs only for a short time or can be directly associated with a harmless illness, such as the flu. Similarly, dizziness can occur due to the consumption of alcohol and other drugs, disappearing once the patient’s condition returns to normal. Many people also suffer from dizziness and headaches due to the weather. A doctor should be consulted in case of dizziness if it occurs permanently, limiting everyday life. In any case, treatment is necessary if the dizziness occurs after an accident or after a blow to the head. This may be a serious injury that needs to be examined and treated by a doctor. In most cases, however, the dizziness can be controlled by adequate hydration and rest and relaxation. In case of increased occurrence, a visit to a doctor is advisable. As a rule, the general practitioner can be visited first in this case in order to locate the cause of the dizziness.
Treatment and therapy
First, a physician should be consulted for dizziness that is not self-inflicted. The physician will then conduct an interview in which the severity and temporal appearance of the vertigo are important. Subsequently, the doctor will perform various tests related to balance. These have the aim of accurately diagnosing the form and cause of the vertigo. Above all, rotational vertigo, positional vertigo and dizziness vertigo are to be distinguished here. If the cause is then found, the appropriate and individual treatment or therapy can begin. In the case of harmless vertigo of the first form, no major treatment methods are usually necessary. In case of motion sickness, suitable medication (antivertiginosa) can help. If the dizziness is a symptom of a diagnosed disease, this should be treated primarily. Additional options, such as physiotherapy, postural exercises, physiotherapy, balance exercises can also help in a supportive manner. In rare cases where the dizziness occurs over many years, surgery of the vestibular organ may also be considered. In the case of vertigo attacks related to psychosomatic disorders, such as anxiety disorder or panic attacks, treatment by a psychologist or psychotherapist should be resorted to. Autogenic training in particular has already helped many sufferers here in the long term.
Outlook and prognosis
Dizziness can be caused by many diseases, so the prospects of cure depend on the causes. Dizziness due to lack of fluids is harmless, but can have unexpected consequences in road traffic. This quite common form can be easily remedied by drinking water. If the blood is too thick, the organs, especially the brain, are no longer well supplied with blood. This results in impairments such as dizziness and visual disturbances. Dizziness occurs in various forms. Even healthy people occasionally experience attacks of dizziness, for example when they lack sleep or have low blood pressure. Eyeglasses with the wrong prescription can cause similar discomfort, which can be easily remedied by fitting lenses. Those who suffer from motion sickness experience dizziness attacks on buses, planes or trains. Pronounced symptoms can be treated with medication.Balance training gives patients more confidence. If dizziness occurs for the first time for no apparent reason, a doctor should always be consulted. If headaches, fatigue, ringing in the ears, hearing problems or fever also occur, this indicates organic diseases. Sometimes dizziness is also the result of a severe cold. The patient needs patience, but the complaints will subside on their own over time. In advanced age, rotary vertigo can be caused by wear-related deposits in the inner ear. In this case, an internist is the right person to consult. Dysfunction of the balance nerves is also possible.
What you can do yourself
Dizziness can have many different causes and should therefore always be clarified by a doctor. In acute symptoms, it helps to fixate a fixed point with the eyes to calm the sense of sight. This can be accompanied by a medical diary to determine possible causes of the dizziness. It is possible that mild dehydration or low blood sugar levels underlie the symptoms, which can be compensated for by eating and drinking. A change in diet will help replenish energy and vitamin stores and regulate circulation. Deep breathing stimulates oxygen supply to the brain and reduces dizziness. In the event of severe circulatory problems, bed rest and temporary abstinence from stimulants such as alcohol, tobacco or caffeine are recommended. Depending on the cause, breathing and massage techniques can also be used. Neck massages, for example, have proven effective in loosening tense muscles and promoting blood circulation. Yoga and autogenic training have a positive effect on the circulation and reduce dizziness in the long term. In addition, home remedies such as ginkgo or ginger can help against the symptoms. Amla berry provides the body with plenty of vitamins A and C, while lemons strengthen the immune system and protect against inflammatory diseases.
