Introduction
Dizziness (Vertigo) is a subjectively perceived orientation disorder of the body, in which the position of the body in space can no longer be clearly perceived and assigned. It is often accompanied by the feeling that the body or environment is in motion. A distinction is made between unsystematic dizziness, which is characterized by a general feeling of insecurity, a dazed feeling and blackening of the eyes as classic symptoms, and systematic dizziness. This group includes, for example, rotary vertigo, swaying vertigo with or without a tendency to fall, and lift dizziness. Both can be responsible for acute vertigo attacks.
Causes
The causes of a dizziness attack are as varied and diverse as the symptoms of the dizziness itself and the patient groups that may be affected. The most common causes are listed below. If the symptoms are unclear or if there are doubts, patients should consult a doctor.
A vertigo attack always results from a disturbed interaction of visual, vestibular and somatosensory perception. In other words, the visual stimulus perceived by the eyes, the sense of balance created in the inner ear and the intuitive feeling about the position and location of one’s own body in space no longer correspond completely. This can be caused by a disturbance of the cardiovascular system.
Also some drugs and/or alcohol shift the own body perception and can become the cause of a dizzy spell. Defects in the vestibular organ often lead to so-called vestibular vertigo (benign paroxysmal positioning vertigo). Not to be neglected causes of vertigo can always be of psychological nature.
We know phobic attacks of vertigo, which are caused by the fear of falling or experiencing dizziness. Some patients develop veritable panic attacks, which can further worsen all symptoms. Particularly in older patients, this is known as post-fall syndrome, which occurs after the first fall and is based on the fear of falling again. All these causes can be summarized under the term “psychogenic vertigo”.
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