How does dizziness develop through the organ of balance?
Dizziness can be caused in different places. The vestibular organ takes the sense of balance and transmits it via a large nerve to the brain. The cause of dizziness can therefore be in the organ of balance or in the large vestibular nerve (e.g. neuritis vestibularis).
Furthermore, different stations of the brain are also possible (e.g. in case of vertigo caused by alcohol). In addition, there may also be a disagreement between what the eye sees and what the balance feels (e.g. riding a carousel). The brain is not able to classify this correctly and signals dizziness.
Where exactly the cause of the dizziness lies is sometimes difficult to assess and can therefore usually only be determined by an ENT doctor or a neurologist. In addition to the above-mentioned inflammation of the vestibular nerve (neuritis vestibularis), the so-called “Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo” (BPPV) is an even more common cause of persistent or recurrent dizziness. In this case, small crystals (otoliths) are located in the ducts of the vestibular organ and influence it with every movement.
How can the organ of balance be trained?
Just as you can improve your strength, endurance or dexterity, you can also improve your organ of balance through regular training. The reason for this is the formation of new synapses in the brain, which link the information with each other and thus make it faster and easier to retrieve. It is important that you adapt your training to your level of training.There are numerous exercises that increase in intensity and difficulty.
Someone with an acute inner ear infection and constant dizziness should therefore not do the same exercises as a healthy person. Since dizziness can occur during the exercises, these people would otherwise be at great risk of falling while standing. Patients with a vestibular organ disease should only do exercises while lying down, also because of their bed rest.
You can move your eyes in different directions and become faster and faster. During another exercise, you can tilt your head back and forward alternately and increase your speed. You can also vary this exercise by tilting your head from one side to the other.
In addition, you can move a finger or pencil back and forth in front of your nose and try to follow it with your eyes. It is important that these exercises are perceived as difficult and that a feeling of dizziness develops. Otherwise you should switch to more demanding exercises.
