Dizziness

introduction

In the event of dizziness (lat .: Vertigo) is a symptom that is based on a disruption of various sense organs that are responsible for balance and orientation in space. The result is the extremely uncomfortable feeling that you or your surroundings are turning or swaying back and forth. Feelings of dizziness are a very common symptom and can occur without any disease value, but also in the context of various diseases. The frequency of dizziness increases with age.

Dizziness is often accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, insecurity when walking and standing, as well as a tendency to fall, which results in a high level of suffering and a severely impaired quality of life for those affected.

Since dizziness can also be the basis of various diseases, the symptoms should always be taken seriously and if they occur more frequently or if they persist for a longer period of time, they should be clarified by a doctor, for example a family doctor, a neurologist or an ear, nose and throat doctor. Depending on the cause of the dizziness, different therapy concepts can then be considered.

Symptoms

Dizziness is a disorder in the interaction of different sensory organs that are responsible for the balance and the Orientation in space are responsible. This leads to a disturbed perception of the environment and subjectively to movement between one's own body and the environment. Feelings of dizziness can set in suddenly and last from a few seconds to several hours (acute dizziness), but also last for a longer period of time (chronic dizziness).

A feeling that the environment revolves around the affected person is often reported. This is then called Vertigo designated.

The so-called Vertigo on the other hand, you get the feeling that the ground is swaying like on a ship. Some people also report a feeling of being pulled up, similar to being in an elevator.

In most cases, dizziness is accompanied by other symptoms. This includes above all nausea and Vomit. Symptoms, which are also often associated with dizziness, are a headache, one Unsteadiness when walking and standing, a tendency to fall (Tendency to fall) and a Trembling of the eyes (so-called Nystagmus).

With some forms of dizziness you can also Ringing in the ears, hearing loss, drowsiness, anxiety and panic occur. In addition, those affected often report that the dizziness cannot be triggered spontaneously, but rather by certain factors, such as moving the head.

The first indications of the cause of the dizziness are:

• the type of dizziness (for example Vertigo or vertigo)
• the duration of the dizziness (seconds, minutes, hours or several days)
• the temporal occurrence of dizziness (for example always after moving the head) and
• the presence of other complaints (a headache, Ringing in the ears, Hearing loss, Drowsiness, Anxiety and panic)

Read more on the topic: Types of vertigo.

Dizziness with headache

Dizziness is often accompanied by other symptoms. If dizziness goes along with a headache, this may indicate the presence of a specific form of migraine called vestibular migraines.

Typically, dizziness attacks lasting minutes to several hours, followed by visual disturbances, sensitivity to light and noise, and finally headaches. The diagnosis of vestibular migraines can usually already be made by taking a detailed medical history and performing a physical examination. Medicinal, physiotherapeutic and psychotherapeutic methods are available for the treatment of vestibular migraines. Acute migraine attacks can be treated with various pain relievers such as acetylsalicysic acid, ibuprofen or paracetamol or with triptans.

If migraine attacks occur more than three times a month, migraine prophylaxis with a beta blocker, for example with metoprolol or bisoprolol. Avoiding stress and exercising regularly can also reduce the incidence of migraine attacks.

Read more on the topic: Dizziness and headaches or dizziness and migraines - which illness is behind it?

Dizziness and blurred vision

Dizziness is often associated with impaired vision, as vision and our orientation and balance are closely related.

root cause

The causes of dizziness are numerous. Often the dizziness lies harmless causes underlying. In some cases, dizziness is even normal, such as when traveling on a boat or when sitting in a car or on an airplane, as this results in extraordinary irritation and short-term irritation of the sensory organs that are unknown to the body. One speaks here of physiological dizziness.

They are mainly involved in the development of dizziness Balance organ (Vestibular organ), which is located in Inner ear is located and that central nervous system, the brain. Do pathological changes in the Balance organ, of Inner ear or des Brain to dizziness, one speaks of pathological dizziness (pathological dizziness).

There are roughly three groups of pathological vertigo:

• central dizziness
• peripheral dizziness
• phobic dizziness

At the central dizziness find each other Damage to the central nervous system, so of the brain. These include in particular Tumors of the brain Inflammation of the brain and the Meninges, Circulatory disorders or Bleeding in the brain, such as Traumatic brain injury.

At the peripheral shrinkagel there is damage to the equilibrium organ in the inner ear or to the nerve that transmits information from the equilibrium organ to the brain. Due to their frequency, three clinical pictures are very important here:

• Paroxysmal positional vertigo: After changing the position of the head, dizziness persists for a few seconds. Affected people often describe Dizziness laying or after sleeping Rotation of the head to one side. The reason for the recurring dizziness is small Calcium carbonate pebbles in the Balance organ of Inner earwhich stimulate the organ of equilibrium when the head is moved.
• Meniere's disease: Menière's disease is characterized by minutes lasting Attacks of dizziness with no apparent trigger. The reason is also an irritation of the equilibrium organ Inner ear, but here by a liquid, the so-called Endolymph. Characteristically, there is an additional one on the diseased side Hearing loss and ringing in the ears on.
• Vestibular neuritis: Inflammation of the Nerve, which forwards information from the equilibrium organ to the brain, for hours or days Episodes of vertigo.

Rarer causes of peripheral dizziness are Tumors, injuries, or toxins.

The third form of pathological vertigo (pathological vertigo), the phobic dizziness, which is also called mentally conditioned dizziness usually occurs in psychological stressful situations on and is supported by a strong Feeling anxious accompanied. This form of dizziness often occurs in people who are under depressions or Anxiety disorders Suffer. Furthermore diseases of the Cardiovascular system and orthopedic diseases, such as that Cervical spine syndrome Cause dizziness.

Dizziness in the head

Dizziness in the head is caused by a disruption in the interaction of various sensory organs responsible for the balance and orientation in space are responsible. Dizziness in the head are very common and they usually come with other complaints such as Nausea, vomiting, unsteadiness when walking and standing, as well as a tendency to fall. Feelings of dizziness in the head can occur without any disease value, but also in the context of various diseases and should be clarified by a doctor if they occur more frequently or if they stop for a long time. Depending on the cause of the dizziness in the head, different therapy concepts can be considered.

Dizziness when lying down

To step Dizziness when lying down on, this may be due to the presence of one paroxysmal positional vertigo or the cervicogenic dizziness indicate.

At the paroxysmal positional vertigo dizziness persists for a few seconds after changing the position of the head. Those affected often describe dizziness when lying down after turning their head to one side. The reason for the recurring dizziness is small Calcium carbonate pebbles in the Balance organ of Inner earwhich stimulate the organ of equilibrium when the head is moved.

To the diagnosis in addition to a detailed medical history and physical examination Positioning maneuvers carried out. Here, the person affected should perform certain movements, which can ultimately provoke dizziness.

To treatment paroxysymal positional vertigo is also a Positioning maneuvers in which the attempt is made to move the small calcium carbonate stones that irritate the balance organ by moving and turning the body and head so that dizziness no longer occurs.

Pathological changes in the Cervical spine Induce dizziness when lying down. This is then called cervicogenic dizziness designated. Medicinal and physiotherapeutic methods are used to treat cervicogenic vertigo.

Dizziness during pregnancy

Also in one pregnancy dizziness, which is often caused by Nausea and vomiting are accompanied. These dizzinesses are usually harmless.

The reason for dizziness during pregnancy is usually one Drop in blood pressurewhich can be aggravated by getting up quickly from a sitting or lying position, as well as by insufficient fluid and food intake.

In these cases, dizziness can be prevented with light exercise, sufficient amounts of water to drink and regular food intake.

If the dizziness persists for a long time, a doctor, for example the gynecologist be consulted.

Dizziness in children

Dizziness combined with Balance disorders are also a very common symptom in children. However, dizziness in children usually has different causes than in adults.

The most common cause of dizziness in children and young adults is migraine. Typically kick Spinning vertigo episodes on which Visual disturbances, Sensitivity to light and noise and finally a headache consequences.

Also common are Inflammation of the Balance nerves by Viruses or bacteria, as well as defects in the Equilibrium organs of Inner ear, so-called Fistulas. In young adulthood it can also be too low Blood pressure Cause dizziness.

The same procedures as for adults can be used to establish a diagnosis. Treatment is provided depending on the cause of the dizziness in children medicinal, physiotherapeutic and psychotherapeutic procedures in question. The treatment is usually successful, so dizziness in childhood and young adulthood has a good overall prognosis.

diagnosis

In order to make a diagnosis, a detailed anamnesis is necessary, which means a detailed questioning of the person concerned about underlying illnesses and current complaints.

If you feel dizzy, ask in particular what kind of dizziness it is (Spinning vertigo or vertigo), when exactly the dizziness occurs, how long the dizziness lasts and whether it is caused by other complaints, such as Headache, ringing in the ears, hearing loss, drowsiness, anxiety and panic are accompanied.

In addition, a physical examination take place, which is also a rough guide Balance check should include. The person concerned is asked to cope with various tasks with closed eyes, such as standing on the spot or touching his own nose with the index finger. Also should Blood pressure and Heart rate to be determined.

For example, there is a reference to a paroxysmal positional vertigo, should be Positioning maneuvers as part of the physical examination. Here, the person affected should perform certain movements, which can ultimately provoke dizziness. Is there any suspicion Meniere's disease near, the Auditory respectively.

To distinguish whether the dizziness is due to a disorder of the Balance organ or on a pathological change in the Brain are so-called Vestibular exams carried out. In some cases imaging tests are also available, such as Magnetic resonance imaging, Computed tomography or Ultrasound examinations of the head and possibly also one internistic and orthopedic examination of the person concerned required.

therapy

For the treatment of dizziness, medicinal, physiotherapeutic, psychotherapeutic and rarely surgical measures can be considered.

Which measures are taken in each individual case depends on the cause of the dizziness.
Medicines that are used to relieve dizziness are called Antivertiginosa designated. These also work against nausea, which often occurs together with dizziness. They are used for physiological dizziness, which can occur, for example, when taking a boat or car. They are also used for Menière's disease and vestibular neuritis when acute symptoms of dizziness are present.

Physiotherapy procedures are very important in treating dizziness. They contain exercises in which the affected person is exposed to unsteadiness and unsteadiness and these should be compensated by corrective movements. Physiotherapeutic methods are used in particular for paroxysmal positional vertigo and Menière's disease. In the case of paroxysmal positional vertigo, a special positional maneuver can also be learned. The attempt is made to relocate the small calcium carbonate stones, which irritate the balance organ, through certain movements and rotations of the body and head so that dizziness no longer occurs.

In the case of dizziness that is triggered by psychological stress and forms of dizziness that are associated with high levels of suffering, those affected can benefit from psychotherapeutic treatment or from participation in self-help groups.

Operative measures, such as the removal of an organ of equilibrium, are very rarely carried out.

You might also be interested in this topic: Home remedies for dizziness

forecast

Usually dizziness can be left with medicinal and physiotherapeutic procedures treat so that the The prognosis is usually good is. If the dizziness is based on emotional causes, however, it can lead to protracted courses that also include a psychotherapeutic treatment need.

prophylaxis

Dizziness it is difficult to prevent. The Sense of balance with simple To train balance exercisesto reduce the occurrence of dizziness. Also the Avoidance of noise and stress can be helpful.