Many different terms are often used to describe what is collectively known as dizziness. Common descriptions include words such as lightheaded, floating, woozy, giddy, confused, helpless or fuzzy. Vertigo, Disequilibrium and Pre-syncope are the terms in use by most doctors. Dizziness is sometimes a symptom of a balance disorder.
Dizziness is one of the most common reasons older adults visit their doctors. Aging increases the risk of developing any of several conditions that may cause dizziness. Although it may be disabling and incapacitating, dizziness rarely signals a serious, life-threatening condition. Treatment of dizziness depends on the cause and your symptoms.
Causes:
Under normal circumstances, your sense of balance is controlled by a number of signals that your brain receives from several locations:
Eyes- No matter what your position, visual signals help you determine where your body is in space and how it's moving.
Sensory nerves- These are in your skin, muscles and joints. Sensory nerves send messages to your brain about body movements and positions.
Inner ear- The organ of balance in your inner ear is the vestibular labyrinth. It includes loop-shaped structures (semicircular canals) that contain fluid and fine, hair-like sensors that monitor the rotation of your head. Near the semicircular canals are the utricle and saccule, which contain tiny particles called otoconia. These particles are attached to sensors that help detect gravity and back-and-forth motion.
Good balance depends on at least two of these three sensory systems working well. For instance, closing your eyes while washing your hair in the shower doesn't mean you'll lose your balance. Signals from your inner ear and sensory nerves help keep you upright.
However, if your central nervous system can't process signals from all of these locations, if the messages are contradictory, or if the sensory systems aren't functioning properly, you may experience loss of balance.
Symptoms:
Characteristics of dizziness may include:
* A sense that you or your surroundings are spinning or moving (vertigo)
* A loss of balance
* Nausea
* Unsteadiness
* Wooziness
* Lightheadedness
* Faintness
* Weakness
* Fatigue
* Difficulty concentrating
* Blurred vision after quick head movements
Diagnosis:
Your doctor will likely ask you a number of questions about your dizziness. In trying to determine the cause, your doctor may ask if your dizziness:
* Causes the room to spin or produces a sensation of motion.
* Is associated with a feeling of faintness or lightheadedness.
* Causes you to lose your balance.
* Is accompanied by ringing or fullness in your ears (tinnitus) or trouble hearing.
Your doctor will want to know what medications you're taking. He or she will also ask you when you experience dizziness, how long it lasts and how often it occurs. Your doctor can narrow down possible causes of dizziness after determining the type of dizziness you're experiencing, reviewing your medical history and current medications, conducting a physical examination, and ordering further testing based on your signs and symptoms.
Doctors can usually determine the cause of dizziness. Doing so may require a consultation with an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist or a neurologist. But even if no cause is found or if your dizziness persists, prescription drugs and other treatments may make your symptoms more manageable.
Treatment:
Doctors base treatment of dizziness on the cause and your symptoms.
* BPPV- Treatment of BPPV is with canalith repositioning, a simple procedure that involves your doctor or physical therapist maneuvering the position of your head. The goal is to move the loose particles in your ear to a place within your ear where they won't cause dizziness and will be reabsorbed into your body's fluids. The success rate of this procedure may be as high as 90 percent. You may need to have the procedure repeated.
* Inner ear conditions- Balance retraining exercises (vestibular rehabilitation) are used to treat acute vestibular neuronitis or labyrinthitis. These are exercises you learn from a physical therapist or occupational therapist and then do at home. This rehabilitation involves movements of your head and body to correct loss of balance.
* Meniere's disease- Treatment of Meniere's disease involves reducing your body's retention of fluids through diuretics or dietary changes, such as a low-salt diet. Occasionally, surgery is an option.
* Vestibular migraine- To combat vertigo associated with a vestibular migraine, your doctor will likely try to help you determine and avoid the triggers for your attacks. He or she may suggest that you avoid certain foods, reduce stress in your life, develop a regular sleep pattern and practice aerobic exercise. You may also be taught specific exercises to help make your balance system less sensitive to motion (vestibular rehabilitation). Certain medicines may help prevent attacks of migrainous vertigo or make them less uncomfortable by providing relief for nausea and vomiting.
* Anxiety disorders- Your doctor may suggest counseling to help you deal with your anxiety and manage your dizziness.
* Other contributing health conditions- Your doctor will recommend treatment of an existing disease or disorder that may be causing or contributing to your dizziness, such as ear infection, stroke, heart problems or multiple sclerosis.
Dizziness is one of the most common reasons older adults visit their doctors. Aging increases the risk of developing any of several conditions that may cause dizziness. Although it may be disabling and incapacitating, dizziness rarely signals a serious, life-threatening condition. Treatment of dizziness depends on the cause and your symptoms.
Causes:
Under normal circumstances, your sense of balance is controlled by a number of signals that your brain receives from several locations:
Eyes- No matter what your position, visual signals help you determine where your body is in space and how it's moving.
Sensory nerves- These are in your skin, muscles and joints. Sensory nerves send messages to your brain about body movements and positions.
Inner ear- The organ of balance in your inner ear is the vestibular labyrinth. It includes loop-shaped structures (semicircular canals) that contain fluid and fine, hair-like sensors that monitor the rotation of your head. Near the semicircular canals are the utricle and saccule, which contain tiny particles called otoconia. These particles are attached to sensors that help detect gravity and back-and-forth motion.
Good balance depends on at least two of these three sensory systems working well. For instance, closing your eyes while washing your hair in the shower doesn't mean you'll lose your balance. Signals from your inner ear and sensory nerves help keep you upright.
However, if your central nervous system can't process signals from all of these locations, if the messages are contradictory, or if the sensory systems aren't functioning properly, you may experience loss of balance.
Symptoms:
Characteristics of dizziness may include:
* A sense that you or your surroundings are spinning or moving (vertigo)
* A loss of balance
* Nausea
* Unsteadiness
* Wooziness
* Lightheadedness
* Faintness
* Weakness
* Fatigue
* Difficulty concentrating
* Blurred vision after quick head movements
Diagnosis:
Your doctor will likely ask you a number of questions about your dizziness. In trying to determine the cause, your doctor may ask if your dizziness:
* Causes the room to spin or produces a sensation of motion.
* Is associated with a feeling of faintness or lightheadedness.
* Causes you to lose your balance.
* Is accompanied by ringing or fullness in your ears (tinnitus) or trouble hearing.
Your doctor will want to know what medications you're taking. He or she will also ask you when you experience dizziness, how long it lasts and how often it occurs. Your doctor can narrow down possible causes of dizziness after determining the type of dizziness you're experiencing, reviewing your medical history and current medications, conducting a physical examination, and ordering further testing based on your signs and symptoms.
Doctors can usually determine the cause of dizziness. Doing so may require a consultation with an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist or a neurologist. But even if no cause is found or if your dizziness persists, prescription drugs and other treatments may make your symptoms more manageable.
Treatment:
Doctors base treatment of dizziness on the cause and your symptoms.
* BPPV- Treatment of BPPV is with canalith repositioning, a simple procedure that involves your doctor or physical therapist maneuvering the position of your head. The goal is to move the loose particles in your ear to a place within your ear where they won't cause dizziness and will be reabsorbed into your body's fluids. The success rate of this procedure may be as high as 90 percent. You may need to have the procedure repeated.
* Inner ear conditions- Balance retraining exercises (vestibular rehabilitation) are used to treat acute vestibular neuronitis or labyrinthitis. These are exercises you learn from a physical therapist or occupational therapist and then do at home. This rehabilitation involves movements of your head and body to correct loss of balance.
* Meniere's disease- Treatment of Meniere's disease involves reducing your body's retention of fluids through diuretics or dietary changes, such as a low-salt diet. Occasionally, surgery is an option.
* Vestibular migraine- To combat vertigo associated with a vestibular migraine, your doctor will likely try to help you determine and avoid the triggers for your attacks. He or she may suggest that you avoid certain foods, reduce stress in your life, develop a regular sleep pattern and practice aerobic exercise. You may also be taught specific exercises to help make your balance system less sensitive to motion (vestibular rehabilitation). Certain medicines may help prevent attacks of migrainous vertigo or make them less uncomfortable by providing relief for nausea and vomiting.
* Anxiety disorders- Your doctor may suggest counseling to help you deal with your anxiety and manage your dizziness.
* Other contributing health conditions- Your doctor will recommend treatment of an existing disease or disorder that may be causing or contributing to your dizziness, such as ear infection, stroke, heart problems or multiple sclerosis.
No comments:
Post a Comment