Dizziness: forms, causes, symptoms and treatment
Every person has encountered dizziness at least once in his life. There can be many reasons for its occurrence. Sometimes the head is spinning for a completely harmless reason, for example, because of hunger or against the background of overwork. Although in some cases, this symptom may indicate a developing disease.
Content:
- What is vertigo?
- Types of dizziness
- Causes of dizziness
- Dizziness symptoms
- Vertigo diagnosis
- Vertigo treatment
- First aid for dizziness
- Safe folk remedies for dizziness
- Dizziness prevention
- Which doctor should I see if I feel dizzy?
What is vertigo?
Dizziness is the feeling of movement of oneself or of things around. Very often, people who come to see a doctor complain of dizziness. Dizziness can be caused by various diseases, both benign and very life-threatening. About 80 reasons have been identified that can cause dizziness, of which 20% combine a number of reasons.
In a healthy person, a state of balance occurs due to a combination of signals from the vestibular, visual and proprioceptive systems entering the human cerebral cortex. The impulses emanating from the cerebral cortex reach the skeletal and eye muscles, thanks to which a stable posture and the desired position of the eyeballs are achieved.
In the event that the flow of impulses from the vestibular sections to the cortex of the temporal and parietal lobes is impaired, an illusory perception of the movement of surrounding things or one's body arises. Patients often misunderstand the concept of "dizziness". Sometimes a person, experiencing a state of lightheadedness, the approach of deprivation of consciousness, a feeling of emptiness, "lightness in the head" perceives as dizziness, although these symptoms of an approaching fainting are combined with autonomic disorders, such as pallor of the skin, palpitations, nausea, blurred eyes, hyperhidrosis (sweating). A similar condition can be caused by cardiovascular pathology, orthostatic hypotension, hypoglycemia, anemia, and high myopia.
Often, patients with dizziness mean imbalance, that is, instability, staggering while walking. Such disorders can occur after organic damage to the nervous system and, of course, are not dizziness.
Types of dizziness
Psychogenic dizziness: manifests itself after strong emotional distress or due to severe fatigue. At the same time, a person feels a vague feeling of instability, a lack of clarity in the head, and weakness. Some mental syndromes - hysteria, depersonalization, anxiety with panic attacks - can become pathological conditions that are accompanied by dizziness.
Dizziness with cerebral disturbances usually occurs due to pathologies of the cerebellum. This can be a tumor, displacement of the cerebellum with hydrocephalus, trauma to the skull or cervical spine, vascular disorders of the brain. Sudden dizziness can signal cerebellar infarction; this is due to hemorrhage in the cerebellum if the patient is conscious. The defeat of the autonomic nuclei, which are located under the cerebral hemispheres, is the second important cause of vertigo in brain disorders. This can be due to inflammatory or vascular lesions, or from poisoning with chemicals or drugs. These drugs include barbiturates and anticonvulsants, which can cause drowsiness and dizziness. Excessive intake of streptomycin leads to irreversible brain damage.
Dizziness of the ocular nature occurs in healthy people due to unusual visual stimulation (for example, rapid movement of objects or at height). The reason may be the pathology of the eye muscles, that is, paralysis, which leads to a violation of the projection of objects on the retina and the "compilation" of an incorrect picture in the brain.
Dizziness with ear pathology is possible due to damage to various structures: the vestibular apparatus, nerves and blood vessels, or the Eustachian tube (connecting the ear cavity with the nasal cavity). Dizziness, combined with hearing loss, pain or tinnitus, or dizziness in a certain position of the head may occur depending on the location of the lesion. The most common cause of dizziness can be a sulfur plug in the ear canal.
Causes of dizziness
There are many causes of vertigo. It can appear due to damage to the inner ear or vestibular nerve. This vertigo is called peripheral vertigo. Various diseases of the brain can also cause dizziness, then it is called central dizziness. By the symptoms of dizziness and its nature, by the frequency and duration of attacks, you can determine the real cause of dizziness: if there is any discharge from the ear, hearing impairment, this indicates inflammation of the inner ear and requires conservative treatment.
The main diseases in which dizziness appears are presented in the table:
| Disease | Main manifestations |
| VSD (dystonia) | The head is spinning during a sudden change in body position. The attack is short, after a while it goes away on its own. |
| Diseases of the spine: its injuries, spondylosis or osteochondrosis | A person loses orientation in space. The vertigo becomes especially intense when the neck moves. Pains occur in the same place. |
| Migraine | The patient develops tinnitus, the quality of hearing is impaired. |
| Positional benign vertigo | At the same time, the head is spinning very strongly. The attack itself is short in time and develops when a sudden movement of the head is made. |
| Insufficient blood supply to the inner ear or brain | In this case, patients complain of painful sensations in the neck. The attack develops after prolonged static load in a sitting position. |
| The psychogenic nature of vertigo | People with an unstable psyche are susceptible to such attacks. From time to time, they experience confusion, they have a strong fear of injury or falling. |
| Anemia | Most often, dizziness with anemia develops in women. Other signs of anemia include fatigue and weakness, pale skin, and a tendency to faint. |
| Vertebrobasilar insufficiency | In addition to the fact that a person is dizzy, vomiting, vomiting may occur. Patients often complain of headache. The attacks are chronic. |
| Neck injury | In this case, the muscles of the neck become tense, since a person has spent a long time in the same position. Then his muscles begin to ache, after which the pain rises higher. The person begins to have a headache, and to a greater extent its occipital part. |
| Inflammation of the inner ear and labyrinth | Besides dizziness, the person will suffer from pain. |
| Otitis | The patient's hearing decreases, there is noise in the ears. |
| Otolithiasis | The patient develops benign positional vertigo, but the attacks do not last too long. Moreover, they are distinguished by high intensity. |
| Epilepsy | With epileptic seizures, the patient often has dizziness. |
| Stroke | At the same time, the head is very dizzy, vomiting may occur, speech is impaired, coordination suffers. A person cannot orientate himself in space, his muscle weakness increases. Sometimes the patient loses consciousness. |
| Vestibular neuritis | Dizziness manifests itself with a sharp change in body position, or with a rapid turn of the head. |
| Agoraphobia | This phobia is associated with a fear of open space. Sometimes a person's head is spinning even at the thought of going out into the street. |
| Perilymphatic fistula | In addition to dizziness, a person has nausea and vomiting, hearing may deteriorate, and only from one ear. The attack happens unexpectedly for the patient. |
| Meniere's disease | In addition to dizziness, the patient is sick, his hearing deteriorates, and ringing in his ears worries. |
| Growing neuroma (benign tumor) | This disorder can lead to hearing impairment, inability to maintain balance. |
| Taking medications | An attack of dizziness can be triggered by taking antidepressants, NSAIDs, medicines for the treatment of malaria and cancer, antibacterial drugs, calcium channel blockers. |
Video: Life is great! Dizziness. When can you not go to the doctor?
Dizziness symptoms
The symptoms of dizziness are largely determined by the pathology that provoked the attack.
Nevertheless, there are some common signs of this unpleasant phenomenon:
- It seems to a person that she herself or the objects around him move in space in a circle.
- The patient often develops vomiting. Nausea is a constant companion of dizziness.
- There are extraneous noises or ringing in the ears. Hearing may decrease.
- The person's gait becomes wobbly and unstable.
- It seems to a person that his heart began to beat faster.
- The activity of the sweat glands increases.
- During dizziness, a person often experiences weakness.
- After the end of the dizziness attack, the person may begin to fall asleep.
- An increase in body temperature is possible.
- Blood pressure drops are sometimes observed. It can get higher or drop sharply.
There are several symptoms that accompany dizziness and require an urgent visit to the doctor:
- If the head is spinning at the peak of the headache, and there is also muscle weakness in the limbs.
- If the head is spinning for more than an hour.
- If the head is very dizzy in a person suffering from hypertension or diabetes.
- If, during an attack of dizziness, a person fell and fainted.
- If during an attack of dizziness the patient develops vomiting.
- Against the background of dizziness in a person, the body temperature rises to high levels.
Video: broadcast about the most important thing - dizziness:
Vertigo diagnosis
If a person often experiences attacks of dizziness, then he needs to see a specialist. It can be both a therapist and a neurologist. The doctor will conduct a comprehensive examination of the patient. If necessary, he will be redirected to a narrow specialist: to an ENT doctor, to an endocrinologist, etc.
The neurologist will suggest that the patient undergo several tests, which will be aimed at assessing the functioning of the vestibular apparatus. This can be a caloric test or rotational tests. Another method for assessing the state of health of a person with complaints of dizziness is posturography. The study allows you to perform a comprehensive diagnosis of the work of the vestibular, visual and muscular systems.
In addition, the doctor may refer the patient for an MRI of the brain and Doppler ultrasonography of the vessels of the brain and blood vessels (USDG). If a neurological examination does not allow finding the cause of dizziness, then an otolaryngologist should be visited. He will check the condition of the auditory nerve and inner ear. The patient must be shown audiometry and acoustic impedance measurement.
To assess the state of the vascular system, the patient is referred for CT or ultrasound. EEG is also possible.
Most often, comprehensive diagnostics allows you to find the cause of dizziness, if it was not provoked by taking medications.
Vertigo treatment
Popular treatments for vertigo include:
- One of the most effective drugs that can eliminate dizziness as a symptom is Betaserc. It must be taken into account that it does not affect the cause that led to the development of the problem. For long-term use, Betahistine is more suitable.
- It is possible to improve the blood supply to the brain by taking the drugs Cinnarizine and Preductal. They must be taken for 30 days.
- Sometimes patients can cope with dizziness by taking sedatives, for example, Seduxen.
- Surprisingly, antihistamines such as Pipolfen and Diphenhydramine can help to cope with dizziness.
- You can also take a course of gentle massage aimed at working out the cervical spine.
- For some patients, a course of osteopathy helps to get rid of the problem, which is useful in case of displacement of the intervertebral joints.
- For dizziness attacks, relaxing treatments such as bathing and floating are helpful. Floating helps to calm the nervous system and relieve tension.
For the treatment of more serious causes of dizziness (aging or degeneration of the brain, mood disorder, intellectual-mnestic disorder, disorientation, dementia, delirium, organic amnestic syndrome, the presence of craniocerebral trauma of any degree, impaired consciousness and coma, stroke, discirculatory encephalopathy, as well as mental overload), doctors use Gliatilin. Gliatilin is an original centrally acting nootropic drug based on choline alfoscerate, which improves the condition of the central nervous system (CNS). Due to its phosphate form, it penetrates the brain faster and is better absorbed. Choline alfoscerate also has a neuroprotective effect and accelerates the recovery of brain cells after damage. Gliatilin improves the transmission of nerve impulses, has a positive effect on the plasticity of neuronal membranes, as well as on the function of receptors.
Video: Dr. Evdokimenko, Academician of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, will tell you about the treatment of dizziness:
Exercise therapy for cervical muscles
Therapeutic and physical training complex, which allows you to get rid of dizziness provoked by overstrain of the cervical muscles:
- You need to stand up straight with your back against the wall. First, the chin is pulled down, touching it to the neck. Then they straighten the neck, trying to pull the back of the head up, touching the wall with it. You can hold in this position for either 5 or 10 seconds.
- The second exercise is performed in a sitting position. It is important that there is a flat surface behind. In this case, the head must be slightly tilted back, pressing the back of the head against the wall or back of the chair. It is convenient to do the exercise in the car. You need to hold the voltage for 3 seconds.
- The third exercise is similar to the previous two, but the head should be slightly turned to the right and then to the left when it touches the wall.
These simple exercises can help get the head and neck in the correct position, improve blood flow to the brain, and relieve dizziness.
[Video] Dr. Evdokimenko will talk about safe and dangerous neck exercises:
First aid for dizziness
If a person has dizziness, then it is important to provide him with first aid correctly. First you need to calm down. Panic is not an assistant in any emergency.
If your head is spinning very strongly, then you need to sit down. After that, you need to try to focus on some subject. It is important to keep your eyes open. If after a few minutes the head did not stop spinning and began to hurt, or the person's hands began to go numb, then an ambulance must be called. Until the doctors arrive, you must lie down. In this case, one should refrain from sharp turns of the head.
If a person is in the room, then you need to open all the windows so that fresh air can enter the room. The patient needs to lie down. His head and shoulders should be on the pillow. This position of the body will help prevent clamping of the arteries.
To reduce discomfort, you can apply a towel soaked in cool water to your forehead. You can apply a mild vinegar solution to it. It is also allowed to take 8 drops of Atropine with a concentration of 0.1%.
Such drugs as Andaxin - 0.2 g or Seduxen - 5 mg help to calm down. These medicines are suitable for emergency treatment. Only a doctor can diagnose and prescribe treatment.
Safe folk remedies for dizziness
Sometimes folk remedies help to cope with dizziness as well as drugs. They are safe for your health and do not cause severe side effects. However, before practicing this or that method of alternative medicine, you need to get medical advice.
Safe folk remedies for dizziness include:
- Drinking carrot and beet juice. They drink it on an empty stomach.
- Reception of infusion of parsley seeds. A teaspoon of raw materials is ground and poured into a glass of water. The seeds are infused for 6 hours. Take the drink in small portions. The entire volume should be drunk during the day.
- Reception of inflorescence of clover inflorescences. A tablespoon of plants should be poured over 0.2 liters of boiling water and taken after dinner or after lunch.
- Eating pomegranate. This fruit allows you to cope with the symptoms of anemia, improve the quality of the blood and get rid of attacks of dizziness.
- Infusion of mint, linden and lemon balm. All components are taken in the amount of one tablespoon and poured with a glass of hot water. The drink is drunk in the evening.
- Eating seaweed. This product can be purchased in powder form. The product is sold at the pharmacy. You can also eat cabbage neat. It contains phosphorus, iodine and other useful trace elements that allow the vestibular apparatus to function normally.
- Ginger tea is no less useful for dizziness.
Dizziness, as a symptom, does not pose a threat to human life or health, but it can indicate serious illness. This is especially true in the case when a person is not only dizzy, but also has a headache, speech is disturbed, weakness increases, and the sensitivity of the limbs worsens. In such a situation, you need to call an ambulance as soon as possible.
Dizziness prevention
In order to minimize the likelihood of dizziness, you need to adhere to the following tips:
- To refuse from bad habits.
- Eat less salt.
- Avoid drinking a lot of coffee and drinks that contain caffeine.
- If a person's professional activity forces him to sit for a long time, then you need to do exercises.
- It's important to minimize stress in your life.
- One should try not to make sudden movements of the head or neck.
- As much time as possible should be spent in the fresh air, in nature.
- If a person gets seasick during long trips, then special medications can be taken.
- For a quality night's rest, you need to take care of organizing your sleeping place. To do this, you need to purchase an orthopedic mattress, which will allow you to maintain a normal body position during a night's rest.
Which doctor should I see if I feel dizzy?
If a person is haunted by attacks of dizziness, then he needs to contact a therapist or a neurologist.
Author of the article: Alekseeva Maria Yurievna | Therapist
Education: From 2010 to 2016 Practitioner of the therapeutic hospital of the central medical-sanitary unit No. 21, city of elektrostal. Since 2016 she has been working in the diagnostic center No. 3.
