Dizziness may appear suddenly for no reason, or it may be preceded by more or less common symptoms such as ringing in the ears, nausea, and excessive sweating. Dizziness is one of the most common topics on online forums. Remember how many times you felt like you were on a carousel.
You are walking or shopping. And suddenly you start to feel like you're sitting on a merry-go-round.You feel dizzy , a sudden tangle of thoughts, arms and legs fly away, your ears are ringing. And this overwhelming fear that you too will fly away forever …Dizziness , which can manifest in this way, often appears on banal occasions, e.g. as a result of alcohol abuse, too quick change position or too frequent and deep breaths. But they can also be a symptom of many serious diseases. Therefore, if they occur frequently, become persistent, or are rare, but extremely strong, you should see your doctor. Also, if they have never happened before and have appeared at once, in addition, in a situation where they should not be, e.g. during a meal or during everyday work.
Do you feel dizzy? Guilty labyrinth
From a medical point of view, dizziness is an expression of a disturbance in the functions of the part of the nervous system responsible for maintaining balance and proper body posture. The structure that is essential in maintaining this balance is the labyrinth (part of the inner ear). But not only. Sight and touch also play an important role. And it is precisely the damage to these structures and the resulting lack of cooperation between them that can make you dizzy. All of them, and above all the numerous centers in the brainstem and cortex, form a very complex system. And if something in him starts to fail, his head may spin. Sometimes even a slight damage "on the links" is enough to make you feel like on a carousel.
Dizziness symptoms
The feeling of dizziness is very individual. What someone feels as dizziness may be a feeling of bewilderment or darkness in front of the eyes for another. Some people refer to it as "insecurity in the head" or "brain atrophy". Basically, this term is used to describe the feeling of the spinning around you or your own body,a feeling of falling or staggering, feeling light-headed, confused, being in a state of fainting (and often it precedes it). These symptoms may additionally be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, ringing in the ears, fear, excessive sweating, feeling hot or, conversely, cold. They may also be preceded by a sudden panic attack. Depending on the cause, the dizziness may appear suddenly without any previous announcements, or it may be preceded by more or less typical signals. Their duration is also different.
Common causes of vertigo
The most common cause of vertigo is viral infections of the equilibrium organ in the inner ear. These symptoms are usually temporary, but symptoms may persist for months. Other reasons may be:
- Ménière's disease (or idiopathic labyrinthine hydrocele) - in this case, attacks repeat for years, leading to hearing impairment; at the same time they may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, pallor, exhaustion.
- Low blood glucose.
- Drop in blood pressure when rising from a sitting or lying position (orthostatic hypotension) - this mainly affects the elderly and pregnant women.
- Disturbances of the blood supply to the brain - common in older people with degeneration of the cervical spine.
- Rapid change in body position (orthostatic vertigo).
- Stroke or transient ischemic attack.
- Brain tumor or brain haemorrhage.
- Carbon monoxide poisoning (as a result of e.g. obstruction of ventilation ducts in houses with gas installations).
- Poisoning with alcohol or drugs, chronic alcohol abuse.
- Motion sickness.
- General diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, atherosclerosis, arrhythmias.
- Certain medications, e.g. non-steroidal anti-inflammatory or antihypertensive drugs.
Ways to treat vertigo
The way to treat vertigo depends on its cause. How many causes, so many therapies. And so, if they occur sporadically, e.g. they are the result of being in a cramped and stuffy room, a change of place or position may be enough (you can close your eyes, tilt your head and breathe calmly, deeply through your nose, exhaling through your mouth). On the other hand, if the drug causes them, the doctor should change it or change its dose. In the case of diseases related to the labyrinth, it is often enough to use diuretics that reduce the amount of fluid within it and clear it.
Relief of the symptoms of vertigo
In many cases you can help yourself,using, for example, acupressure. To do this, apply pressure to the base of the nose with your thumb and index finger. You can also use your thumb to press the points between the first and second metatarsal bones, about 2-3 cm from the joint of the big toe and the second finger. Symptoms can also be relieved by mint tea or an infusion of St. John's wort, or ginkgo preparations. People prone to dizziness are recommended a low-fat diet with plenty of vegetables and fruit. Multigrain bread is also recommended. If you suffer from spinning in your head, you should avoid sudden movements, especially with your head, abrupt standing up and starving. You should also limit the consumption of coffee and caffeinated beverages due to the risk of hyperventilation. And if it does, you can try to breathe into a small paper bag (to regulate oxygen and carbon dioxide levels).Remember! Disregarded vertigo can lead not only to depression, but also to the damage to the body that can occur with falls accompanying vertigo.