Describing dizziness is a frustrating task because it is one of the most common symptoms doctors see all the time. There can be a number of reasons why you often feel dizzy, but this symptom always indicates that something is wrong with the mechanism of balance and movement or with the brain. Considering that the brain depends on the supply of oxygen and the proper functioning of the body, its activity can also be affected by diseases of the cardiovascular system and disorders of the internal environment.
As a result, you often feel dizzy or the causes of the problem
- Brain disease. Any disease of the brain can cause dizziness, especially in the case of conditions associated with cerebral edema and increased intracranial pressure. This may include trauma (often associated with a concussion), brain tumor, brain infection including meningitis, stroke, post-epileptic conditions and more.
- Diseases or disorders of the organs of balance and movement. These organs function in pairs and are located deep in the skull. We are talking about 3 semicircular canals, which are anatomically very closely related to the hearing aid. Such disorders include inflammatory processes in the immediate vicinity of these organs, such as middle ear infections, inflammation of the nerve that carries information about balance (auditory neuromas), accidents, the effects of alcohol, Meniere's disease, kinetosis.
- Vascular causes. This group includes conditions where the blood vessels are unable to supply enough blood and oxygen to the brain, which can result in weakness and dizziness. Most often we are talking about general atherosclerosis of the cerebral arteries, when, in particular, in older people, almost all cerebral arteries are affected. In addition, it can often lead to narrowing of the carotid artery, where there is an increased risk of ischemic stroke, or narrowing of the posterior two vertebral arteries.
- Intoxication. Overdosing on a wide range of commonly used drugs can cause dizziness, usually including various antidepressants, sleeping pills, etc. Naturally, this also includes the effect of alcohol, which actually affects the brain and the organs of balance and movement. Other toxic compounds worth mentioning include carbon monoxide.
- Change in blood pressure. Feeling dizzy and tired can often result from changes in blood pressure, both high and low.
- Heart failure. Failures in cardiac activity lead to failure of oxygen supply to the brain. Almost any heart failure can thus easily affect the brain.
- Anemia. A lack of red blood cells means less oxygen to the brain and leads to various complications, of which dizziness is a common one. In this case, we are talking about the so-called. anemic syndrome.
- Ophthalmological diseases. Many eye diseases of the eyes are manifested by situations in which one feels dizzy. An example would be an acute form of glaucoma with increased intraocular pressure, other conditions leading to double vision, and many others.
- Violation of the internal environment of the body. Changes in ion concentrations (mainly sodium and chloride), dehydration, increased waste products due to liver or kidney failure, hypoglycemia, or, conversely, increased sugar levels due to diabetes can lead to dizziness.
After the swing, dizziness, what is it?
The state of the body, when the earth seems to “leave from under your feet” and surrounding objects float before your eyes, is known to many. It's called dizziness. Feeling dizzy can occur for various reasons, related both to pathological disturbances in the functioning of organs and systems, and to physiological changes in the body. In any case, dizziness is not a disease, but a violation of the sense of balance in the vestibular apparatus
, located in the human inner ear.
Our nervous system
receives information about the position of the body in space mainly through the vestibular apparatus.
From it, information enters the temporal parts of the cerebral
and nerve cells, which control the location of the body in space.
If the chain of transmission of impulses from the vestibular apparatus is disrupted, then the person begins to feel dizzy. Unsteady gait and temporary dizziness after riding on a swing
or motion sickness in transport are normal phenomena associated with an interruption in the chain of impulse transmission from the vestibular apparatus to the brain.
You may also feel dizzy if there is a sharp increase in the level of adrenaline in the blood. For example, after a big win, a declaration of love or a serious quarrel, which provoke the release of a large amount of adrenaline into the blood. Many people also experience a feeling of dizziness from heights, when the eyes
cannot quickly focus on nearby objects due to the need to look into the distance.
Despite the fact that even healthy people often feel dizzy, regularly recurring dizziness cannot be ignored. They may be a symptom
the following diseases: 1.
Blood pressure
.
High or low blood pressure are the most common causes of dizziness. People who have problems with the functioning of the cardiovascular system feel dizzy every time there is a circulatory disorder and changes in blood pressure. 2. Anemia
.
Iron deficiency anemia, associated with a noticeable decrease in hemoglobin in the blood, is most often accompanied by dizziness. You may also feel dizzy when your blood glucose level drops. get rid of discomfort
and dizziness in these situations.
3. Osteochondrosis
.
With osteochondrosis or curvature of the spine, the blood arteries experience severe compression in the cervical region, which leads to disruption of the blood supply to the brain and the person feels as if he is spinning on a high-speed swing. Dizziness in this case can be prolonged and accompanied by weakness, nausea and loss of coordination. If a person experiences dizziness when getting out of bed
, this is most often the result of osteochondrosis or vegetative-vascular dystonia.
When you stay in one position for a long time, vasoconstriction occurs, which leads to disruption of blood circulation
and the functioning of the nervous system.
4. Migraine
.
Every second woman between the ages of 25 and 55 suffers from migraine. Migraine symptoms include severe headaches, nausea, weakness and vomiting. to relieve pain and get rid of the unpleasant condition of migraines
even with potent drugs.
5. Stroke
.
If dizziness is accompanied by tinnitus, blurred vision, sudden loss of strength and headache, then call an ambulance immediately. This condition is typical for stroke - an acute disorder of cerebral circulation. A sharp deterioration in general condition, nausea, vomiting, and problems with coordination of movement can also occur with a concussion after a traumatic brain injury, meningitis and borreliosis. 6. Otitis media
.
Any disturbances in the functioning of the vestibular apparatus lead to impaired coordination of movement and dizziness. These disorders can occur against the background of inflammatory diseases of the inner ear - otitis, due to injury or brain tumor
.
If dizziness is accompanied by pain in the ear, hearing loss, numbness of the extremities and fever, then it is imperative to do a brain examination. Dizziness, aggravated by coughing and sneezing, indicates the presence of a serious pathology in the inner ear. For example, about a ruptured eardrum
or a complication of otitis media.
7. Chronic diseases
.
Taking medications to treat various chronic diseases can also cause dizziness. For example, antibiotics
, sleeping pills, antidepressants and tranquilizers.
Dizziness and nausea in women can also be a sign of pregnancy, but normally they should only occur from time to time. If a pregnant woman is constantly dizzy, then this is most likely the result of anemia, low blood pressure or vegetative-vascular dystonia. In this case, no matter how normal the condition may seem, it is necessary to undergo a full examination of the body at the antenatal clinic. Attacks of dizziness lasting 1-2 days are a serious reason
to consult a doctor. They indicate serious problems in the body. If dizziness recurs regularly, be sure to undergo examinations of the vestibular system, MRI of the brain, ECG of the vessels of the neck to determine the cause of dizziness and cure the disease that causes this unpleasant condition.
Physiological dizziness
The group of physiological dizziness includes motion sickness and dizziness due to heights.
They arise from inappropriate information coming from different sensory inputs. In the case of motion sickness, this is information from the inner ear, the vestibular visual apparatus. A person encounters them when moving in vehicles. The problem is usually accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Similar symptoms are also accompanied by a situation where you feel dizzy at altitude. Causes of non-vestibular vertigo – not due to inner ear problems:
- Cardiovascular – blood pressure fluctuations – hypotension/hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, heart disease, heart failure, coronary heart disease.
- Metabolic – diabetes/hypoglycemia, lipid metabolism disorders, gout.
- Disturbances in blood formation - decreased blood flow and tissue oxygenation.
- Disturbances of the internal environment - dehydration, changes in mineral concentrations, changes in acid-base balance/acidosis/alkalosis.
- Diseases of the endocrine system - increased or decreased function of the thyroid gland, adrenal glands, pituitary adenoma.
- Organ disorders - diseases of the liver, kidneys, lungs, accumulation of metabolites, toxins.
- Infectious diseases - fever, weakness, fatigue, exhaustion.
- Visual impairment – poor vision – insufficient or excessive diopters, nystagmus.
- Neurological disorders - headaches, migraines.
- Musculoskeletal disorders – muscle rigidity and disorders of the cervical spine.
- Taking certain medications - antihistamines, opioid analgesics, antibiotics.
- Withdrawal symptoms.
- Mental disorders - phobias, panic attacks.
- Poisoning and excessive consumption of caffeine or alcohol.
How I cured dizziness: after many years of ordeal, forty minutes was enough - MK
It's all about the ear crystals
To begin with, coming out. I get dizzy from time to time. Quite a long time ago, about twenty-five years. It spins when you tilt it up. Or, conversely, when you look down. Or in a dream, when you roll over to the other side.
This kind of bullshit comes on unexpectedly and lasts from several days to a month. Gradually the dizziness stops and may not occur again for a whole year. Or two years. Or three. There is no system in her behavior. I don't know why it starts and why it stops.
Many times I tried to find out why she was spinning and how to treat her. I went to different specialists. I can’t remember all the doctors I’ve visited in my life. But those whom I have worked with over the past five or six years have definitely been good professionals.
All of them conducted consultations in public and commercial clinics and medical centers. Real doctors, not paramedics. Someone was recommended to me. Having saved up money, I went to someone myself, deciding that I could trust him since he worked in an expensive and prestigious medical institution, because they wouldn’t hire a bad specialist there.
I do not mention the names of medical centers here so as not to create anti-advertising for them. But, believe me, they are all very worthy, famous and have been working in Moscow for many years.
If you feel dizzy, you need to go to a neurologist - this is what I was told in any clinic. And the therapist also always referred me to a neurologist. That's why I went to neurologists.
Neurologists examined me very carefully. They tapped me with hammers, laid me down, kneaded me, sent me for an ultrasound of the neck vessels, an MRI of the brain and upper spine, and demanded that I take all sorts of tricky blood tests.
According to the results of the research, on which I spent about ten thousand each time, if not more, it turned out that I, of course, had osteochondrosis. The vertebrae in the neck are misaligned from computer work or perhaps from a birth injury. Because of this, some vessels in the neck are pinched and the blood supply to the brain is disrupted. And my head is spinning.
Neurologists wrote terrible diagnoses in their reports. And some kind of encephalopathy, and something vascular, and something vegetative-vascular.
I was upset, of course. “Unfortunately, the vertebrae cannot be moved back,” the kind neurologists reassured, “it will get worse with age. High blood pressure, stroke, you are at risk. But now we will treat you, and you will feel better. In general, you need to sit at the computer less, sleep more, walk, relax, therapeutic exercises and the pool, swimming is very useful for you.”
The treatment from all the doctors was the same - ten days of drips with some kind of blood-strengthening drugs, plus massage, chiropractor, acupuncture, physiotherapy and therapeutic exercises. Either all together, or something to choose from. But in any case it cost a lot of money.
One time I decided to limit myself to IVs. After a month, my head really stopped spinning, but before it stopped even without IVs, so I didn’t have much faith in such treatment.
Another time, I had fat insurance that paid not only for IVs, but also for procedures.
“Any whim for your money,” said the neurologist, writing out a thick stack of referrals, and for three weeks I went to this medical center as if it were work. Dropper, electrophoresis, magnets, massage, unscrewing the head with a manual, needles.
The dizziness, however, became even more dizzy and only stopped after my treatment stopped and about a month passed again.
I must say that a long time ago - probably ten years ago - I casually told my friend about the head. She graduated from a medical institute in Moscow back in Soviet times. Then she went abroad and works there as an ordinary general practitioner. “How do you get dizzy—like on a ship or like on a carousel?” - she asked immediately.
I said it was more like a carousel. “Go to the earworm,” she advised. In our youth, the otolaryngologist was called “Ear-throat-nosed”. A friend explained that the dizziness was due to the crystals in her ears. Somewhere I found them in the wrong place, and the earworm will return them to the right place with basic manipulations.
They can do it, it's not difficult.
While hanging around neurologists, I sometimes remembered this strange advice and one day I decided to follow it. I went to see an otolaryngologist of the highest qualifications, in a paid reputable clinic with an excellent reputation.
Here, I say, my head is spinning. Put the crystals in my ears back in their place.
A highly qualified otolaryngologist looked at me like I was a fool who had fallen from the sky. She had never even heard of crystals. “With dizziness, see a neurologist. You came to me in vain.”
This is where my relationship with the “ear-throated noses” ended. And the progress with neurologists continued to be sluggish.
***
A couple of months ago - at the beginning of summer - I didn’t feel dizzy at all. And I haven’t been spinning for so long that I forgot to even think about it.
Without any connection with my head, I decided to fulfill an old dream - I signed up for “easy swimming” courses in order to learn how to swim long distances in open water and eventually swim across the Volga at its widest point, or even the English Channel.
Contrary to the assurances of neurologists of the exceptional benefits of swimming for osteochondrosis, after the third lesson my head began to feel dangerously dizzy. I didn’t give up and continued my studies. Don’t throw it away once it’s paid for.
I studied until the end of the course. But my head spun so much that it had never spun in my life.
She behaved well only if she looked straight ahead. But from turns and tilts to the right, left, up, down, a rapid rotation of everything in the field of vision began.
I could only sleep sitting. To brush my teeth, I had to undress and get into the bathtub, because it was impossible to bend over to the sink. My head was starting to feel so dizzy that I could easily hit my forehead against this sink.
While driving, you only had to look straight ahead and park using the mirrors, under no circumstances turning your head sharply. In general, I was in despair, to be honest. Damn neck. My poor brain. He is not supplied with blood at all.
What to do? Should I go see a neurologist again? But how can he help if useless IVs and massage are his entire arsenal?
In addition to the headache, I had a toothache. For some reason, an otolaryngologist saw me at the dentist. After leaving the dentist, I went to see him. An absolutely unpretentious specialist. Fortunately there was no queue, no registration. And she told me about the head. And about crystals.
The diagnosis was made instantly: benign positional vertigo. “You need to see an otoneurologist,” said the otolaryngologist. - He will manipulate you. There is only one specialist in Moscow who can do this correctly, and he has all the necessary equipment. If you go, then go to him.”
And I went to him. And everything worked out. Three weeks of torment and many years of feeling depressed due to “poor blood supply to the brain” ended in forty minutes.
The otoneurologist put special glasses on me, laid me on the couch and began to somehow cunningly and carefully turn me. At first, my head was spinning mercilessly with every turn.
It was sickening, disgusting, I wanted to sit down immediately to stop the rotation. But by the fourth series of turns everything somehow got better.
I rolled over both on my left side and on my right and looked forward to sleeping lying down - forgotten happiness! - already tonight.
***
Benign positional vertigo occurs due to disorders in the vestibular system. Osteochondrosis, narrowed blood vessels and poor blood supply to the brain have nothing to do with it. This is all from a completely different story.
In the human inner ear there are two receptors - auditory and vestibular, which are directly involved in the balance system. The inner ear (ear labyrinth) contains calcium crystals. They lie there in so-called bags and provide a sense of gravity.
These crystals are called canalites. They can break down for various reasons. The released crystals can float out of the sacs into the semicircular canals filled with liquid. There are three such semicircular canals in total. Most often, canalites swim into a vertical channel. But they can swim into any.
If they are swam, changing the position of the head can cause the channels to shift, and then the person will have a feeling of rotation. It's very strong. Lasts less than a minute, but causes nausea, imbalance, and these sensations last for hours.
Such dizziness happens to both children and the elderly. No patterns have been identified that would allow us to indicate their cause. Apparently, these are structural features of the vestibular apparatus. Some kind of pathology. But quite common.
In general, your head can feel dizzy for many reasons. But floating crystals are the most common. About 20% of all people suffering from dizziness suffer from it precisely because they have “loosed” their canalitis.
This cannot be treated with medications. Massages and manuals too. The floating crystals just need to be driven back to where they should be. This is exactly what the otoneurologist did with me. With a series of light movements, I moved the floating canalites to the area of the ear labyrinth where they would not harm the balance system.
Someday they may float back into the semicircular canals. Then I will go to him again, and he will drive them back into place. Since this doesn't happen often, it's not a big problem.
***
Source: //www.mk.ru/science/2017/08/03/kak-ya-vylechila-golovokruzhenie-posle-mnogoletnikh-mytarstv-khvatilo-soroka-minut.html
Peripheral vestibular vertigo
This is a disease whose origin is in the inner ear, where the organ of balance is located in the bony labyrinth, consisting of 3 semicircular canals, an ovoid and spherical sac and the cochlea.
Disorders of these systems most often manifest themselves in the form of rotational vertigo, accompanied by certain movements of both the head and body. This state can be described as a feeling as if a person is spinning in a motionless, stable environment or the environment is spinning around him. This type of dizziness is often characterized by accompanying symptoms - nausea, vomiting, sweating, and rapid heartbeat.
Pathologies responsible for peripheral vestibular vertigo:
- Meniere's disease.
- Inflammatory diseases of the vestibular apparatus – vestibular neuronitis.
- Bilateral vestibulopathy - bilateral lesions and damage to the vestibular organs.
- Temporary depression of nerves and blood vessels - manifested by paroxysmal dizziness.
- Traumatic injuries – fracture in the area of the bone labyrinth.
- Vascular diseases – hypoperfusion of the inner ear.
- Cancers in the hard or soft labyrinth.
Central vestibular syndromes
With these syndromes, the head is constantly spinning without connection with the position of the head.
Dizziness occurs as a result of a damaged brain stem and cerebellum. This damage can occur as a result of vascular disorders that supply blood to the brain structures. The disease can also be triggered by demyelinating or tumor diseases, injuries in the form of concussion, stroke and infectious inflammation of the brain.
Possible complications and treatment
If we consider constant dizziness as a separate symptom, it is not life-threatening. But the pathology underlying the mechanism of its occurrence can lead to the development of complications. What could it be:
- short-term or long-term loss of consciousness;
- traumatic brain injury;
- violation of the integrity of blood vessels;
- coma;
- heart attack;
- stroke;
- disability;
- death.
Complications can be prevented by timely diagnosis and compliance with all doctor’s treatment recommendations.
Diagnostic methods
It is possible to find out why you are constantly dizzy only after undergoing a comprehensive examination. First, the doctor collects complaints and medical history. After this he prescribes:
- blood test (general, advanced);
- electrocardiogram;
- coagulogram;
- ultrasound of the heart muscle;
- Dopplerography;
- pure tone audiometry;
- X-ray of the cervical and thoracic spine;
- tomography (CT and MRI) of the brain.
Areas affected by the vestibular analyzer during dizziness
Additionally, you may need consultation:
- ophthalmologist;
- otolaryngologist;
- endocrinologist;
- psychologist.
Choice of drugs
What to do if you feel dizzy often (or constantly), the doctor decides after receiving the examination results. But, as a rule, treatment comes down to taking medications and using auxiliary measures to combat the identified disease.
Depending on why dizziness began to occur frequently, the following is prescribed:
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: Diclofenac, Naproxen;
nootropics: Nootropil, Piracetam;- diuretics: Betahistine, Acetazolamide;
- muscle relaxants: Baclofen, Mydocalm;
- chondroprotectors: Chondroitin, Structum;
- agents that improve blood circulation in the brain: Cavinton, Vinpocetine, Cinnarizine;
- serotonin agonists: Almotriptan, Naratriptan;
- corticosteroids: Prednisolone, Cortisone;
- analgesics: Nurofen, Tempalgin;
- multivitamin complexes: Complivit, Undevit;
- sedatives: Phenazepam, Valerian.
How to cope with dizziness during pregnancy
- Don't get up too quickly from your bed or chair.
- Be careful with hot showers - hot water causes the blood vessels in the skin to dilate, causing weakness. In such cases, it is better to refuse a bath.
- If you need to stand somewhere for a longer period of time, try squeezing your butt muscles a few times, wiggling your toes, or shifting your weight from one leg to the other to activate circulation in your legs.
- Eat small meals regularly, otherwise you risk low blood sugar levels. Carry light snacks with you.
- Drink plenty of fluids, stay hydrated, and don't overdo it with coffee and tea.
- Well, at home or at work, do not allow overheating, ventilate the room often. In summer, limit prolonged exposure to the sun.
- If you start to feel dizzy or weak, try to increase blood flow to the brain by lying down and elevating your legs with a pillow.
When to seek medical help?
You should contact your doctor immediately if you experience dizziness or fainting during pregnancy, especially if accompanied by blurred vision, rapid heartbeat, severe nausea, loss of consciousness or headaches. Carefully describe your condition and sensations to the doctor.
Treatment of dizziness
It is not always possible to treat dizziness; at best, it is enough to eliminate its main causes from life.
In case of acute attacks associated, for example, with vomiting, it is recommended to take antiemetic drugs. Another treatment option is the administration of drugs and medications aimed at improving oxygenation of the brain. In some cases, appropriate physical therapy helps.
Surgery is often necessary, especially in the presence of tumor causes, trauma, inflammation or vascular occlusion.
Treatment
Frequent headaches and dizziness may indicate illness. Therefore, these symptoms should be discussed with your doctor; it is important to find out their possible causes. Treatment of the condition depends on this.
For mild symptoms, it is recommended to try the following measures before using tablets and injections:
- Compliance with drinking regime.
- Regular meals.
- Plenty of rest.
- Slow getting up (for symptoms associated with rapid changes in body position).
Psychotherapy
If a neurological factor (stroke, central nervous system disease, tumor) is excluded as part of a professional examination, the cause may lie in the psyche. Mental disorders are typical not only for women, but also for men. From a psychosomatic point of view, dizziness and headache are vegetative manifestations of an increased tendency to anxiety. A psychotherapist will help stabilize your condition as part of comprehensive professional psychotherapy.
Sometimes the causative agent of dizziness and headache is not immediately detected. A person may need specialist help and detailed professional testing. Only after identifying the cause can an effective therapeutic plan be developed.
