Dizziness – causes, treatment and prevention

The world around you sways and turns. You have the feeling of swaying or tipping over at any moment. People who suffer from dizziness (vertigo) report that they lose their balance, their orientation and coordination is disturbed and their movements are distorted.

Affected people have an increased tendency to fall and sometimes also feel severe nausea and have to throw up. The symptoms and causes of dizziness are varied. Dizziness can come on suddenly and temporarily, or it can become chronic. In general, there are three basic types of dizziness.

Vertigo causes problems walking or standing. Rotating vertigo is characterized by a strong spinning sensation and nausea, and positional vertigo is a form of vertigo that occurs when you tilt your head to one side.

causes

There are many different causes for the occurrence of dizziness. Normal dizziness is usually caused by an unknown or unfamiliar sensory stimulus and is therefore a kind of protective measure of the body – e.g. at height or when changing direction quickly (roller coaster).Dizziness can also occur as a symptom of a more complex medical condition. Dizziness can be an accompanying symptom of circulatory diseases, poisoning, cervical spine malpositions, sudden hearing loss, diabetes, inner ear inflammation and other diseases. Lack of oxygen, smoking or glasses with the wrong prescription can also cause dizziness.

However, dizziness can also be a sign of pathological disorders of the sense of balance and the systems responsible for it, such as the ears, eyes and brain. Other causes include not getting enough food or fluids and changes in blood pressure .

Dizzy spells can also occur during pregnancy or as a result of sunstroke. In addition, dizziness can also come from the psyche (emotional stress , anxiety disorders, depression) or be triggered by medication (e.g. antihypertensive drugs).

Diseases

• cardiovascular diseases

• poisoning

• cervical spine deformities

• hearing loss

• Diabetes

• inner ear infection

• sunstroke

• anxiety disorders

• Depression

When to the doctor?

A doctor should be consulted if the person concerned does not identify the cause of the dizziness themselves, the dizziness reoccurs without a specific reason, or dizziness attacks occur very suddenly. Dizziness can be a harbinger of a stroke, especially in older people. Dizziness should also be examined by a doctor if the symptoms are particularly severe, do not go away, or if the affected person becomes dizzy with certain (head) movements.

A doctor’s visit is also recommended if other symptoms such as headaches, hearing problems, vision problems , drowsiness, fainting, nausea, fatigue, fever, heart palpitations or shortness of breath occur. If people feel they are swaying on solid ground without the surroundings moving, a doctor should be consulted.

If dizziness occurs during an ear disease, the flu , an infectious disease such as measles or scarlet fever or a herpes zoster infection, a doctor should definitely be consulted. If people get dizzy regularly and in certain situations or in a special environment, for example in a large square, in an elevator, in a crowd or before important appointments, a doctor’s visit is recommended. Even if dizziness is caused by stress, a doctor should be consulted.

diagnosis and course

If you experience persistent balance disorders or dizziness, you should see your family doctor. The doctor first asks when and in which situation the symptoms occurred and what form of dizziness it is.

Do the dizzy spells come on suddenly, mostly for no reason, and are they expressed as intense rotary vertigo? Do the symptoms only last for a short time and then largely disappear? Are the vertigo attacks accompanied by other symptoms, such as reduced hearing, headaches ( migraines ) or nausea ? If these criteria are correct, the doctor must assume so-called Meniere’s disease. Migraines or circulatory disorders can also trigger typical dizzy spells.

If the dizziness lasts for several days or weeks and changes in intensity, this is referred to as permanent rotary vertigo. This form of dizziness can indicate, among other things, a middle ear infection, inner ear infection, but also diseases of the cardiovascular system.

Another form of dizziness usually occurs when the head changes position in certain ways. Here the dizziness only occurs for a short time, for example when getting up in the morning.

If the dizziness is accompanied by balance problems when walking and standing (unsteady gait), you feel dizzy and have the impression that your surroundings are swaying, then it is a question of swaying or drowsiness. Diseases of the cardiovascular system (e.g. vascular changes), but very often also psychological disorders (anxiety, depression) can be possible triggers for this.

Depending on the suspected cause, the doctor can use different examination methods. In addition to checking the sensory organs (eyes, hearing) and checking the ability to balance, brain activity measurements ( EEG ) or imaging methods ( ultrasound ) can also be used for further diagnosis.

complications

The dizziness usually has a negative effect on the affected person’s quality of life. It is no longer possible to concentrate easily or to work actively. This restricts those affected in everyday life and can lead to difficulties at school or at work. It is also no longer possible to drive and operate machines. The dizziness can last for a long period of time, leading to depression and other mental illnesses . The person affected often withdraws and no longer actively participates in life.

If the dizziness occurs after sunstroke or an accident, other symptoms such as headaches or nausea often occur. These will go away on their own over time and will not lead to any complications. However, if you feel dizzy after an accident, you should consult a doctor, as this may be a concussion . Because of the dizziness, the patient often cannot move normally. There is an increased risk of accidents here, which occurs above all in older people.

treatment and therapy

The treatment of dizziness always depends on the triggering factors. If there is an underlying disease, it must be treated as a priority, because only then can all the accompanying symptoms disappear. There are some treatment methods for dizziness, but they always depend on the cause – medication, gymnastics, physiotherapy, psychotherapy or, rarely, surgery.

For example, if the dizziness is caused by a misalignment of the spine or if the cause of the dizziness is sudden hearing loss, massage and physiotherapeutic measures such as physiotherapy can be very helpful. Physiotherapy also helps improve balance.

In the case of dizziness that is triggered by unfamiliar situations, such as vertigo, fear of flying or motion sickness, it can be useful to expose yourself to the same stimuli that are also triggered in a car on a winding road, for example, in order to avoid this situation to be used to. If this method is unsuccessful, there are also various medications that can prevent or at least curb dizziness.

Depending on the underlying cause, these can be so-called antihistamines or antivertigo drugs. In exceptional cases (e.g. tumors, vasoconstriction) dizziness can also be treated surgically.

prevention

There is basically no way to prevent dizziness, especially if the dizziness is caused by a specific disease. The underlying disease must be treated in any case so that the dizziness no longer occurs.Normal dizziness caused by changes in blood pressure can be prevented by eating and drinking enough, not making jerky movements, especially not when it is very hot. In addition, if you suffer from low blood pressure, you should never get up too quickly or turn around suddenly.

In many cases, dizziness that occurs during pregnancy can be avoided if the blood sugar level is always kept at a healthy level. This can be achieved if you eat regularly and don’t overexert yourself and take breaks in between.