Dizziness (Vertigo) What is it?
Dizziness is usually a loss of balance, dizziness or a feeling that objects in the environment are moving. Vertigo is usually a symptom, not a disease, and is the most common type of dizziness. Vertigo creates a misleading sensation about a person's position or movements. Vertigo gives the feeling that one's surroundings are spinning or that one is spinning.
Vertigo can sometimes be a symptom of a serious health problem, so correct diagnosis and treatment are important. Vertigo can have many different causes and treatment will depend on these causes.
Causes of Dizziness
There are many causes of dizziness and they are usually caused by problems with the inner ear. However, some common causes that can lead to dizziness are:
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV):
- It is the most common type of vertigo. It is caused by the displacement of small crystals (otoliths) in the inner ear. This leads to sudden dizziness triggered by head movements.
Meniere's Disease:
- It is caused by fluid imbalance in the inner ear and is accompanied by symptoms such as dizziness, hearing loss and tinnitus.
Vestibular Neuritis (Inflammation of the Inner Ear Nerve):
- Infection of the vestibular nerve is characterised by sudden dizziness, nausea and loss of balance. This condition is usually caused by viral infections.
Vertigo Associated with Migraine (Headache):
- In some migraine patients, dizziness may also occur during the painless period. Migraine-type dizziness can also be seen outside the painful period.
Inner Ear Inflammation (Labyrinthitis):
- Inflammation of the inner ear can lead to dizziness and is often associated with infections.
High Blood Pressure (Hypertension):
- High blood pressure, especially sudden increases, can cause dizziness. Dizziness can also occur when blood pressure is too low.
Neurological Problems:
- Diseases of the brain and nervous system, such as cerebrovascular occlusion, tumours or multiple sclerosis, can cause dizziness.
Drugs and Poisoning:
- Side effects of some medicines can cause dizziness. Especially drugs on the nervous system, alcohol or drugs can cause dizziness.
Psychological Causes:
- Anxiety, stress and panic attacks can cause a feeling of dizziness. Although these conditions do not cause dizziness physically, they may cause a sense of loss of balance psychologically.
Symptoms of Dizziness
Dizziness is not limited to the feeling of spinning and can manifest itself in different ways:
- Rotational Sensation: Sensation of rotation of the surroundings or rotation of the person.
- Loss of Balance Difficulty standing or walking.
- Nausea and vomiting: It is often accompanied by dizziness.
- Hearing Loss: It can occur especially in inner ear diseases such as Meniere's disease.
- Tinnitus: There may be ringing sounds in the ear with dizziness.
- Rapid Eye Movements (Nystagmus): Involuntary movement of the eyes may be a symptom of dizziness.
- Headache It is common in migraine-related dizziness.
Diagnosis of Dizziness
Diagnosis of dizziness requires a thorough assessment. For the diagnosis, the doctor can follow the following steps:
Family and Medical History: The doctor asks when the dizziness started, how often it occurs, under what circumstances it occurs and the patient's medical history.
Physical Examination: To find the source of the dizziness, the doctor may perform balance tests, eye movement tests and an examination of the vestibular system.
Laboratory Tests: Blood tests can be performed to look for infection or other metabolic disorders.
Imaging Methods:
- MRI or CT Scan: It can be done to exclude brain tumours, stroke or another neurological problem.
- Inner Ear Tests: If the cause of vertigo is due to the inner ear, special tests (e.g. ENG or VNG) may be performed.
Vestibular Tests: Vestibular function tests are used to determine whether the dizziness is caused by the inner ear or another source.
Treatment of Dizziness
Treatment of dizziness varies according to the underlying cause. Here are some treatment methods:
Treatment of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV):
- The most common method of treating BPPV, Epley manoeuvre are manoeuvres performed with head movements such as head movements. These manoeuvres aim to place the crystals in the inner ear in the correct position.
Treatment of Meniere's Disease:
- In the treatment of Meniere's disease, dietary adjustments, salt restriction and diuretic drugs may be used to restore fluid balance. Antihistamines or benzodiazepines may also be prescribed to control dizziness.
Treatment of Vestibular Neuritis or Labyrinthitis:
- Antibiotics (if infection is present), antiviral drugs and medicines to relieve dizziness (e.g. antihistamines or antiemetics) are used to treat this condition, which is usually caused by a viral infection.
Treatment of Vertigo Associated with Migraine:
- Medications used in migraine treatment can help control dizziness. In addition, regular migraine treatment can be done to prevent recurrence of dizziness.
Physical Therapy:
- Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT): These are special exercises to improve the functions of the vestibular system. It can be very effective in the treatment of dizziness.
Dizziness caused by psychological causes:
- For anxiety and stress-related dizziness, psychotherapy or behavioural treatment methods can be used. Relaxation techniques, meditation and yoga can also help.
Medication Therapy:
- Antihistamines, tranquillisers and antiemetics: It can help reduce the severity of dizziness. However, these medicines only relieve the symptoms temporarily.
Surgical Intervention:
- In rare cases, if permanent damage to the inner ear has occurred, surgical intervention may be necessary. However, this is usually considered as a last option.
Dizziness Prevention
Some measures that can be taken to prevent dizziness are as follows:
- Reducing the Risk of Falling: Landscaping should be done to reduce the risk of falls for people with dizziness (e.g. cleaning slippery floors, using a night light).
- Avoiding Stress: Anxiety and stress can trigger dizziness. Relaxing activities (yoga, meditation) can help.
- Regular Exercise: Regular exercise should be done to strengthen the vestibular system and improve balance.
- Protecting Inner Ear Health: Ear infections should be avoided and inner ear health should be protected.
As a resultDizziness (vertigo) is a symptom that can occur due to various causes and it is important to determine the underlying cause for proper treatment. People who experience dizziness should consult their doctor and receive appropriate diagnosis and treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between vertigo and dizziness?
Vertigo is a special type of dizziness. Dizziness is a general term, whereas vertigo is the feeling that the environment or the person himself or herself is spinning. There may be other types of dizziness, such as loss of balance.
What are the most common causes of dizziness?
Common causes of dizziness include benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), Meniere's disease, vestibular neuritis, migraine and inner ear infections. Hypertension and some neurological disorders may also cause dizziness.
How is dizziness treated?
Treatment of dizziness depends on the underlying cause. For example, head movements such as the Epley manoeuvre may be used to treat BPPV, dietary adjustments and medication may be required for Meniere's disease, and vestibular rehabilitation therapy may be recommended for vertigo.
When should a person with dizziness consult a doctor?
If dizziness recurs frequently, is severe, is accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, hearing loss, headache or creates a risk of an accident, a doctor should be consulted.
What is Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)?
BPPV is caused by the displacement of small crystals in the inner ear. This causes sudden dizziness triggered by head movements and is usually treated by changing head positions.
Which drugs are used in the treatment of dizziness?
Antihistamines, tranquillisers, antiemetics and sometimes steroids can be used to treat dizziness. However, drug treatment depends on the cause of dizziness.
What can be done to prevent dizziness?
In order to prevent dizziness, stress and anxiety should be avoided, regular exercise should be done, inner ear health should be protected and the risk of falls should be reduced with environmental arrangements.
