| What is Dizziness | | | | ranging from diseases of the heart to bleeding |
| Many different terms are often used to describe what | | | | disorders that cause anemia to adverse reactions to |
| is collectively known as dizziness. Common | | | | medications |
| descriptions include words such as lightheaded, floating, | | | | Ménière disease (fluctuating pressure of inner ear |
| woozy, giddy, confused, helpless or fuzzy. Vertigo, | | | | fluid [endolymph]; results in severe vertigo, ringing in the |
| disequilibrium and pre-syncope are the terms in use by | | | | ears [tinnitus], and progressive hearing loss) |
| most doctors. Dizziness is sometimes a symptom of a | | | | Symptoms of Dizziness |
| balance disorder. | | | | Some people may be describing a sense of |
| Dizziness: Painless head discomfort with many possible | | | | light-headedness, while others simply mean they feel |
| causes including disturbances of vision, the brain, | | | | wobbly on their feet. They may have a feeling that the |
| balance (vestibular) system of the inner ear, and | | | | room is whirling around, although this is more properly |
| gastrointestinal system. Dizziness is a medically | | | | called vertigo, especially if accompanied by nausea |
| indistinct term which laypersons use to describe a | | | | and vomiting. |
| variety of conditions ranging from lightheadedness, | | | | Treatment of Dizziness |
| unsteadiness to vertigo. | | | | Specific treatment depends on the cause identified. |
| Dizziness is one area where doctors and patients fail | | | | Getting sufficient fluids often improves orthostatic |
| to see eye to eye. People are seen by multiple | | | | hypotension resulting from dehydration. Drugs (such as |
| specialists and end up with different opinions. You may | | | | mineralocorticoids and midodrineSome Trade Names |
| have the impression that no one is listening to or cares | | | | Inner ear conditions. Balance retraining exercises |
| about your problem. After a while you wonder if you're | | | | (vestibular rehabilitation) are used to treat acute |
| imagining things. Characteristically there is great relief | | | | vestibular neuronitis or labyrinthitis. These are exercises |
| once a diagnosis is firmly in place. Dizziness is not | | | | you learn from a physical therapist or occupational |
| different from any other problem. | | | | therapist and then do at home. This rehabilitation |
| Causes of Dizziness | | | | involves movements of your head and body to |
| Lightheadedness happens when there is not enough | | | | correct loss of balance. |
| blood getting to the brain. This can happen if there is a | | | | Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy |
| sudden drop in your blood pressure or you are | | | | Vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) is a type of |
| dehydrated from vomiting, diarrhea, fever, or other | | | | physical therapy used to treat vertigo. The goal of |
| causes. Many people, especially as they get older, | | | | treatment is to minimize dizziness, improve balance, |
| experience lightheadedness if they get up too quickly | | | | and prevent falls by restoring normal function of the |
| from a lying or seated position. Lightheadedness often | | | | vestibular systemIn most cases, balance improves if |
| accompanies the flu, hypoglycemia, common cold, or | | | | the exercises are correctly and faithfully performed. |
| allergies. | | | | Muscle tension, headaches, and fatigue will diminish, and |
| Sensory nerves. These are in your skin, muscles and | | | | symptoms of dizziness, vertigo, and nausea will |
| joints. Sensory nerves send messages to your brain | | | | decrease or disappear. Many times, vestibular VRT is |
| about body movements and positions. | | | | so successful that no other treatment is required. |
| Low blood pressure, which can have multiple causes | | | | |