Vertigo is ... Vertigo: causes, treatment

The illusory rotation of space or even the person himself, the unsteadiness of the gait and the instability - all these signs are united under one name - "Vertigo syndrome". As an example of this condition, you can bring dizziness that occurs after riding on a swing, when due to sudden stops, a vision of the surrounding reality about itself appears. Than it is caused? Is it possible to prevent its development? Answers to these and other questions can be learned by reading this article.

general information

Vertigo is a loss of balance, accompanied by a feeling of rotation of the body around nearby objects or objects around itself. This kind of condition is characterized by a complex etiology. In the human body there are two organs of equilibrium - labyrinths localized in each ear and sending information to the centers of equilibrium that are in the brain. The incoming data is very important for maintaining coordination. If one of the two labyrinths is irritated or its primary function weakens, an imbalance of signals occurs. The person appears dizzy, unsteady gait, which is often accompanied by nausea or even vomiting.

Vertigo - this is the second most common symptom, which is often referred to a doctor. Note that the first place belongs to head and spinal pains. This pathology, especially in the elderly, is very difficult to diagnose. The thing is that elderly patients represent vertigo as the dominant symptom of other diseases, for example, cardiovascular ailments.

Medical causes of vertigo

• Neurinoma of the auditory nerve. This is a benign neoplasm that causes coordination problems. Sometimes there may be weakness or paralysis of facial muscles, even ringing in the ears.
• Benign positional vertigo. This is a fairly common problem, characterized by dizziness after a change in body position. Lasts no more than two minutes.
• Ischemia of the brain. This condition, as a rule, occurs suddenly, accompanied by severe dizziness, vomiting and increased blood pressure.
• Shingles.
• Ménière's disease. During dizziness attacks, which can sometimes last several days, nausea and vomiting are also observed.
• Seasickness.
• Multiple sclerosis. Episodic impairment of coordination in space can be an early sign of vertigo. In addition, patients note doubling in the eyes, a violation of habitual sensitivity, paralysis, trembling of the limbs.
• Vestibular neuritis.

Other reasons for Vertigo

• Admission of certain groups of drugs (hormonal contraceptives, salicylates, aminoglycoside antibiotics, etc.).
• Diagnostic procedures. For example, a calorie test (injection of warm / cold water into the ear) can cause dizziness.
• Surgical intervention.

Peripheral vertex

This is a serious enough pathology, characterized by acute onset and severe symptoms. This condition is accompanied by worsening of hearing, severe sweating, vomiting, lowering of blood pressure, frequent palpitations.

In the case of peripheral vertigo, the physician, in addition to prescribing medication to improve general condition, should also send the patient to an additional consultation with the otolaryngologist. It is this specialist who is engaged in the diagnosis of pathology and the identification of its causes.

Central Vertigo

What is this ailment? It is characterized by a gradual onset and less pronounced clinical signs. In this case, there are no hearing impairments, and vegetative symptoms are not manifested in all patients. After the appointment of treatment, the improvement of the condition is also slow.

Today, many specialists distinguish vertigo of psychogenic nature. This means that pathology manifests itself in neurosis, frequent stress and constant anxiety. In this type of situation requires additional consultation with a neurologist.

Diagnostics

Currently, a large number of factors affecting the occurrence of dizziness are identified. Of course, this creates some difficulties during the diagnosis. With frequent dizziness, doctors are strongly advised to try to independently analyze their nature (the presence of concomitant symptoms, under what conditions such a condition arises). This data will allow the doctor to correctly diagnose, not to appoint additional procedures.

During the collection of an anamnesis, a specialist, as a rule, clarifies the character of the vertex. What does it mean? For example, dizziness with a deterioration in hearing quality indicates problems of peripheral origin, and when combined with limb sensitivity disorders - on the central system.

To confirm the final diagnosis, as a rule, the following procedures are used:

• MRI of the brain.
• Measurement of blood pressure.
• Inspection of the neurologist.
• Blood test.
• Radiography of the cervical department.
• ECG.
• Carrying out tonal audiometry.

What should be the therapy?

The ideal treatment of this pathology is the elimination of a specific cause, which provoked the appearance of symptoms. However, this requires a series of diagnostic studies that are not always effective. A common rule of therapy for this kind of pathology is the prescription of such drugs, whose action is aimed at improving the patient's current condition, his emotional background, reducing the appearance of dizziness (preparations "Betagistin", "Cinnarizin").

In addition, funds are used to improve blood circulation in the vessels of the brain, the violation of which often accompanies the vertigo. Treatment of systemic dizziness involves taking antihistamines ("Prometazine", "Meklozin").

On the positive side, special rehabilitation exercises have been recommended for the development of strength, coordination and balance. In especially serious cases of the peripheral variant of pathology, operative intervention in the area of the inner ear itself (drainage of the endolinff, operations on the auditory nerve, etc.) is shown.

All patients without exception are recommended a special diet that allows you to remove excess fluid from the body. It is necessary to limit the consumption of coffee and tea, chocolate, alcohol, salty foods.

Possible complications

What is dangerous vertigo? As practice shows, in the absence of timely and qualified treatment, this pathology can entail quite serious limitations. Dizziness often provokes falls, fraught with injuries. In addition, the risk of accidents increases if an attack occurs while driving a car. In the remote stage of vertigo, a depressive state develops, the exit from which requires more serious intervention, qualified help from doctors and relatives.

Conclusion

In this article we told what "vertigo" means, what are the main reasons for the development of this pathology and modern methods of treatment. According to experts, an immediate appeal for help allows not only to stop further progression of the disease, but also to avoid very unpleasant consequences. Be healthy!