Dizziness and Dizziness Attacks – Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment of Lightheadedness and Vertigo

People may experience dizziness for the same reason but not share every symptom. Vertigo is the most common form of dizziness. It usually occurs after drinking alcohol. The person feels as though their perception is distorted and believes the world is spinning around them.

Vertigo affects the sense of balance and leads to nausea. For this reason, this type of dizziness is often accompanied by vomiting. Vertigo can also

• in the morning after getting out of bed, or
• after the body has been exposed to rapid rotation (e.g., on a merry-go-round)

.

With unsteadiness, those affected have trouble walking in a straight line. The symptoms persist even when the person stops moving. While rotational vertigo tends to have a horizontal effect, with swaying vertigo the person feels as if the ground is being pulled out from under their feet. Vomiting and nausea are also possible here, but much less common.

Elevator vertigo is similar to swaying vertigo. However, the person does not feel as though a solid floor is being pulled away. Rather, it seems as though there is no floor at all and they are in an elevator that is constantly moving up and down.

Transient vertigo can manifest in various ways. With this type of vertigo, the symptoms disappear as quickly as they appear. It can combine symptoms of other types of vertigo and cannot be precisely classified. A characteristic feature is the rapid onset of symptoms.

The causes of dizziness are varied and not always easy to identify. On the one hand, there are age-related dizziness symptoms. Many children also experience dizziness when traveling by boat or car. Once the sense of balance has fully developed, these symptoms often disappear during puberty.

With advancing age, the brain’s ability to process external stimuli as quickly as possible declines. As a result, about 30 percent of people over 65 suffer from frequent episodes of dizziness. Among those under 65, only one in six experiences severe episodes of dizziness.

These types of vestibular dizziness occur when the brain is overloaded with information from the vestibular system (balance system) and the eyes and cannot process it in time.

On the other hand, underlying medical conditions are responsible for perceptual disturbances. Dizziness, for example, occurs as a side effect of

• vestibular epilepsy,
• an acoustic neuroma (a benign tumor of the eighth cranial nerve),
• heart disease, or
• migraines

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Other causes include

• fluctuations in blood pressure (both too high and too low) or
• blockages in the cervical spine.

Blockages in the upper cervical vertebrae, in particular, cause cervical migraine. This manifests as severe headaches and bouts of dizziness.

Medical causes of dizziness:

• Brain disorders such as tumors
• Problems along the cervical spine
• Extreme blood pressure and heart conditions
• Epilepsy
• Migraines

A third type of dizziness is caused by extreme physical conditions. These include

• Substances such as alcohol, drugs, and nicotine (especially during withdrawal)
• psychological distress (panic attacks, hypochondria, stress)
• pregnancy.

Dizziness often stems from psychological factors as well. Many people imagine that they are suffering from serious illnesses and report feelings of dizziness during a medical examination. These feelings are intensified by the supposed certainty that they are terminally ill.

People experiencing dizziness should consult their primary care physician if the symptoms recur frequently or do not go away. If the physician cannot identify a cause for the condition, the patient will be referred to a specialist, depending on the physician’s suspicion.

If a

• a psychological or neurological cause, the patient is placed under the care of a neurologist.
• If there are problems with the cervical spine or other blockages, the patient is referred to an orthopedist.

Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) specialists also treat dizziness.

First, the doctor reviews the patient’s medical history (anamnesis). The patient should try to categorize and interpret their symptoms in advance. This makes it easier for the doctor to determine the type of dizziness.

Usually, the doctor checks the pulse and blood pressure; if necessary, they may also perform an ECG. Such routine examinations help rule out obvious causes such as

• high or low blood pressure,
• heart problems, or
• anemia

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Subsequent neurological tests assess balance. A common method involves having the patient stand on one leg with their eyes closed. Gait tests complement this procedure. In addition, the doctor may perform a series of hearing tests. The sense of balance follows a similar neural pathway to the brain as the sense of hearing. For this reason, problems with balance can also be detected through these tests. In some cases, brain waves are also measured.

There is no one-size-fits-all treatment for dizziness. Depending on the diagnosis, the patient receives individualized care. Severe episodes of dizziness are treated acutely with anti-vertigo medications.

For circulatory disorders or high blood pressure, medications to regulate these conditions are used. Exercise can also help. Physical therapy is particularly considered for problems involving the cervical spine. By relaxing and strengthening the spine, the central nervous system is also stabilized. The nerves are released from tension, thereby eliminating the disruption to sensory perception. For disorders of the vestibular system, targeted exercises are prescribed to improve coordination and promote balance. Accompanying balance exercises not only train the vestibular organs but also help the brain better cope with episodes of vertigo.

Furthermore, the patient often has a role to play as well. Excessive consumption (of alcohol, nicotine, or drugs) or a poor diet has negative effects on brain function. A healthy lifestyle not only boosts resistance to illness but also helps prevent episodes of dizziness.