Dizziness is not a disease, but rather a symptom of diseases associated with the sense of balance. Specialized dizziness centers are therefore often located in the ear, nose and throat clinic or in neurology.
Swaying vertigo usually occurs as a result of tension, in stress and anxiety situations as well as with headaches or migraines.
With elevator vertigo, sufferers have the feeling of being in an approaching elevator.
This is to be distinguished from rotary vertigo, which often indicates more serious illnesses. The characteristic feature of rotary vertigo is that the dizziness moves clockwise or counterclockwise. This indicates involvement of the vestibular system in the inner ear.
Woman with vertigo leaning against the wall @ Robert Kneschke /AdobeStock
What diagnoses are possible?
Sudden symptoms of dizziness should always be checked out at a nearby hospital as soon as possible. This is because it could possibly be a stroke.
Sometimes an epilepsy attack is announced beforehand by dizziness @ Rainer Fuhrmann /AdobeStock
Diagnosis of dizziness using numerous validated test procedures
Various test procedures are available today to examine the vestibular system.
The following methods are used most frequently:
Clinical examination
Blood pressure measurement
Tuning fork test
Otoscopy
Nystagmus test (test for rapid, uncontrolled eye movements)
Romberg test (test for stability)
Finger-nose test
Diadochokinesis (successive opposing movement sequences)
Nerve conduction velocity measurements
Head impulse test
The patient tries to tap the tip of the nosewith an index finger during the finger-nose test @ Robert Kneschke /AdobeStock
The treatment of dizziness
Chronic dizziness, which mainly occurs in older people, can be treated with medication or targeted exercises.
Specialized dizziness therapy often leads to freedom from dizziness. Many patients benefit in particular from so-called combination therapies, consisting of medication and movement exercises.
In contrast to chronic spinning vertigo, acute spinning vertigo can also occur , such as in Meniere's disease. Such disease-related vertigo attacks can usually be controlled very well with medication in the beginning.
Later on, however, surgical treatment of vertigo may become necessary in rare cases. Such procedures are carried out at specialized vertigo centers throughout Germany.
Experts for vertigo therapies
Designated vertigo centers are usually part of neurology centers or clinics for ear, nose and throat medicine (ENT). The vertigo therapy specialists working there have completed specialist training as ENT specialists or neurologists.
The team at the vertigo center is multidisciplinary. In addition to specialists in neurology or ENT, it also includes non-medical therapy groups.
For patients, this means comprehensive care and, if necessary, rapid rehabilitation.
Specialist centers for dizziness pool the latest research knowledge and thus enable optimal care for patients with vertigo attacks or chronic dizziness.
Woman with vertigo leaning against the wall @ Robert Kneschke /AdobeStock
Sometimes an epilepsy attack is announced beforehand by dizziness @ Rainer Fuhrmann /AdobeStock
The patient tries to tap the tip of the nose with an index finger during the finger-nose test @ Robert Kneschke /AdobeStock
