Balance is very important. because it allows our body to remain stable, either in a static or dynamic position. Balance does not have a specific organ that is responsible for maintaining it, it represents, from an anatomical point of view, the link between the vestibular system (inner ear), vision, and certain receptors in muscles, joints, and tendons that send and receive information integrated at a central level.
In this article, you will find out what vertigo is and what distinguishes it from dizziness, what are the causes and symptoms of vertigo and how this sensation can be improved.
What is the mechanism of imbalance production?
Sounds picked up by the ear reach the eardrum, which decodes them in the form of vibrations, which are then transmitted via the hammer, the scales, and the anvil to the vestibular apparatus in the inner ear. It is the vestibular apparatus that transmits information about the position of our body to the brain. Balance disorders occur when this circuit is disturbed for various reasons. Balance is regulated at the level of the brainstem and can be altered by any problem occurring in any of the areas mentioned. Imbalance can be felt in two ways: dizziness and vertigo.
Dizziness
Dizziness is a state of instability, floating, swaying, and even disorientation. Dizziness can be related to some pathological conditions such as:
hypertension
hypoglycemia
anemia
hormonal imbalances
digestive disorders
taking certain medicines
excessive alcohol consumption
drug use
motion sickness
lack of sleep
prolonged stress
chronic fatigue
mental illness.
Vertigo
Vertigo is the sensation of a patient’s rotating movement. It is an illusion, a false sensation of spinning. The sensation is the result of a disease of the inner ear. Vertigo may be accompanied by some inner ear manifestations: hyperacusis, tinnitus, and ear discharge. Vertigo can be a consequence of particularly serious conditions such as:
Stroke
Multiple sclerosis
Brain tumors
Migraine headaches
The specialist must decide whether it is vertigo or dizziness (the nature of the balance disorder), identify the cause, and the triggering factors, whether it is a temporary or long-lasting episode, and analyze the patient’s medical history, neurological, cardiological, ophthalmological and other antecedents. The patient needs ENT, ophthalmological, and cardiological consultations.
Causes of vertigo
Vertigo is most often associated with vestibular damage. There are other causes:
Neurological causes (migraines, ischemic attacks): there are many neurological conditions.
Ophthalmological causes
Cardiovascular causes (cardiac arrhythmias)
Metabolic causes (hypoglycemia)
Psychiatric causes (anxiety, depression, phobias).
The most serious types of vertigo are caused by:
head trauma
strokes
multiple sclerosis
brain tumors
migraine headaches.
Types of Vertigo
Vertigo is classified as follows:
Peripheral vertigo – which occurs because of problems in the inner ear (otitis or bacterial or viral inflammation). Peripheral vertigo has its source in the inner ear.
Central vertigo – which occurs as a result of craniocerebral trauma, multiple sclerosis, tumor formation, and excessive alcohol consumption. Central vertigo originates in the brain.
Another classification of vertigo can be made about hearing:
without hearing loss (vestibular neuronitis)
with hearing loss (labyrinthitis, Meniere’s disease)
Useful information about vertigo
To make the final diagnosis that indeed you have vertigo, the specialist needs to have more information:
how long the vertigo lasts: from a few seconds to minutes.
whether it is triggered by sudden head movements or is repetitive and accompanied by auditory signs.
What was the position of the body when the dizziness occurred, whether it was preceded by medication? Whether the patient was at rest, in activity, during physical exertion, asleep or conscious.
whether there were other associated signs: nausea, vomiting, hearing signs, hyperacusis, headache, palpitations, tachycardia, and visual disturbances.
whether the symptoms started suddenly or slowly.
if there are triggering factors in the patient’s medical history, or family history.
if vertigo worsens or occurs in the movement relationship, in orthostasis, during physical exercise.
On what basis does the doctor make the diagnosis?
The specialist makes the diagnosis based on a medical history, medical consultation, and investigations.
If the doctor assumes that there are ENT causes, he recommends the following investigations: ENT examination, audiogram, and tympanogram.
If neurological causes are suspected, he recommends computer tomography or cranial MRI, or Doppler examination.
If cardiac causes are suspected, the doctor recommends: echocardiography, Holter monitoring, exercise test, cardiological examination, and EKG.
Medical tests may also help in diagnosis. Or biofeedback sessions done with special devices such as NUCLEUS and ED-X can also establish if you have vertigo.
How is vertigo treated?
Vertigo is treated by relieving the conditions that caused it. Treatment is also given to restore the balance function. The doctor may also recommend a diet and a healthy lifestyle.
Also, biofeedback therapy mentioned above can help relieve the symptoms and work on each condition in particular, that may have caused vertigo. The biofeedback devices’ Matrix will find out exactly why vertigo appeared and will work on that particular problem. You’ll need more sessions to relieve the symptoms and eventually treat exactly what caused your vertigo.
How can vertigo be relieved?
There are several measures to relieve vertigo when it sets in:
do not bend your head, stretch your neck, or make sudden movements.
the patient should sit down as soon as the first signs of vertigo appear. They should also go to a quiet, dimly lit place.
Sleeping with the head higher than the rest of the body is recommended.
Even if such measures can relieve vertigo at the moment, it is a serious manifestation whose cause must be treated by a doctor.