Dizziness

More than 50% of people before the age of 60 complain of having dizziness and apply for medical advice. The range of complaints about dizziness varies from the classic sensation of a circular motion where patients feel the world is revolving around them, or they are revolving themselves, through a sensation of instability, living inside a dream to a true belief that the house’s walls are about to collapse on them. From the age of 60 onwards, the percentage of patients complaining about dizziness is higher. That said, it is important to emphasize at this stage that dizziness is not an illness but a symptom that its origin needs to be investigated.

Dizziness is caused as a result of malfunction in the balance system, where the brain receives information needed to stabilize the body from several sensors. The most important of these are the balance organs inside the inner ear. these transfer information about the head’s position in space and its movements. The eyes that see the head’s position in space, the horizon line and the sensor system positioned along the spine, which transfer the sensation of the limbs. Every impact to either of these systems can cause a sensation of dizziness and lack of stability. 40 to 60 percent of cases originate in the ear’s balance system. other factors can be a neurologic event like a brain seizure, migraine, multiple sclerosis and more, like changes in blood sugar levels, heart rhythm disorders and a psycho-sociological source.

Diagnosis of the source of this sensation is not simple and demands acquaintance with the balance system and with the range of complaints and related diagnosis. At the beginning of the process, the doctor will research the patient’s complaint to its details, the type of dizziness, its duration, when it gets better or worse, its frequency, its onset and path. this investigation is a key part of the diagnosis process, followed by a physical auto-neurologic test. Sometimes assist tests like ENG (Electronystagmography) are needed, as well as system balance tests, hearing tests, balance, blood and imaging. Nevertheless it is important to note that the objective tests only monitor some of the balance systems and the major part of the diagnosis is done at the initial conversation with the doctor. Often the test results are normal, and from the diagnosis obtained from the medical history and physical exam, the rehabilitation phase can be commenced.

Dizziness resulting from basic harm to the balance organ, followed by loss of sync with the other ear’s balance organ. An example to this group is “Vertigo” (or Vestibular Neuronitis), another common illness that causes This disease is caused following a viral impact to a balance organ or nerve and it causes a dizziness feeling that may be present for days, after which a relief will occur until only a slight imbalance sensation or light dizziness will remain. This is common with children and adults. Sometimes it does not fully go away and sometimes it reappears in the future. 

Dizziness that originates from a release of tiny particles in the These cause a strong dizziness mostly when changing positions, for example BPPV.

Dizziness from additional illnesses, Like “Manier’s” for example, a disease characterized by episodes of circular dizziness lasting for anywhere between half an hour to several hours and are accompanied by loss of hearing in that ear, noise and a feeling of blockage.

Treatment to each of the groups is different. In dizziness that originates from     a release of tiny particles in the balance organ, simple physiotherapy can be applied, resulting in a success rate of over 85% after a 10 minute treatment.     In dizziness resulting from sync damage between balance organs in the inner ear, other type of physiotherapy can be applied, one that stimulates the brain  to earning and adjustment. this is where the brain is supposed to undertake a process of self-amendment. That being said – sometimes the process does not go as planned, because of fatigue, anxiety (of symptoms returning) and stress situations. If this is the case, psychotherapy treatments should be administered. Sometimes, we combine physiotherapy, diet, medicine and other means.

To sum things up, a sensation of dizziness is not clear to the patient and sometimes not even to doctors, because lack of objective diagnosis  means make it hard to determine the source of suffering and put too much importance on initial processes of diagnosis carried by them. Lack of correct diagnosis followed by recurrence of dizziness can result in anxiety and increase the psycho-social in the problem. Visiting specialist doctors in dizziness is effective in precise diagnosis of the issue and of treatment.