DIZZINESS CAUSES |
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Careful attention to symptoms can help
determine the underlying cause of the dizziness. Underlying problems
may be benign and easily treated or they may be dangerous and in
need of intensive therapy. Not all cases of dizziness can be linked
to a specific cause. More than one type of dizziness can be
experienced at the same time and symptoms may be mixed. Episodes of
dizziness may last for a few seconds or for days. The length of an
episode is related to the underlying cause.
The symptoms of syncope include dimmed vision, loss of coordination,
confusion, lightheadedness, and sweating. These symptoms can lead to
a brief loss of consciousness or fainting. They are related to a
reduced flow of blood to the brain; they often occur when a person
is standing up and can be relieved by sitting or lying down. Vertigo
is characterized by a sensation of spinning or turning, accompanied
by nausea, vomiting, ringing in the ears, headache, or fatigue. An
individual may have trouble walking, remaining coordinated, or
keeping balance. Nonsyncope nonvertigo dizziness is characterized by
a feeling of being off balance that becomes worse if the individual
tries moving or performing detail-intense tasks.
A person may experience dizziness for many reasons. Syncope is
associated with low blood pressure, heart problems, and disorders in
the autonomic nervous system, the system of involuntary functions
such as breathing. Syncope may also arise from emotional distress,
pain, and other reactions to outside stressors. Nonsyncope
nonvertigo dizziness may be caused by rapid breathing, low blood
sugar, or migraine headache, as well as by more serious medical
conditions.
Vertigo is often associated with inner ear problems called
vestibular disorders. A particularly intense vestibular disorder,
Méniére's disease, interferes with the volume of fluid in the inner
ear. This disease, which affects approximately one in every 1,000
people, causes intermittent vertigo over the course of weeks,
months, or years. Méniére's disease is often accompanied by ringing
or buzzing in the ear, hearing loss, and a feeling that the ear is
blocked. Damage to the nerve that leads from the ear to the brain
can also cause vertigo. Such damage can result from head injury or a
tumor. An acoustic neuroma, for example, is a benign tumor that
wraps around the nerve. Vertigo can also be caused by disorders of
the central nervous system and the circulation, such as hardening of
the arteries (arteriosclerosis), stroke, or multiple sclerosis.
Some medications cause changes in blood pressure or blood flow.
These medications can cause dizziness in some people. Prescription
medications carry warnings of such side effects, but common drugs
such as caffeine or nicotine can also cause dizziness. Certain
antibiotics can damage the inner ear and cause hearing loss and
dizziness.
Diet may cause dizziness. The role of diet may be direct, as through
alcohol intake. It may be also be indirect, as through
arteriosclerosis caused by a high-fat diet. Some people experience a
slight dip in blood sugar and mild dizziness if they miss a meal,
but this condition is rarely dangerous unless the person is
diabetic. Food sensitivities or allergies can also be a cause of
dizziness. Chronic conditions such as heart disease and serious
acute problems such as seizures and strokes can cause dizziness.
However, such conditions usually exhibit other characteristic
symptoms. |
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| DIZZINESS RELATED ITEMS |
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