Vision, touch, hearing, the vestibular system in the inner ear, and multiple areas of the brain all contribute to helping maintain balance and orientation in space. Damage to any of these senses or areas can cause dizziness. When dizziness occurs, it’s important to identify the sensation clearly. For example, with true vertigo, an illusion of motion, you feel as if you are spinning or that the room is spinning around you; it often provokes nausea and vomiting. Vertigo is most likely to arise from the vestibular portion of the inner ear, the nerve connecting the inner ear to the brain, or the brain itself. It may result from motion sickness, an inner ear infection, allergic rhinitis, high doses of certain drugs, Meniere’s disease , a blow to the head, tumors, or, less commonly, multiple sclerosis. Disequilibrium, often referred to as dizziness of the feet, is an unsteady feeling, as though you might fall. If you wear reading glasses, you may have experienced a comparable sensation after removing them quickly. The problem often stems from a neurologic abnormality, such as a degenerative nerve disorder, but use of alcohol or certain medications may also be factors. The sensation of lightheadedness is difficult to describe precisely; most people say simply that they feel dizzy. Lightheadedness often derives from anxiety or another psychological cause. It may happen in conjunction with hyperventilation, or overbreathing; this occurs when a person breathes too rapidly or deeply, taking in more than the usual amount of oxygen and there by upsetting the body’s balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Diagnostic Studies And Procedures
The extent of a diagnostic evaluation depends upon the suspected cause of the dizziness. Tests range from an ear examination, if the vestibular system of the inner ear is involved, to CT scans or MRI and other procedures, if a brain disorder is suspected.
Medical Treatments
Therapy for dizziness depends upon the underlying cause. Nonprescription drugs such as dimenhydrinate and meclizine or prescription drugs such as scopolamine , which is administered through a skin patch usually worn behind the ear, may prevent dizziness from motion sickness. Antibiotics generally take care of dizziness when it is caused by an inner ear infection. A change in medication or dosage usually alleviates any dizziness from medication; aspirin, tranquilizers, anti malarial drugs, certain antibiotics and anticonvulsants, and antihypertensive drugs are common offenders. (Ringing in the ears frequently precedes such an episode of dizziness.) In the case of Meniere’s disease, prescription diuretics may reduce fluids in the labyrinth section of the ear. During an attack, prescription antinausea drugs may be helpful. Surgery can sometimes cure dizziness caused by a tumor along the nerve leading from the inner ear to the brain.