Dizziness facts

Dizziness is a symptom that is often applies to a variety of sensations including lightheadedness and vertigo. Vertigo is the sensation of spinning, while lightheadedness is typically considered near fainting, and weakness. Some of the conditions that may cause dizziness in a patient include low blood pressure, high blood pressure, dehydration, medications, postural ororthostatic hypotension, diabetes, endocrine disorders, hyperventilation, heart conditions, and vasovagal syncope. Vertigo is most often caused by a problem in the balance centers of the inner ear called the vestibular system and causes the sensation of the room spinning. It may be associated with vomiting. Symptoms often are made worse with position changes. Those with significant symptoms and vomiting may need intravenous medication and hospitalization. Vertigo is also the presenting symptom in patients with Meniere's Disease and acoustic neuroma, conditions that often require referral to an ENT specialist. Most often, dizziness or lightheadedness is a temporary situation that resolves spontaneously without a specific diagnosis being made.

Introduction to dizziness (feeling dizzy)

Dizziness is one of the most common symptoms that will prompt a person to seek medical care. The term dizziness is difficult to understand since it means different things to different people. It is either the sensation of feeling lightheaded as if the individual is weak and will pass out, or it describes vertigo or the sensation of spinning, as if the affected person just got off a merry-go-round. Lightheadedness is often caused by a decrease in blood supply to the brain, while vertigo may be caused by disturbances of the inner ear and the balance centers of the brain. It is important that the health care professional understand the complaint the person is experiencing. That is the first step so that the proper direction can be taken for a diagnosis and treatment.

What are some common causes of dizziness?

Comment on thisRead 22 CommentsShare Your Story While classifying dizziness into lightheadedness and vertigo categories may help understand how the body works, sometimes it is worthwhile to review common reasons why people might complain of dizziness.

Low blood pressure

Dizziness, lightheadedness, and the feeling of passing out is a common complaint in people who have low blood pressure. When the blood pressure is too low, not enough oxygen-rich blood is being delivered to the brain, and its function can be affected. If the brain's blood supply is decreased too much, the person may pass out (syncope). Symptoms may worsen when changing position from lying down or sitting, to standing up.

In addition to feeling dizzy, associated symptoms may include:

Sweating Weakness Nausea and vomiting Shortness of breath Chest pain

Low blood pressure may be the result of an underlying illness or disease, or it may be a normal physiologic condition. Some common reasons for low blood pressure include the following:

Anemia (decreased red blood cell count) Bleeding Dehydration (loss of water in the body) often occurs with infections that cause vomiting and diarrhea. Fever also can cause a significant amount of water loss due to increased metabolic rate and excessive sweating as the body tries to cool itself. Heat-related illnesses associated with dehydration such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion, or heat stroke (a medical emergency). Side effects of certain medications used to control blood pressure and heart rate. Examples include:

beta blockers (propranolol [Inderal, Inderal LA], atenolol[Tenormin], metoprolol, [Lopressor, Toprol XL]), which block adrenalin receptors in the heart and may limit the ability of the heart rate to increase in response to changes of position, decreased red blood cell count, or dehydration. Nitroglycerin and isosorbide mononitrate (Imdur), a long acting nitroglycerin, are medications that are prescribed to dilate blood vessels in the heart to treat angina. However, these medications also cause other blood vessels in the body to dilate, decreasing blood pressure. Diuretics that can cause dehydration ACE inhibitors that slow the heart rate, and Medications for erectile dysfunction (sildenafil [Viagra, Revatio],tadalafil [Cialis], and vardenafil [Levitra, Staxyn ODT], avanafil[Stendra]) that can dilate blood vessels.

Migraines, Vertigo, and Dizziness Migraines are one of the leading causes of dizziness. More than 25% of the 20 million people in the U.S. who suffer from migraines experience this uncomfortable symptom. The dizziness caused by migraines may include feelings of lightheadedness or unsteadiness as well as true vertigo. Vertigo makes you feel as if the room is spinning. Even though spinning sensations may appear to be vision problems, they're actually related to your inner ear. In fact, some people who experience migrainous vertigo also experience other ear and hearing problems. That includes sound sensitivity and ringing in the ears. Dizziness and vertigo are more common in people who have migraines with aura, including vision problems, than in those who have headaches without aura. One particular type of migraine -- basilar migraine -- is the most likely to cause vertigo. It's also likely to cause ringing in the ears, hearing loss, and coordination difficulties. Some people who experience migraine-related vertigo don't develop this symptom until several years after their migraine episodes begin. The headache-induced dizziness may precede or occur at the same time as the headache. In some instances, the symptoms of dizziness and vertigo develop in the absence of headache. The dizziness symptoms may last anywhere from a few seconds to days. It can be difficult for a doctor to make a diagnosis of vertigo caused by migraine. That's because people who have these headaches often have other conditions that may cause dizziness. This can include anxiety, depression, and positional low blood pressure. Treatment for a Migraine's Vision, Vertigo, and Dizziness Symptoms The vision symptoms and dizziness caused by migraines are scary and troubling. But they usually improve significantly or even disappear with medical treatment. There are a variety of options for addressing migraines and their related symptoms. They include lifestyle changes, medications, physical therapy, and complementary therapies. Lifestyle changes. Many people can reduce or eliminate their headacheinduced vision problems and vertigo by making changes in their lifestyle. One step that may help is to avoid trigger foods. Foods known to cause migraines in some people include chocolate, peanuts, and red wine. Stopping smoking, reducing stress levels, and getting regular exercise may also help reduce the occurrence of migraines and related vision problems. Medications. There are no surefire migraine medications that will work for everyone who gets migraines. There are, though, a variety of options that may be used alone or in combination to relieve headaches and the associated vision problems, dizziness, and vertigo they can cause. Therapies may include: Preventive drugs. These medications, including the antiseizure medication topiramate and the antidepressant amitriptyline, can help block migraines before they start. Abortive medications. These drugs, referred to as triptans, such as sumatriptan and rizatriptan, are used to stop migraines quickly before they become full-blown. Symptom relievers. Pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs -- both prescribed and over-the-counter -- may alleviate headache and lessen related symptoms.

Complementary therapies. Biofeedback and acupuncture may reduce migraine-causing stress levels and help eliminate headache symptoms, including pain, vision problems, dizziness, and vertigo.

How is dizziness treated?

Dizziness treatment Dizziness is a symptom, not a disease, and treatment will be directed to the underlying cause. For example, dizziness or lightheadedness due to dehydration from gastroenteritis may require intravenous fluids and medications to stop the vomiting and diarrhea, while dizziness or lightheadedness from a heart rhythm condition may require admission to the hospital and specialized testing and treatment. Vertigo treatment Vertigo from inner ear problems may often be treated with maneuvers to reposition the crystals and debris in the semicircular canals. Repositioning techniques that can be helpful include the so-called Epley and Semont maneuvers, and the patient may be taught these to use at home.

Depending upon the reason for the inner ear inflammation, oral steroid medications to decrease that inflammation might be prescribed. Over-the-counter or prescription medication is occasionally recommended or prescribed to help with vertigo. Meclizine (Antivert) may help with control of mild symptoms. In patients with intractable symptoms and vomiting, intravenousdiazepam (Valium) may be considered.

Vaccine

Minimum Age/Interval

Percent Protected

Duration of Protection

TT1

At 20th weeks AOG

0%

protection for the mother for the first delivery

infants born to the mother will be protected from neonatal tetanus

TT2

At least 4 weeks later

80%

gives 3 years protection for the mother infants born to the mother will be protected from neonatal tetanus

TT3

At least 6 months later

95%

gives 5 years protection for the mother infants born to the mother will be protected from neonatal

TT4

At least 1 year later

99%

tetanus TT5 At least 1 year later 99% gives 10 years protection for the mother gives lifetime protection for the mother all infants born to that mother will be protected

Patients with Meniere's disease or acoustic neuroma are usually referred to an ear, nose, and throat specialist (otolaryngologist, ENT physician) for further evaluation and care.

MGA GAMOT NA BAWAL SA MGA BUNTIS

Q: tanong lang po.. nung 1st week of july nakainom po ako ng gamot like cefalexin and mefenamic hindi ko po alam na magdadalawang buwan na pala akong buntis.. maaari po bang makasama sa bata yun? ngayon mag apat na buwan na kong buntis? A: Ang pagbubuntis ay isang panahon kung kailan dapat tayong maging maingat sa pagbibigay na anumang gamot, kaya ang payo ko ay huwag uminom ng anumang gamot ng hindi pinapayuhan ng doktor. A: Para sa mga buntis, ang mga gamot natin ay may mga kategorya ayon sa antas ng posibleng panganib na maidulot ng mga gamot na ito sa iyo at sa iyong baby. Ang Cefalexin ay Category B, ibig-sabihin, batay sa mga pag-aaral na ginawa sa ga hayop, walang ebidensya na itoy maaaring makasama sa iyong baby. Ang Mefenamic Acid naman ay Category C, ibig-sabihin, may posibilidad na itoy makasama sa iyong baby, ngunit huwag kang mag-alala dahil ang panganib na ito ay sa ikatlong semestre pa ng pagbubuntis o sa ika-7 hanggang ika-9 na buwan. Gayunpaman, itigil na lang muna ang mga gamot na ito at magpatingin sa doktor o OB-GYN para maresetahan ng mga gamot na angkop, kung kailangan. Para sa iyong kaalaman, eto ang listahan ng gamot na huwag na huwag iinumin kapag buntis: Mga pills o OCPs Mga pampababa ng kolesterol gaya ng Simvastatin at iba pang mga -statin Mga gamot sa kanser gaya ng Methotrexate Mga antibiotics gaya ng Chloramphenicol, Doxcycline at iba pang mga -cycline Mga gamot laban sa TB o vitamins sa baga gaya ng Isoniazid

Mga gamot sa high blood gaya ng Captopril at iba pang mga -pril Mga gamot sa seizures o kombulsyon gaya ng Valproic Acid, Carbamazepine Mga gamot sa utak gaya ng Lithim Mga gamot sa matinding kirot gaya ng Morphine Mga gamot sa goiter o anumang problema sa thyroid, gaya ng Iodine Vitamin A Alak at sigarilyo Warfarin

Dapat ring iwasan ang mga gamot sa kirot, sakit ng ulo gaya ng Mefenamic Acid, Ibuprofen, at Aspirin. Mga gamot na itinuturing na ligtas kapag buntis, ngunit dapat paring ikonsulta sa iyong doktor: Mga antibiotics gaya ng Amoxicillin, Clindamycin, Erythromycin Paracetamol Insulin, sa mga may diabetes