|
Dizziness
Dizziness is one of
the most common neurological symptoms encountered
in medical practice. It is second only to fatigue
among "non-pain" symptoms. Dizziness is
often a vague complaint that can be very brief and
benign. By the same token, it can extend to more serious
diseases such as tumors or decreased blood flow to
the brain.
The most common form
of dizziness is known as vertigo. This term describes
a sensation of motion when there is no motion, or
an exaggerated sense of motion in response to certain
body movements.
Vertigo may be a "spinning sensation," but
it can also be a sense of falling forward or backward,
or present as a sensation of tumbling. Most forms
of vertigo are related to inner ear problems-often
accompanied by nausea, vomiting and, occasionally,
with hearing loss.
To maintain our balance,
God created a complex series of organs that interact
with each other. These include the inner ear, muscles,
eyes, and even pressure receptors in the skin. All
of these organs provide input to the brain. The brain
processes these signals to keep us steady.
Poor circulation to
the brain can cause dizziness, as can certain viral
or bacterial infections. Abnormally high or low blood
pressure and brain tumors are also causes of dizziness.
Anemia can also result in dizziness due to inadequate
oxygen supply to various organs.
One of the most common
forms of vertigo is called "benign positional
vertigo"-a spinning sensation associated with
changes in head position-particularly when lying down
and suddenly sitting up or standing. This form of
vertigo tends to be brief and episodic, whereas viral
or bacterial infections can cause an almost constant
vertigo for several days and then disappear as the
body's immune system functions take over.
|
