The world is spinning...How much do you know about the medical mysteries behind vertigo?

Author: Zhang Bin, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital

Reviewer: Zhao Haiyan, deputy chief physician, Peking University Third Hospital

Have you ever experienced dizziness? The feeling of being dizzy and unsteady is very disturbing. Today, let us unveil the mystery of dizziness, understand the truth behind dizziness, and make your life healthier.

1. What is dizziness?

Dizziness is a common symptom, which can manifest as lightheadedness, swelling of the head, lightheadedness, and dizziness. It can also be accompanied by fatigue, nausea, vomiting, tinnitus, insomnia, and emotional instability. Depending on the symptoms, dizziness can be divided into the following four types.

(1) Vertigo Vertigo is characterized by a feeling of dizziness and shaking of surrounding objects, and the patient is afraid to open his eyes. It is often accompanied by symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, sweating, and increased blood pressure. Vertigo attacks often have obvious triggers, such as fatigue, excitement, insomnia, and excessive drinking. Vertigo symptoms worsen when the eyes are open and alleviated when the eyes are closed. The causes of vertigo are mostly vestibular lesions and cerebral ischemia, such as Meniere's disease (commonly known as "Meniere's disease"), vestibular lesions, benign positional vertigo, vestibular migraine, and brainstem lesions.

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(2) Presyncope is characterized by dizziness, blacking out, chest tightness, palpitations, and fatigue before syncope. It can be seen in circulatory and other systemic diseases, such as hypotension, anemia, hypovolemia, hypoglycemia, and severe arrhythmias.

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(3) Imbalance Imbalance refers to unstable standing or movement during activities, which is common in Parkinson's disease, ataxia and peripheral neuropathy.

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(4) Head heaviness and lightness Head heaviness and lightness refer to paroxysmal or persistent dizziness, grogginess, and unclear brain feeling, which may be accompanied by a feeling of swelling and tightness in the head. Common causes include high blood pressure, mental factors, and adverse drug reactions. It can also be seen in overwork, lack of sleep, etc. After adequate rest, the symptoms can be alleviated or disappear.

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2. What should you pay attention to when dizziness occurs?

When dizziness occurs, the patient should stop the activity, use external force to keep the body balanced and stable, and be careful not to fall; or sit down or lie down slowly, or close your eyes and rest in a dark room. The above practices are all helpful in relieving dizziness.

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Vertigo is a symptom of dizziness, which is significantly different from other symptoms of dizziness and the treatment measures are also different. If the patient's symptoms are not described accurately, it often leads to the doctor's wrong judgment and treatment. Therefore, patients should learn to distinguish different symptoms of dizziness and describe them accurately so that doctors can understand the condition as quickly and in detail as possible, and then give correct and effective treatment measures to relieve symptoms as soon as possible.

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3. In what cases do dizziness attacks require medical attention?

Dizziness does not always indicate disease. Occasional short-term dizziness does not require special attention and can be relieved after rest. Patients can observe themselves at home. However, for patients who have been diagnosed with hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, coronary heart disease and other diseases, or elderly people who suddenly experience dizziness or repeated dizziness, they should pay great attention and seek medical attention in time.

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4. What should you pay attention to when seeking medical treatment for dizziness?

There are many causes of dizziness, which are very complex and difficult to distinguish. Therefore, patients who seek medical treatment for dizziness need to explain their subjective feelings of dizziness to the doctor and describe other accompanying symptoms in detail. If dizziness is accompanied by the following symptoms, it is recommended to go to the relevant department for treatment and bring the medications you regularly take to help the doctor make a differential diagnosis.

(1) If the patient has symptoms such as hemiplegia, facial paralysis, language disorders, hemianopsia, and diplopia, stroke should be highly suspected and consultation with a neurology department is recommended.

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(2) Dizziness accompanied by symptoms such as tinnitus, ear fullness, hearing impairment, and visual rotation is mostly caused by ear diseases. It is recommended to see an otolaryngologist.

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(3) If dizziness is accompanied by symptoms such as stiff neck muscles, poor mobility, and numbness of fingers, it may be caused by cervical spondylosis. It is recommended to see an orthopedic or spinal surgeon.

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(4) Dizziness accompanied by symptoms such as palpitations, chest tightness, and shortness of breath may be caused by cardiovascular disease. It is recommended that you see a cardiologist.

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(5) If the dizziness is preceded by the stimulation of a major event in life, a significant disruption in the rhythm of life, or a long-term state of mental stress, then the dizziness should be considered to be caused by a mental illness, and it is recommended that the patient seek medical treatment from a psychiatric department.