- Dizziness is the feeling of being off-balanced, light-headed or having blurred vision. It accounts for 6 percent of physician office visits. About 5 percent of those cases are due to a serious disorder. Because there are many different causes of dizziness, if experienced for longer than few days in duration, the sufferer should see his physician to investigate the root of the problem.
- The inner ear is the main controller of balance in the human body. These inner ear problems can cause dizziness: infections; Ménière disease, the fluctuation of fluids in the ears; vestibular neuritis, an inflammation of the nerves in the ears. These illnesses can cause vertigo, nausea and vomiting, light-headedness, and the feeling of being unbalanced when standing or walking.
- Other diseases or illnesses may be at the root of dizziness. Cogan's syndrome is the inflammation of the cornea's connective tissue. Heart disease may also cause dizziness with decreased blood flow, especially to the brain. High or low blood pressure may also be the culprit. When it's due to blood pressure, the patient may experience dizziness when standing suddenly, thus causing the blood pressure to drop too rapidly. A brain tumor must also be considered when symptoms of dizziness and blurred vision are involved.
- When diagnosing the cause of dizziness, the physician will investigate a patient's potential overexposure to medications or environmental elements. Some uses of antibiotics such as streptomycin and gentamicin, especially when given long term can cause dizziness. Some chemo medications can also cause permanent inner ear damage, or ototoxicity. Along with medications, exposure to environmental factors like mercury or tin may also be the cause of vertigo.
next post