Vestibular dizziness: possible causes, symptoms, diagnostic tests, diagnosis, exercise adjustment or necessary treatment

Dizziness is a very unpleasant symptom that interferes not only with normal work and rest, but also just living. The state and feelings of a person at these moments are caused by violations that are caused by the receipt of sensory information (for example, vestibular or visual) and its processing. What happens in this case? It is difficult for a person to navigate in space, it seems to him that all the objects surrounding him are in motion, and sometimes, that he himself rotates relative to motionless surfaces.

The causes of this pathology are great. For example, vestibular dizziness (VG) can be caused by malfunctions of the device of the same name located in the ear of a person. It is this analyzer that is responsible for precise movements, a sense of space, vision and balance. And due to the fact that the vestibular apparatus (VA) is connected directly with the brain, dizziness can occur against the background of pressure surges, excitement and pain in the heart muscle.

Why is a person feeling dizzy?

The brain can work in a state of equilibrium (the cortex of which receives signals from the vestibular system in a constant mode), or more precisely, the impulses coming from it and reaching the eye and skeletal muscles. In the case of certain malfunctions of the receipt of such signals, a person begins to feel the rotation of the surrounding space, the swaying of not only objects, but also his body.

Symptoms of vestibular dizziness

During vertigo, the patient complains that he is smoothly “carried away” to the side, he cannot stand upright (with his eyes closed), the earth simply “leaves his legs”, and all surrounding objects rotate in space.

On a note! With any turn of the head, walking and rising, the VG is significantly enhanced.

In addition, other manifestations of the pathology are observed:

1. "Fog" in the head.
2. Nystagmus. Sudden spasmodic eye movements make it difficult to concentrate. The patient can neither write nor read.
3. Man loses balance.
4. Nauseous condition, sometimes turning into vomiting.
5. Sudden tides or ebbs of blood from the skin.
6. Rather coordinated movements, manifested in an uncertain gait; the inability to go down or climb the stairs, as well as pick up an object. That is, fast and accurate movements with vestibular dizziness (vertigo) are simply impossible. The patient always feels the fear of falling, so he tries to be less "on his feet", and spend more time in bed.
7. Blood pressure may rise or fall.
8. Profuse sweating (i.e. hyperhidrosis) is observed.
9. There may be fainting. The patient, as a rule, feels the approach of a fainting state (that is, the moment of loss of consciousness). This is manifested in increased sweating, darkening in the eyes, a sickening state and a feeling of fear.
10. The presence of general symptoms such as headache, changes in heart rate and pressure, tinnitus and rapid breathing.

Important! If such manifestations are observed not against the background of vertigo, but by themselves, then most likely this is a signal of a more serious pathology.

Pathology classification

There are two types of dizziness:

1. Vestibular It is also called vertigo, true or systemic. This type of dizziness and the vestibular apparatus are directly related. Violations of the latter lead to vertigo.
2. Not vestibular. Other names of this type are unsystematic or physiological. This type of dizziness includes fainting, pre- fainting conditions, as well as imbalance, which do not have vestibular origin. They also include sensations of an incomprehensible nature, which are defined by such a word as "nausea."

Pathology of a systemic nature

There are two types of true dizziness (vestibular disorders):

1. Peripheral. Caused exclusively by pathology of the nerve or middle ear.
2. Central. The cause of vertigo is a malfunction of the brain.

In addition, they distinguish:

1. Tactile (or tactile) dizziness, the main symptoms of which are sensations of swaying on the waves, unsteadiness of the soil, as well as raising and lowering the body.
2. Proprioceptive. Symptoms - a feeling of the slow movement of your body in space.

Possible causes of systemic vestibular dizziness :

1. Vestibular neuronitis.
2. Post-traumatic condition after traumatic brain injury.

On a note! Post-traumatic dizziness may not occur immediately, but some time after the injury (for example, after 5-6 days).

1. Meniere's disease.
2. Toxic damage to VA. The cause of this pathology may be the use of aminoglycosides accumulated in the lymph of the vestibular analyzer.
3. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo . It can occur with a sharp change in the position of the body or head (that is, with bends forward, backward, and so on). Dizziness does not last long - the duration is several seconds or about 1 minute. More often occurs in people whose age has exceeded 50. Moreover, in women it is more common than in men.
4. Pathologies of the inner and middle ear of a chronic nature (for example, eustachitis, otitis media or otosclerosis).
5. Vertebrobasilar insufficiency caused by a malfunction of the brain due to a weakened blood flow.
6. Temporal epilepsy. Symptoms of pathology: nauseous condition, excessive sweating, pain in the temple; as well as loss of consciousness and even memory. In addition, there may be a disturbance in perception (i.e. taste, smell, touch, etc.) and hallucinations.

On a note! As a rule, temporal lobe epilepsy is diagnosed in childhood or adolescence.

1. Malignant neoplasms in the brain. There is an increase in intracranial pressure and, as a result, compression of the brain nuclei. As a result, a person experiences severe headaches and dizziness. Vomiting is also observed.
2. Causes of vestibular dizziness may be caused by diseases such as osteochondrosis and multiple sclerosis, as well as all kinds of neuroses.

Meniere's disease

This is a disease of the inner ear of a non-purulent nature. A characteristic sign of Meniere's disease is an increase in the volume of endolymph, and, as a result, an increase in pressure inside the labyrinth.

Pathology manifests itself in the form of dizziness attacks, which can last several minutes, or maybe a whole day. In this case, there is a loss of balance, disorders of a vegetative nature (they can persist for several days after the vertigo has ended), noise in the ear, a feeling of increased pressure in it, vomiting and involuntary rhythmic eye movements (this symptom is called nystagmus).

On a note! As the pathology develops due to rupture of the membrane due to swelling of the labyrinth (i.e., the inner ear), hearing loss occurs (usually on one side). Most often, complete hearing loss is not observed.

Vestibular neuronitis

The disease can occur suddenly (sometimes after a viral or bacterial pathology, especially the upper respiratory tract), last for several minutes or several hours, up to several days. Patients are quite difficult to tolerate vestibular neuronitis (or neuritis) and remain in bed for several days, as they simply are not able to get up and perform any actions. Pathology is accompanied by severe dizziness, vomiting, loss of balance, nystagmus, pronounced autonomic disorders, congestion in the ear, noise in it and sometimes a sense of fear. Hearing is usually preserved.

On a note! Any change in body position and head movement enhances the manifestations of pathology. By the way, statistics say that in 50% of cases of vestibular neuritis, dizziness attacks recur after a few months or years.

Post-traumatic dizziness

As a result of a traumatic brain injury, the bone membranes of the labyrinth, which are distinguished by their particular subtlety, can be damaged. As a result, systemic vertigo occurs, accompanied by dizziness, sudden nystagmus, loss of balance, and vomiting. Moreover, any sudden movement of the head leads to increased symptoms. The reasons for this condition may be:

1. Violation in the functioning of one of the mazes.
2. A longitudinal or transverse fracture of the pyramid of the temporal bone, resulting in damage to the eardrum or hemorrhage in the middle ear.

Dizziness of a non-systemic nature

Vestibular dizziness of a physiological nature can be caused by severe stress, motion sickness in transport, prolonged rotation, abrupt climate change, overwork, malnutrition, loud noises or unpleasant odors. The cause of the disease is a mismatch in the activity of the vestibular analyzer at different levels of the nervous system.

On a note! If you are tormented by dizziness and a nauseous state during long trips by car (or on the bus), that is, you are cradled, that is, it makes sense to have a few mint sweets or tablets of such a drug as Vestibo.

Diagnosis of disorders in the work of the vestibular analyzer

First of all, in order to confirm the presence of precisely vestibular dizziness, the neurologist must carefully listen to the patient, without prompting him with any terminology and not offering her a choice. During the conversation, the specialist must understand whether it is a question of vertigo or another disease that also needs to be identified.

Next, the patient undergoes a neurological examination, and the doctor sends him to laboratory tests. This refers to a clinical blood test. If necessary, a neurologist can give advice to specialists such as a vestibulologist or otoneurologist. You may need an examination of the cervical spine, that is, MRI, radiography and CT. In some cases, in order to exclude diseases such as epilepsy or benign paroxysmal dizziness, an EEG of the brain is prescribed. In addition to all these diagnostic measures, studies of the vestibular analyzer can be carried out, namely stabilography, rotation tests and vestibulometry.

Dizziness Treatment

Treatment of vestibular dizziness should be aimed solely at saving the patient from neurological disorders and very unpleasant sensations. For this, life can be assigned:

1. Medications of a group of histaminomimetics, for example, Vestibo, which helps to improve blood flow in the brain and properly stabilizes the intralabyrinth pressure. Also, the tool helps to cope with vomiting reflexes and has a positive effect in terms of the transmission of impulses along the nerves of the vestibular analyzer.
2. Medicines of the benzodiazepine group, for example, Relanium, after the use of which all the symptoms characteristic of this pathology disappear.

Important! Remember: "Relanium" is a persistent addiction. Be careful and take it only as directed by your doctor (as, incidentally, all other medications).

1. Treatment of vestibular dizziness involves mandatory monitoring of blood pressure.
2. Reception of nootropics, antiplatelet agents, vasodilators and venotonics.
3. If necessary, antiepileptic drugs.
4. A good effect is given by drugs of the antihistamine group (for example, "Meclosin" or "Promethazine").
5. To reduce feelings of fear and general anxiety, tranquilizers are prescribed (for example, Lorazepam or Diazepam).
6. Exhausting sickening condition removes Metoclopramide well.
7. How to treat vestibular dizziness in Meniere's disease? A good result is given by taking a drug such as Betagistin, which helps to dilate the vessels of the inner ear and improves its microcirculation. If the intake of this drug (or some other of this group) does not give positive results and vertigo continues, then the option of surgical intervention is not excluded. By the way, in the presence of Meniere's disease, patients are recommended to limit the use of coffee and salt, as well as completely stop smoking.

Important! Betagistin is generally well tolerated. But remember: those who have such diseases as peptic ulcer, bronchial asthma or pheochromocytoma should be careful. In no case should you use this medication for pregnant women.

1. If necessary, antiviral drugs.
2. If the patient has a benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, the use of any drugs that affect the activity of the vestibular apparatus is depressing, experts consider it inappropriate. But taking drugs that irritate VA can give good results in therapy.
3. With pathologies in children, such drugs as Betagistin or Cinnarizine can be prescribed.
4. Do not forget about the treatment of non-drug nature, with which you can restore normal coordination of movements. Therapy is carried out in collaboration with a therapist. Sometimes prescribed anticonvulsants and antidepressants.

Important! Do not self-medicate. Only a doctor, after conducting a thorough examination of the patient, can prescribe the correct and adequate treatment.

Traditional medicine in the fight against vertigo

In folk medicine, there are many recipes for dealing with vestibular dizziness. Here are some of them:

1. An excellent recipe that helps cleanse blood vessels and improve blood circulation in the brain. We put a handful of fresh needles in a thermos (by the way, you can even with twigs), pour cool boiling water (1 liter) there, close and leave to insist overnight. Filter in the morning, add chopped lemon and insist another 2-3 hours. The whole infusion should be drunk during the day (the next day we are preparing a new mixture). Moreover, it is necessary to take a healing drink either 60 minutes before a meal, or 1 hour after a meal. The course of therapy is 10 days.

1. Tea with mint leaves and chopped ginger root. Take twice a day. The course of therapy is until the illness disappears. We make tea as follows: pour mint leaves (10 g) and ginger root (20 g) with boiling water (200 ml), insist for 10 minutes and use it warm.
2. Tincture of inflorescences of clover meadow. Helps to combat disorders of the vestibular apparatus (dizziness in particular). Fill the clover flowers (40 g) with alcohol (you can also use vodka), we insist 7-8 days in a dark place. Take three times a day for 1 teaspoon (after eating).
3. A good result is given to sea kale, which should be consumed every day for 1 teaspoon.
4. Decoction of clover meadow. Pour the plant flowers (1 teaspoon) with boiling water (1 cup), close the lid and simmer for 5 minutes over low heat. Next, remove, cool, filter and drink 4 times a day for a tablespoon.
5. Infusion of dry leaves of the prince of Siberian plant. Pour dry raw materials (5-6 g) with boiling water (1 cup), insist for 60 minutes, filter and take in warm form ½ cup 2-3 times a day.
6. You can breathe in the oil of mint, rosemary or camphor for 5-7 minutes to reduce vertigo, and sometimes even get rid of it.
7. Eat more foods containing phosphorus. These are walnuts, fish, eggs, cheese, cucumbers, peas or radishes.

Important! Alternative recipes can give positive results if the pathology is caused by functional disorders that are rare and short-lived. If the disease is organic in nature, then you need to consult a doctor. Only he can conduct a competent diagnosis and determine the cause of the disease. Do not self-medicate. You can waste precious time.

Exercises for vestibular disorders

Sometimes with dizziness, gymnastics for the vestibular apparatus can give positive results in the fight against the disease:

1. In the morning, immediately after sleep, we tilt the body to the left, right, back and forth. We make about 14 approaches, alternately either with open eyes or with closed. In order for vestibular gymnastics with dizziness to give tangible results, it must be done every 2-3 hours.
2. We are trying to direct our eyes in different directions. Such actions help to concentrate visual attention and to some extent cope with nystagmus.
3. Draw lines (for example, on the ground). They can be straight and curved. First we try to walk on them with open eyes, and then with our eyes closed. Such exercises with vestibular dizziness help significantly reduce the manifestations of the disease.
4. We take a tennis ball and throw it from hand to hand (eyes are open at the same time). We do this for about 5 minutes. Repeat the exercise, but with eyes closed.

On a note! Along with vestibular gymnastics with dizziness, you can massage the point located at a distance of 2/3 from the upper lip to the nose. Massage it with your thumb, slightly pressing. These steps will help alleviate your condition.