In the article, we consider the symptoms and treatment of systemic dizziness.
Numerous manifestations of this pathology need an accurate classification. This is due to the fact that people understand dizziness as different sensations, often very subjective, and far from all cases have informative descriptions. According to the generally accepted classification, two types of ailment are distinguished: systemic (vestibular, true) and non-systemic (i.e. not vestibular). This article will focus on systemic dizziness and its features.
Definition
Dizziness can be called systemic if it is accompanied by a rotation of the surrounding world around a person or a feeling of rotation of the body itself on a specific axis (along the sagittal plane, clockwise, etc.). At the same time, systemic, true dizziness often manifests itself in the form of unpleasant sensations caused by the overestimation of the structures of the autonomic system, namely nausea, sweating, vomiting, sometimes defects in coordination of movements, a sense of fear and anxiety. Often there is an increase in systemic vestibular dizziness with a spatial change in the position of the head or body.
Features and causes, symptoms
Dizziness itself is not a disease. This is a symptom indicating the presence of some kind of malfunction in the body. To understand exactly which pathology caused its occurrence, one must also pay attention to the accompanying symptoms.
There are many reasons that trigger the appearance of systemic dizziness. Among them are:
- Meniere's disease. This pathology is due to a decrease in the tone of the vessels connecting the auditory and vestibular apparatus. The following symptoms are also characteristic of it: loss of spatial orientation; hearing impairment; noise in ears; the appearance of vomiting and nausea; low vision; nystagmus (rhythmic involuntary movement of the eyeballs). With this disease, the head can spin for several hours. Among its consequences are destabilization of equilibrium, complete or partial hearing loss. Symptoms of systemic dizziness should not be ignored.
- Labyrinthitis. This process of inflammation occurs in the inner ear, appears due to the penetration of a viral or bacterial infection. This pathology in an advanced stage leads to auditory impairment.
- Neuronitis of the nerve vestibular endings. This disease of unknown origin appears for no apparent reason. In addition to sharply arising and prolonged dizziness, nausea, sometimes vomiting, are noted; tinnitus and congestion; nystagmus; panic attacks; inability to maintain balance. The attack of dizziness is severe and severe; the patient is not able to get out of bed for several days. It repeats itself even after a few months and years later. Often its predecessors are infectious pathologies of the respiratory system. What else provokes systemic vestibular dizziness?
- Injury of the tympanic membrane arising from immersion of the patient to great depths or during stress during a loud sound or cough. In this case, a fistula is formed in the ear. In addition to dizziness, hearing loss is noted.
- Cholesteatoma (a bacterial tumor of the inner ear). It violates the integrity of the surface of the eardrum, fistulas appear.
- Intoxication of the vestibular nerves. It occurs due to the abuse of a number of drugs, toxic or narcotic substances. In this case, it is accompanied by symptoms of intoxication, in the future there is a pathological change in hearing functions.
- Stroke. If it occurs, the brain stem is damaged, due to which the following are noted: impairment of speech function; articulation disorders; defects of swallowing reflex; double vision (diplopia). After a stroke, often speech function cannot be restored.
- Arterial stenosis, which passes under the clavicle, also provokes systemic vertigo. This disease is accompanied by numbness of the hands; cold fingers; impaired optical functions; pallor of the skin; pressure reduction; slower heart rate. With this pathology, you can permanently lose the sensitivity of your hands.
- Epileptic seizures. They are accompanied by tinnitus, loss of consciousness, numbness of the legs and arms, nystagmus, a strong secretion of saliva and, possibly, foam, hallucinations. Such seizures are short-lived, but often cause negative consequences in the form of mental deviations and injuries due to a fall. What other pathologies are accompanied by a symptom of dizziness?
- Hematomas and other cranial disorders.
- Diseases and injuries of the cervical spine, that is, osteochondrosis. The pain is localized in the affected area. With head injuries, rupture of the eardrum, blood from the ears, vomiting, coordination disorders, nausea, nystagmus in a horizontal position are noted. The causes of systemic dizziness should be determined by the doctor.
- Basilar migraine. It is characterized by pain in one half of the head, dizziness, loss of vision, sensitivity, sometimes the patient faints.
Short attack
Mostly dizziness in the form of a short attack is noted. With the constant presence of systemic dizziness, we can talk about a possible effect on the vestibular apparatus of toxic substances or a violation of the integrity of the labyrinth of fibers of the vestibular system.
This happens due to an infectious lesion, injuries to the spine or skull. This type of dizziness is dangerous, since its appearance is caused by a certain disease. That is why it is necessary to make a thorough diagnosis to determine the cause of its development in the patient.
Differences from non-system
There is dizziness systemic and non-systemic. They have a number of differences. Non-systemic appears due to the influence of physiological reasons, including psycho-emotional upheaval, stress, lack of glucose due to starvation or strict diets, motion sickness in transport or on a swing, rides, motion sickness. Dizziness may also appear in a person looking down from a great height. At the same time, he is nauseous, there is weakness in the lower extremities. Treatment with this pathology is not necessary. It is only necessary to get rid of its irritant, and the trouble itself will disappear.
Systemic dizziness is often called vestibular, or true, as it appears against a background of disorders that can lead to a malfunction of the human vestibular apparatus.
Differential diagnosis of systemic and non-systemic dizziness is very important.
Diagnostics
There are more than eighty diseases, one of the signs of which is dizziness. In order to determine which of them became the source of systemic dizziness, you need to pay attention to its features and carefully examined by a doctor. To do this, consult a therapist. After a thorough interview, examination and collection of an anamnesis, the specialist will diagnose and give guidance on further actions.
Additional research
If the cause cannot be determined, additional diagnostic methods are prescribed: electrocardiogram; audiometry for the purpose of hearing testing; blood analysis; Ultrasound of large vessels (dopplerometry); electroencephalography; check of the inner ear (electrocochleography); radiograph of the cervical spine or skull.
In addition, you may need the help of highly specialized specialists: otolaryngologist; a psychiatrist; cardiologist; neuropathologist; infectious disease specialist; optometrist; neurosurgeon.
Differences in systemic and non-systemic dizziness will be surely taken into account.
Treatment
As soon as an accurate examination is performed and the doctor makes a diagnosis, appropriate treatment is prescribed to eliminate the underlying pathology and associated symptoms.
Medications are used to suppress vestibular dizziness syndrome. The most effective are the following drugs:
- Antipsychotics (Promethazine, Promazin). Helps to eliminate the onset of dizziness in the patient.
- Antihistamines (Meklosin, Clemastine) improve the condition of a person as a whole.
- The balance can be returned using the drug "Betahistine hydrochloride."
- Medicines acting on blood vessels ("Nicergoline", "Flunarizin").
- Nootropics (Nootropil, Piracetam).
- Tranquilizers (for example, "Diazepam"), thanks to which panic attacks and anxiety can be eliminated.
- With vomiting and nausea, Metoclopramide, Eufillin will help.
Systemic dizziness most often appears against a background of diseases of the musculoskeletal system, visual or vestibular apparatus.
If you experience the first symptoms, consult an experienced doctor. If left unattended, this will cause serious health consequences.
Treatment for dizziness may also be limited to preventive measures. Timely treatment of the main diseases that caused it, strengthening the body's immune forces, proper and proper nutrition, a healthy and active lifestyle will prevent vestibular dizziness.
Systemic dizziness with cervical osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is one of the most frequent and common sources of dizziness. With this pathology, the cartilage tissue of the cervical intervertebral discs of the spinal column is damaged as a result of defects in their trophism or nutrition. As a result of metabolic disturbances, dystrophic processes are formed in the cartilage tissue, which leads to a decrease in its volume and destruction; as a result, the spinal column loses a significant amount of its amortization features. The load on the vertebrae of the neck increases, which leads to their injuries and further destruction. Spikes or bone growths are formed on the vertebrae, the mobility and mobility of the vertebrae is greatly reduced, as well as their height, as a result, neurons and processes of the spinal cord, which exit through the lateral intervertebral arteries in the form of motor and sensory nerve fibers as part of the nerve roots, are gradually involved in the process of inflammation . In the absence of diagnosis and therapy, osteochondrosis develops and causes significant complications in the form of disorders of the nervous tissue, and then systemic dizziness becomes one of the symptoms.
What to do if dizzy with osteochondrosis of the neck? First of all, you need to see a doctor and consult. Only after the examination is it possible to judge the preparation of a treatment plan that will be effective. With cervical osteochondrosis, dizziness therapy consists in the complex use of both medications and physiotherapy. For pharmacotherapeutic purposes, the following groups of drugs are used:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that can significantly reduce the inflammatory volume, eliminate swelling and compression of the spinal cord and nerve roots. For a more effective effect during treatment, the course prescription of injection types of anti-inflammatory drugs is used. The main drugs from this group include: “Meloxicam”, “Nurofen”, “Ibuprofen”, “Diclofenac”.
- Nootropics and cerebroprotectors are drugs that improve blood circulation in the brain and metabolic processes in the nervous tissue. These include: “Vinpocetine”, “Cavinton”, “Cinnarizine”, “Piracetam”.
- Chondroprotectors - drugs protect cartilage tissue from destruction. Such drugs improve the cushioning and elastic signs of the intervertebral cartilage, thereby reducing compression syndrome.
I must say that treatment should be comprehensive, only in this case there will be a positive therapeutic effect. For this, in addition to medicines, physiotherapy procedures are used: magnetotherapy and ultrasound, therapeutic electrophoresis on the neck. Of no small importance belongs to systematic medical gymnastics.
Prevention
To get rid of the often occurring systemic and non-systemic dizziness, you need to follow these recommendations of professionals:
- Do not smoke or give up alcohol.
- Exclude table salt from the diet.
- Minimize daily caffeine intake.
- Exercise daily, especially with sedentary work.
- To work in moderation, rest is best in nature, especially near ponds.
- Eat foods that are high in vitamins.
- Avoid stressful situations.
- Do not move your neck and head sharply.
- With frequent travel and motion sickness in transport, you can use special means.
- If possible, purchase an orthopedic mattress with an anatomical effect, since the body completely relaxes during sleep, rest becomes more complete. It should be noted that thanks to such mattresses, infringement and bending of blood vessels is prevented.
Conclusion
As a conclusion, it should be noted that not in all cases, systemic isolated dizziness indicates a condition that threatens life or health. However, it needs a thorough diagnosis and timely treatment, as well as non-drug recovery, including through vestibular gymnastics. We must not forget about preventive measures. If all these conditions are met, dizziness will not be scary.