Dizziness is a feeling of being lightheaded that is associated with a wide range of conditions that may be considered either normal or abnormal. The normal form of lightheadedness is that which occurs as a physiological response. The abnormal form, on the other hand, is due to underlying medical conditions in a variety of body systems. Seek help if you are experiencing the symptom frequently or if it is associated with loss of consciousness, visual blurriness or headache. Several Toronto dizziness treatment options exist.
Dizziness should be differentiated form a similar feeling known as vertigo. Since the two have different causes and treatments, your doctor will seek to establish which of the two you suffer from. In vertigo, affected persons will complain that their surrounding is spinning. It is very similar to what one experiences just after they alight from a merry go round. The cause of vertigo is damage to inner ear structures.
The doctor will want to know a number of things related to your condition. Part of this includes the duration, the pattern and the severity of the symptom. They will ask whether the symptoms have worsened or improved since their onset. A physical examination is then conducted to identify problems in any of the body systems. The next step is to undergo a number of investigations the most important of which include a CT scan, an MRI and a full blood count.
Conditions that affect the cardiovascular system frequently cause lightheadedness. They include hypertension, hypotension, heart failure and problems of heart rhythm. Each condition has a specific treatment. Hypertension, for instance, is treated by lifelong antihypertensive drugs and lifestyle modification. Abnormal rhythm can be corrected by anti-arrhythmic drugs or fixation of artificial pacemakers. Heart failure requires long term treatment with anti-failure drugs.
Lightheadedness is also a common symptom of conditions that affect the central nervous system. The causes within this system may either be acute or chronic. They include cerebrovascular accidents (strokes), brain tumors, headache, infections (such as meningitis), migraine and dementia. Many of these conditions tend to go undiagnosed for long periods of time and are only identified when they are greatly advanced.
Sugar levels tend to fall when we go without food for some time. Excessive and very low blood sugars are common among persons with diabetes due to a defective regulatory mechanism. It is common for these persons to suffer from frequent episodes of dizziness, fainting and even coma especially if they are not compliant to their medications. The treatment here is simply to take the prescribed medications at the right time and to regularly monitor blood glucose levels.
There are many other causes of this symptom. Other examples include anemia and some types of drugs (such as sedatives and tranquilizers). Engaging in a strenuous physical exercise such as running a marathon causes physiological changes that will likely result in lightheadedness. These changes may include dehydration and dizziness. It is important to be well prepared with a source of glucose when going for such events.
The option of therapy that is chosen for the management of dizziness is greatly determined by the cause. When the underlying cause is identified and treated, the symptoms are likely to resolve or at least reduce in frequency and severity. The treatments that are used include avoiding trigger factors (in migraines, for example), using drugs and making some lifestyle changes.
Dizziness should be differentiated form a similar feeling known as vertigo. Since the two have different causes and treatments, your doctor will seek to establish which of the two you suffer from. In vertigo, affected persons will complain that their surrounding is spinning. It is very similar to what one experiences just after they alight from a merry go round. The cause of vertigo is damage to inner ear structures.
The doctor will want to know a number of things related to your condition. Part of this includes the duration, the pattern and the severity of the symptom. They will ask whether the symptoms have worsened or improved since their onset. A physical examination is then conducted to identify problems in any of the body systems. The next step is to undergo a number of investigations the most important of which include a CT scan, an MRI and a full blood count.
Conditions that affect the cardiovascular system frequently cause lightheadedness. They include hypertension, hypotension, heart failure and problems of heart rhythm. Each condition has a specific treatment. Hypertension, for instance, is treated by lifelong antihypertensive drugs and lifestyle modification. Abnormal rhythm can be corrected by anti-arrhythmic drugs or fixation of artificial pacemakers. Heart failure requires long term treatment with anti-failure drugs.
Lightheadedness is also a common symptom of conditions that affect the central nervous system. The causes within this system may either be acute or chronic. They include cerebrovascular accidents (strokes), brain tumors, headache, infections (such as meningitis), migraine and dementia. Many of these conditions tend to go undiagnosed for long periods of time and are only identified when they are greatly advanced.
Sugar levels tend to fall when we go without food for some time. Excessive and very low blood sugars are common among persons with diabetes due to a defective regulatory mechanism. It is common for these persons to suffer from frequent episodes of dizziness, fainting and even coma especially if they are not compliant to their medications. The treatment here is simply to take the prescribed medications at the right time and to regularly monitor blood glucose levels.
There are many other causes of this symptom. Other examples include anemia and some types of drugs (such as sedatives and tranquilizers). Engaging in a strenuous physical exercise such as running a marathon causes physiological changes that will likely result in lightheadedness. These changes may include dehydration and dizziness. It is important to be well prepared with a source of glucose when going for such events.
The option of therapy that is chosen for the management of dizziness is greatly determined by the cause. When the underlying cause is identified and treated, the symptoms are likely to resolve or at least reduce in frequency and severity. The treatments that are used include avoiding trigger factors (in migraines, for example), using drugs and making some lifestyle changes.
About the Author:
You can get a detailed overview of the benefits you get when you consult a Toronto dizziness treatment professional at http://ptpaul.com right now.
No comments:
Post a Comment