Dizziness is a common feeling that many of us face from time to time. On most occasions there is nothing much to worry about. In a few cases, however, it may be an indicator of serious underlying conditions that require urgent medical attention. This should be suspected when there are other associated symptoms such as headache, loss of consciousness, hearing loss and visual blurring among others. There are some important things on dizziness treatment in Toronto when seeking the service.
Differentiating dizziness from vertigo is important. While the former is a feeling of lightheadedness, the latter refers to a sense of spinning environment. Vertigo is caused by a problem affecting the semicircular canals of the ear. One of the forms of this condition is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (also known as BPPV). Symptoms are usually experienced when one changes their body position.
Another commonly encountered cause is Meniere disease. This disease is caused by accumulation of fluid within the middle ear. This too compromises the function of semicircular canals. Causes of real dizziness include tumors (such as acoustic neuroma), a sudden drop in blood pressure, hypoglycemia, some drugs, motion sickness, heat stroke and dehydration.
It is a good idea to keep track of the episodes so as to assess the severity of your condition. This can be achieved by having a dairy at your side to document each of these events. The diary will also be helpful in monitoring the response to treatment.
When you visit your doctor, they will embark on an exercise to establish the exact cause of your problem. A medical history will be required and this will be followed by a comprehensive physical. Issues that the doctor will want to know include the number of episodes that are experienced in a day or week, whether or not there is a relationship with body positioning and the presence or absence of related symptoms. Blood tests and radiological investigations such as the CT scan and MRI may help confirm the diagnosis.
There are many treatments that exist and this depend on the exact cause. The available modalities range from home therapies to lifestyle modification to pharmacotherapies. Migraines, for example, are managed with drugs and changing of lifestyles which may involve the identification and avoidance or trigger factors. Meniere disease may be treated with proper diet or ear surgery in cases where the conservative management fails to yield results.
Athletes and persons engaged in strenuous physical activities are prone to heat stroke, dehydration and hypoglycemia. If these are not properly controlled, dizziness and fainting may ensure. For this reason, they are advised to always have a bottle of water available to keep themselves hydrated at all times. Glucose and energy drinks will help maintain the blood sugar levels within normal limits.
Dizziness is on most occasions harmless. Its treatment is not easy because of the numerous causes and the fact that it means different things to different people. Many cases subside with time even without treatment. When it is associated with other symptoms and when it persists for long periods of time, you need to seek medical intervention for proper evaluation.
Differentiating dizziness from vertigo is important. While the former is a feeling of lightheadedness, the latter refers to a sense of spinning environment. Vertigo is caused by a problem affecting the semicircular canals of the ear. One of the forms of this condition is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (also known as BPPV). Symptoms are usually experienced when one changes their body position.
Another commonly encountered cause is Meniere disease. This disease is caused by accumulation of fluid within the middle ear. This too compromises the function of semicircular canals. Causes of real dizziness include tumors (such as acoustic neuroma), a sudden drop in blood pressure, hypoglycemia, some drugs, motion sickness, heat stroke and dehydration.
It is a good idea to keep track of the episodes so as to assess the severity of your condition. This can be achieved by having a dairy at your side to document each of these events. The diary will also be helpful in monitoring the response to treatment.
When you visit your doctor, they will embark on an exercise to establish the exact cause of your problem. A medical history will be required and this will be followed by a comprehensive physical. Issues that the doctor will want to know include the number of episodes that are experienced in a day or week, whether or not there is a relationship with body positioning and the presence or absence of related symptoms. Blood tests and radiological investigations such as the CT scan and MRI may help confirm the diagnosis.
There are many treatments that exist and this depend on the exact cause. The available modalities range from home therapies to lifestyle modification to pharmacotherapies. Migraines, for example, are managed with drugs and changing of lifestyles which may involve the identification and avoidance or trigger factors. Meniere disease may be treated with proper diet or ear surgery in cases where the conservative management fails to yield results.
Athletes and persons engaged in strenuous physical activities are prone to heat stroke, dehydration and hypoglycemia. If these are not properly controlled, dizziness and fainting may ensure. For this reason, they are advised to always have a bottle of water available to keep themselves hydrated at all times. Glucose and energy drinks will help maintain the blood sugar levels within normal limits.
Dizziness is on most occasions harmless. Its treatment is not easy because of the numerous causes and the fact that it means different things to different people. Many cases subside with time even without treatment. When it is associated with other symptoms and when it persists for long periods of time, you need to seek medical intervention for proper evaluation.
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