NeuroENT
NeioroENT: consultations at the NeiroMed clinic. NeiroMed Clinic, 8b Gunara Astras Street.
Dizziness: When to seek help with neuroENT
It’s natural to feel temporarily unstable after a ride on a merry-go-round, but if a similar feeling occurs suddenly and for no apparent reason, it can be a sign of health problems. Dizziness often manifests itself as a feeling that the objects around you, or the person himself, are spinning, wavering, swinging or falling. It can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, noise in your ears, hearing or vision problems, and sometimes even temporary loss of consciousness.
What is dizziness?
Medically dizziness, or vertigo, is not an isolated disease, but a symptom that can indicate a variety of health problems — most commonly, impaired functioning of the equilibrium apparatus, but also cardiovascular, neurological, psychiatric or metabolic diseases.
According to the World Health Organization, about 20-30% of the population experience a dizziness episode at least once in their lives, one of the most common complaints people turn to a doctor with.
The most common causes of dizziness
Dizziness is most associated with malfunction of the inner ear or vestibular apparatus. One of the most common diagnoses is benign positional paroxysmal vertigo (BPPV), a condition in which tiny crystals of calcium carbonate enter midair crescent channels, irritate nerve endings (receptors) and create a false sense of imbalance.
Other common reasons:
- Vestibular neuritis
- Ménière’s disease
- Migraine with vestibular symptoms, vestibular migraine
- Stroke or transient circulatory disorder
- Fluctuations or arrhythmias in blood pressure
- Anaemia, hypoglycaemia
- Mental disorders (e.g. anxiety syndrome)
What happens on a visit to a NeuroENT?
During the visit, the neuroENT:
- thoroughly questions about the onset, duration and nature of symptoms;
- identifies the use of medicinal products, chronic diseases;
- checks coordination, hearing, eye movements;
- performs Head Impulse Test, Romberg test, and other functional tests;
- prescribes additional examinations, such as audiometry, tympanometry, cerebral magnetic resonance (MR) or computed tomography (CT), when required.
Treatment
Dizziness treatment depends on its cause. So accurate diagnosis is essential.
Possible treatment approaches:
- medication therapy (e.g. Betahistine, antiemetics, circulatory medicines)
- vestibular rehabilitation – physiotherapy programme to reduce equilibrium disorder,
- psychological support therapy (if dizziness is related to anxiety)
- physiotherapy if symptoms are related to the neck muscle, etc.
Dizziness and quality of life
Dizziness can have a significant impact on a person’s quality of life – limiting their ability to drive, work or even move safely. It’s important to talk to relatives about this and provide support, such as mobile phone availability, if things suddenly get worse.
Why go directly to a neuroENT?
A neuroENT is the specialist best able to assess the neurological nature of dizziness. If dizziness is found not to be related to damage to the nervous system, the neuroENT will recommend further consultations with a neurologist, cardiologist or other specialist.
NeuroENT: consultations at NeiroMed clinic (Dr. Atis Legzdins)
Highly qualified neuroENT in Riga at NeiroMed Clinic, 8b Gunara Astras Street