The majority of dizziness is caused by ear-related diseases. Experts state that most of the dizziness, which is more common in middle and older ages, is caused by ear-related diseases, and recommend consulting a physician.
Üsküdar University NPİSTANBUL Brain Hospital ENT Specialist Assoc. Dr. Murat Topak said that balance is achieved as a result of the brain evaluating the information coming from the eyes, the balance organs in the inner ear, and the muscular and skeletal system.
A disorder in one of these systems disrupts the harmony between these systems. stated Assoc. Dr. Murat Topak stated that as a result, complaints of imbalance or dizziness occur.
It is more common in middle and older ages
Assoc. Prof. stated that dizziness is an illusion of movement. Dr. Murat Topak said, “The patient feels as if there is a movement that does not exist and thinks that he or his surroundings are moving. The feeling of imbalance is the inability to maintain one's balance in relation to the environment. Dizziness and balance disorders are very common complaints. It is more common in middle and older age groups. "It is very rare in childhood," he said.
Assoc. Dr. Murat Topak said:
“This may sometimes require a team work consisting of Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT), Neurology and Cardiology. Most of the time, many technological tools such as audiometric tests, videonystagmography, caloric tests, routine biochemistry, electrocardiography, MRI, neck Doppler, ultrasonography can be used in the differential diagnosis.
The examination and the patient's history are related to the ear. If it suggests a disease, the patient's hearing should be checked with audiometric examination. VNG (videonystagmography) is another test that shows inner ear functions. It is based on recording eye movements created by visual or caloric stimuli. It can provide information on determining the location and side of the lesion causing dizziness and, in particular, Providing documentation in the computerized system is an important feature. Stating that there are reasons, Assoc. Dr. Murat Topak listed them as follows:
“Ear-related causes: Ear-related diseases are responsible for most of the real dizziness. Position-related dizziness is the most common cause in clinics dealing with dizziness. It is responsible for 50% of vertigo cases in older age groups. Typical complaints are vertigo, which occurs with head movements, lasts for seconds, and causes the environment to spin, as well as a feeling of imbalance and nausea. In most patients, these complaints periodically improve and then recur. Diagnosis is made by looking at the responses of the semicircular canals in the inner ear to certain maneuvers during tests. Its treatment is special maneuvers based on the repositioning of crystals that have been displaced within the semicircular canals.
Meniere's disease: Hearing loss, ringing in the ear, feeling of fullness and It is characterized by attacks of dizziness. The disease is caused by an imbalance of fluids in the inner ear. Ear diseases due to the balance nerve being affected after a viral infection, acute and chronic middle ear infections, ear diseases with hearing loss, and sometimes dizziness due to the rupture of the membranes in the inner ear without any reason.
Traumas: Dizziness along with hearing loss may occur after frequent hard blows to the head or a fracture in the skull that causes damage to the inner ear. Sometimes, even without any skull fracture, dizziness may occur due to concussion in the inner ear structures.
Neurological diseases: Migraine affects the central nervous system, which consists of organs such as the brain and cerebellum. Diseases such as nutritional disorders due to bleeding in the nervous system or blockages in blood vessels, multiple sclerosis, various brain tumors, Parkinson's disease can cause imbalance.
Internal diseases: Heart failure, heart valve disease, diabetes, thyroid gland disease Anemia, uncontrolled high blood pressure, position-related low blood pressure, heart rhythm disturbances, sudden and severe dehydration (diarrhea, vomiting) may cause dizziness.
Also, psychogenic dizziness. Dizziness may also be observed.”
Professional support is important
He states that the treatment for dizziness is directed towards the cause. Assoc. Dr. Murat Topak said, “In positional dizziness, treatment is possible with corrective maneuvers for the pathological condition detected during the tests. The treatment applied in Meniere's disease aims to eliminate the complaints of the disease, primarily dizziness, during the attack. In the treatment between attacks, the patient's triggering stress factors are determined and eliminated, leaving a sedentary lifestyle (with irregular physical activity or no physical activity) and occupational activities. "It is also important to encourage sports activities and get professional psychological help when necessary," he said.
Stress and smoking can trigger attacks
Assoc. Prof. noted that factors such as stress, fatigue, smoking, alcohol and caffeine can trigger attacks in Meniere's disease. Dr. Murat Topak made the following recommendations:
“It is recommended to avoid salty foods and not to add salt to the food after cooking. The existence of individual differences in the natural course of the disease makes the choice and method of treatment difficult. However, in general, 85% of patients benefit from medical treatment, while the remaining 15% require interventional treatments, including intratympanic treatments, local high pressure application, ventilation tube application, endolymphatic sac surgery, and vestibular neurectomy. If dizziness is due to acute or chronic otitis media, these diseases need to be treated appropriately. Other causes of dizziness are treated with various methods after the correct diagnosis is made by the relevant branch physicians.
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