Dizziness, or vertigo in Latin, is the perception that oneself or one's surroundings are moving. Sometimes patients describe it as an earthquake or as if the ground is slipping under their feet. It usually takes seconds or minutes. However, sometimes it can take days. Nausea, vomiting and imbalance usually accompany the picture.
Why Does Dizziness Occur?
The complaint of dizziness can be caused by damage to two basic structures. These are the cerebellum located in the lower, posterior part of the brain and the snail-shaped structure in the inner ear. Their damage can cause dizziness and imbalance. Dizziness that occurs in inner ear diseases is called peripheral vertigo, and that in cerebellum diseases is called central vertigo. Therefore, dizziness is a common problem of ENT and neurology branches.
What are the Differences of Dizziness in the Damages of These Two Structures?
Ear-originated dizziness, especially in the initial period, is extremely severe dizziness, nausea , vomiting, severe imbalance. It gets especially severe when the patient moves. For this reason, the patient prefers to remain motionless in the place. It usually decreases in severity over the days. Vision problems are not accompanied by much. It is accompanied by severe buzzing, ringing and a feeling of fullness in the ears. It is observed frequently, especially during seasonal transitions, during exposure to cold air and drafts. Cerebellum-originated vertigo, on the other hand, is vertigo that occurs continuously regardless of movement and position. There is also an imbalance that pulls the patient towards the affected cerebellum. Therefore, the patient's walking is extremely difficult. In cases where connections are affected, double vision may occur. Sometimes there is also speech impairment. In this case, the person's speech is like drunk.
Which Diseases Can Cause Dizziness?
Inner ear diseases: chronic diseases of the ear with discharge, ear diseases with hearing loss, Meniere's disease, positional vertigo, such as a viral infection affecting the balance nerve
Diseases of the cerebellum and its connections: bleeding, atherosclerosis, MS, inflammation such as pills, tumors.
How to Diagnose?
Patient's statements and examination findings are important in diagnosis. With the clues obtained from here, it can be understood whether the complaint originates from the inner ear or cerebellum. In addition, the brain MRI examination is helpful in showing the exact cause in those with cerebellum origin.
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