Dizziness or lightheadedness is a feeling that is fairly common. The causes are many and range from those that are generally harmless to life threatening conditions. When this feeling is experienced once in a while, there is no cause for worry. However, one should seek medical attention immediately if the problem is recurrent or if it is associated with other symptoms such as headache, loss of consciousness, hearing loss, visual blurring and so on. You need to understand a number of important things when seeking dizziness treatment in Toronto.
Dizziness is different from vertigo. The latter is a feeling of spinning. The cause is damage to semicircular canals of the ear. The commonest form of vertigo is what is referred to as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, BPPV. Affected persons will typically get dizzy when they change positions such as from a lying to a sitting or standing position.
Another common cause is what is referred to as Meniere disease. This disease interferes with the function of semicircular canals by causing fluid accumulation. The causes of real dizziness include, among others, tumors, migraines, abrupt changes in blood pressure, hypoglycemia, dehydration, heat stroke and motion sickness. The severity will depend on the exact cause.
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.
Since there are numerous causes, proper evaluation is necessary to single out the most likely. The doctor will take a history from you and perform a comprehensive physical examination. The history will seek to establish the timing of your symptoms, the body positions in which it occurs as well as the frequency and severity. Depending on the findings, some tests will be requested. CT scans and MRI are often useful in this area. In some situations the cause may not be found.
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 a common feeling. It is on most occasion harmless. However, when it is seen to persist for periods of time or when consistently associated with other medical conditions, medical consultation is indicated. The treatment of the condition continues to challenge many clinicians due to the vague nature of the symptom with many patients having different interpretations. Proper evaluation may help narrow down the possibilities.
Dizziness is different from vertigo. The latter is a feeling of spinning. The cause is damage to semicircular canals of the ear. The commonest form of vertigo is what is referred to as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, BPPV. Affected persons will typically get dizzy when they change positions such as from a lying to a sitting or standing position.
Another common cause is what is referred to as Meniere disease. This disease interferes with the function of semicircular canals by causing fluid accumulation. The causes of real dizziness include, among others, tumors, migraines, abrupt changes in blood pressure, hypoglycemia, dehydration, heat stroke and motion sickness. The severity will depend on the exact cause.
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.
Since there are numerous causes, proper evaluation is necessary to single out the most likely. The doctor will take a history from you and perform a comprehensive physical examination. The history will seek to establish the timing of your symptoms, the body positions in which it occurs as well as the frequency and severity. Depending on the findings, some tests will be requested. CT scans and MRI are often useful in this area. In some situations the cause may not be found.
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 a common feeling. It is on most occasion harmless. However, when it is seen to persist for periods of time or when consistently associated with other medical conditions, medical consultation is indicated. The treatment of the condition continues to challenge many clinicians due to the vague nature of the symptom with many patients having different interpretations. Proper evaluation may help narrow down the possibilities.