Other Names:
Dizziness

Symptoms:
Dizziness, faintness, or light-headedness. The person may feel that he is falling or sinking or that the room is moving around him, sometimes even spinning. This sensation is usually accompanied by nausea, vomiting, perspiration, headache, or hearing loss.


Cause:
Vertigo is caused by an impaired sense of balance and equilibrium, and is generally due to an inner ear problem. Older people have it more often than those younger.

If the original cause is concussion, skull fracture, or injuring the inner ear, the dizziness may occur long after the injury supposedly healed.

Other causes are anemia, brain tumors, high or low blood pressure, psychological stress, lack of oxygen or glucose in the blood, nutritional deficiencies, viral infection, fever, changes in atmospheric pressure, the use of certain drugs, middle ear infections, excess wax in the ear, or blockage of the ear canal or eustachian tube.

Lower oxygen levels at higher altitudes can also cause it. Another cause is vitamin B6 and niacin deficiency.

You can expect that you may temporarily experience it if you engage in certain activities, such as amusement park rides, sailing, or virtual reality games.

Be aware that dizziness can be a warning sign of a coming heart attack or stroke. It can also be an indication that a concussion has just occurred.

Dizziness is not the same as vertigo. From time to time, anyone can experience some dizziness or faintness. Those with low-blood pressure will frequently experience this when standing up suddenly.

Treatment:
• Immediately, sit in a chair with your feet flat on the floor and stare at a fixed object for a few minutes.

• But, if the cause is low-blood pressure, lower your head while the blood gets up there.

• Eat a nutritious diet, including niacin, B6, and the entire B complex—including B1, B2, and pantothenic acid. Vitamin C is also important.

• Do not take over 2,000 mg of total sodium per day. Too much sodium disrupts the operation of the inner ear.

• Take powdered peppercorns.

• Avoid nicotine, caffeine, alcohol, and fried foods.

• Catnip tea will help.

• If vertigo begins after taking some new drug, stop using it immediately.

• If vertigo seems to be chronic, search out the causes. You may need professional help.