Understanding Dizziness And Motion Sickness
Each year more than two million people visit a doctor for dizziness
, and an untold number suffer with motion sickness, which is the most common medical problem associated with travel. Most cases of dizziness and motion sickness are mild and self-treatable disorders. However, severe cases and those that become progressively worse deserve the attention of an ENT with specialized skills in diseases of the ear, nose, throat, equilibrium, and neurological systems.
Dizziness - What is it?
Dizziness is often attributed with feeling lightheaded, or unsteady. Vertigo is a type of dizziness that is experienced as an illusion of movement of self or the environment and tends to be very unpleasant. Others experience dizziness associated with motion sickness, which is a nauseating feeling that is brought on by the motion of riding in an airplane, on a roller coaster, in a car, or aboard a boat.
Dizziness, vertigo and motion sickness all relate to a sense of balance and equilibrium. Your sense of balance is maintained by an interaction with the following parts of the nervous system:
*The inner ears
*The eyes
*The skin pressure receptors in the joints and spine
*The muscle and joint sensory receptors
*The central nervous system
Symptoms of motion sickness and dizziness appear when the central nervous system receives conflicting messages from the other four systems.
What are the Causes?
One of the main causes of dizziness tends to be a lack of circulation. If your brain does not get enough blood flow, you may feel lightheaded. Almost everyone has experienced lightheadedness when standing up too quickly from a lying down position. Some people experience lightheadedness from poor circulation on a frequent or chronic basis, which could be caused by arteriosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. It is commonly seen in patients with inadequate cardiac function, hypoglycemia, or anemia.
Certain drugs can also decrease the blood flow to the brain, especially nicotine and caffeine. Additionally, if the inner ear fails to receive enough blood flow, the more specific type of dizziness, vertigo, will occur. The inner ear is extremely sensitive to minor alterations of blood flow and all of the causes mentioned for poor circulation, apply specifically to the inner ear.
Treatment and Prevention of Dizziness
Your ENT doctor will ask you to describe your dizziness and answer questions about your overall health. In addition to these questions, your doctor will examine your ears, nose, and throat with some routine tests performed to check your blood pressure, nerve and balance function, and hearing.
Some prevention tips include:
*Avoid rapid changes in position
*Avoid rapid head motion
*Eliminate or decrease use of products that impair circulation, such as tobacco, alcohol, caffeine, and salt
*Get plenty of fluids
*Treat infections, including ear infections, colds, flu, sinus congestion, and other respiratory infections
If you experience frequent instances of motion sickness, do not read while traveling and do not sit in a seat facing backwards, as these will only worsen symptoms. Additionally do not watch or talk to another traveler who is having motion sickness and avoid strong odors and spicy or greasy foods immediately before and during your travel.
Most cases of dizziness and motion sickness are mild and self-treatable, but severe cases and those that become progressively worse deserve the attention of your ENT in Westport.
by: Gen Wright
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