Dizziness

• by Pookie
• 2008-07-19 09:07:26
• General Posting
• 1122 views
• 1 comments

Hi everyone!

I was doing some research on dizziness here on this website and found the following information. I find it very interesting as a lot of members seem to mention dizziness. Hope this helps.

Dizziness is the second most common complaint heard in doctors' offices (after lower back pain). Dizziness has many causes other than inner ear dysfunction.

Visual disturbances can result in lightheadedness or dizziness. Some people feel dizzy while adjusting to bifocals or a new eyeglass prescription, or from reduced vision due to cataracts.

Hyperventilation can cause temporary dizziness. During rapid breathing, more carbon dioxide than normal is expelled and the level of carbon dioxide in the blood falls, which in turn affects the function of brain cells.

Decreased blood flow to the brain or brain stem can cause dizziness, because insufficient oxygen is reaching the cells. Conditions that can reduce blood flow to the brain include orthostatic hypotension (low blood pressure upon suddenly rising from a lying or sitting position), dehydration, vasovagal syndrome (a nervous-system response that causes sudden loss of muscle tone in peripheral blood vessels), arteriosclerosis (hardening or narrowing of blood vessels), and osteoarthritis (a joint disease that can narrow the openings in the neck vertebrae through which blood vessels flow).

Nervous-system disorders such as peripheral neuropathies (diminished nerve function in the legs or feet) can cause unsteadiness. A tumor may affect the brain stem, the cerebellum (the coordination center of the brain), or the part of the cerebral cortex that controls voluntary muscle movements.

Even stress, tension, or fatigue may cause dizziness. Under these conditions, the brain stem functions less efficiently, resulting in some loss of automatic reflex control of balance. This leads to elevated levels of activity for the cerebral cortex, as conscious energy is used to help maintain balance by controlling voluntary muscle movements. Lightheadedness and unsteadiness can result.

Pookie