Dizziness

Websters dictionary defined dizziness in several ways. The first definition refers to feeling foolish or silly. The second definition describes it as a whirling sensation in the head with a tendency to fall. Part of this definition includes mentally confused. The third definition refers to a feeling of dizziness or something that occurs extremely rapidly. Another definition included is to bewilder. Alfred Hitchcock used the word vertigo as a scary description of motion. His movie, "vertigo" was a hit.

Physicians use some of these words in more precise ways. Vertigo is an abnormal perception of rotation which does not correspond to the physical world. Without a description of rotation most doctors will not use the word vertigo. Dizziness may be a feeling that the patient experiences from a variety of causes. It is an extremely nonspecific description. Some patients who have inadequate blood flow to the brain may experience symptoms of dizziness, confusion or bewilderment. Almost any systemic failure can lead to symptoms of dizziness. In reviewing a physician's desk reference there were no drugs listed that did not have dizziness as a side effects.

Our perception of orientation in space comes from three different sources of information in the body. The most important sources of information are the inner ears. It is the quickest to identify our movements. The inner ear orients human beings to gravity. Without this orientation in space we would feel confused. Slower sources of information include the eye and the sensory system. We are able to determine the position and tension on all muscles and joints . The lower centers of the brain assemble this information into a perception of where we are and where we are going. It allows the body to maintain a perception of balance. When all of the information agrees, we feel that we are balanced. If one source of information is incorrect or inaccurate, we feel dizzy.

Dizziness may be fun. Amusement parks have made a science out of creating situations where we feel that we are dizzy. Some of the best amusement parks enable us to feel briefly dizzy on certain rides. They create conflicts between the inner ears, the eye sight, and the perception of our joint position in space. For a short period of time this can be fun. If an amusement park ride breaks stranding riders in this state, some people may not tolerate such abnormal perceptions for any length of time.

In order for a doctor to determine a cause for a feeling of dizziness,it is important for him to obtain a clear and detailed history. A patient must give a clear outline of what is wrong and when the symptoms occur. A correct diagnosis can only be reached by obtaining concise and clear information. The patient must able to relate when the symptoms began, how long they lasted, what associated events occurred, and what seemed to improve the symptoms. Some people find that it is necessary to take notes in order to make a clear statement about their symptoms.

If a patient experiences loss of consciousness, shortness of breath, chest pain, a severe headache, abdominal distress, or other systemic symptoms, they are unlikely to have a disorder of the inner ear.

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