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.
The mode of treatment will be dictated by the cause. In some cases, however, the cause may not be established. Examples of treatments that have been used successfully include home remedies, lifestyle changes and the use of drugs. In the case of migraines, for example, lifestyle changes that involve the avoidance of trigger factors have been immensely successful. Meniere disease is mainly managed by instituting proper diet or surgery where the non-invasive options prove unsuccessful.
Athletes are at a high risk of suffering from heat stroke, dehydration and hypoglycemia. All these are established causes of dizziness. Such athletes need to be well prepared with water and a source of glucose whenever they go out to train or to compete. The same risk exists in persons that engage in strenuous physical activities particularly in areas with high ambient temperatures.
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.
The mode of treatment will be dictated by the cause. In some cases, however, the cause may not be established. Examples of treatments that have been used successfully include home remedies, lifestyle changes and the use of drugs. In the case of migraines, for example, lifestyle changes that involve the avoidance of trigger factors have been immensely successful. Meniere disease is mainly managed by instituting proper diet or surgery where the non-invasive options prove unsuccessful.
Athletes are at a high risk of suffering from heat stroke, dehydration and hypoglycemia. All these are established causes of dizziness. Such athletes need to be well prepared with water and a source of glucose whenever they go out to train or to compete. The same risk exists in persons that engage in strenuous physical activities particularly in areas with high ambient temperatures.
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.
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Find details about the benefits you get when you receive dizziness treatment in Toronto. If you have any questions, see the FAQ page at http://ptpaul.com.
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