How long will vertigo last. Understanding Vertigo: Causes, Symptoms, and Management Strategies
How long does vertigo typically last. What are the common causes of vertigo. How is vertigo diagnosed and treated. What can be done to ease vertigo symptoms at home. When should you seek medical attention for vertigo.
What is Vertigo and How Does It Affect You?
Vertigo is more than just feeling dizzy. It’s a sensation that you or your surroundings are spinning or moving, even when everything is actually still. This disorienting condition can significantly impact your balance and daily activities.
How long does a vertigo attack typically last? The duration can vary widely:
- A few seconds to hours in mild cases
- Several days or even months in severe cases
While vertigo often improves without treatment, persistent or recurrent episodes warrant a visit to your GP, especially if they interfere with your daily life.
Common Causes of Vertigo: Understanding the Root of the Problem
Vertigo primarily stems from inner ear issues that affect your balance. The most frequent culprits include:
- Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV): Triggered by specific head movements
- Labyrinthitis: An inner ear infection often caused by cold or flu viruses
- Vestibular neuronitis: Inflammation of the vestibular nerve in the inner ear
- Ménière’s disease: A rare inner ear condition that may also cause tinnitus or hearing loss
Other potential causes of vertigo include:
- Migraine headaches
- Certain medications (check the leaflet for listed side effects)
- In some cases, the cause remains unknown
Vertigo After COVID-19 Infection
Can COVID-19 cause vertigo? Yes, dizziness and vertigo have been reported as potential after-effects of COVID-19 infection. This may manifest as:
- A spinning sensation (vertigo)
- Lightheadedness or feeling faint
- General balance issues
These symptoms may occur due to general weakness or because the virus has affected the vestibular system. COVID-related vertigo might be triggered by head movements, visual stimuli, or quick position changes.
Recognizing Vertigo Symptoms: When to Seek Medical Attention
While many cases of vertigo resolve on their own, certain symptoms warrant immediate medical attention. Seek urgent GP care if your vertigo:
- Persists or frequently recurs
- Is accompanied by severe headaches
- Causes vomiting or severe nausea
- Coincides with a high fever (38°C or above)
Head to the nearest emergency department if vertigo occurs alongside:
- Double vision or vision loss
- Hearing loss
- Speech difficulties
- Weakness, numbness, or tingling in arms or legs
Is it ever appropriate to call an ambulance for vertigo? Yes, if someone with vertigo cannot be woken up, call emergency services immediately.
Diagnosing Vertigo: What to Expect at Your Doctor’s Appointment
When you visit your GP for vertigo, they will likely:
- Ask about your symptoms to determine the type of vertigo
- Conduct a balance test, possibly involving quick position changes
- Potentially refer you to a specialist for further examination
How do doctors diagnose the cause of vertigo? They typically rely on a combination of your symptom description, physical examination, and sometimes specialized tests performed by specialists.
Treatment Options for Vertigo: From Home Remedies to Medical Interventions
The treatment approach for vertigo depends on its underlying cause. Your doctor may recommend:
- Antibiotics if an infection is the root cause
- Special balance exercises
- Antihistamines to alleviate symptoms
Are there effective home remedies for vertigo? Yes, several strategies can help manage symptoms:
- Resting in a quiet, dark room to reduce spinning sensations
- Moving your head slowly and carefully
- Sitting down immediately when feeling dizzy
- Using a walking stick if at risk of falling
- Sleeping with your head slightly elevated
- Practicing relaxation techniques, as anxiety can exacerbate vertigo
Living with Vertigo: Lifestyle Adjustments and Precautions
Managing vertigo often involves making some lifestyle changes. Here are some dos and don’ts to keep in mind:
Do:
- Turn on lights when getting up at night
- Get out of bed slowly, sitting on the edge before standing
- Use multiple pillows to keep your head slightly raised while sleeping
Don’t:
- Bend over to pick things up – squat instead
- Stretch your neck excessively, such as reaching for high shelves
How does vertigo affect driving ability? If you have vertigo, you must inform the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) about your condition. This is crucial for ensuring road safety for yourself and others.
Vertigo in Special Populations: Considerations for Different Groups
While vertigo can affect anyone, certain populations may have unique considerations:
Elderly Individuals
Older adults may be at higher risk for vertigo due to age-related changes in the inner ear or increased susceptibility to conditions like BPPV. They should take extra precautions to prevent falls.
Pregnant Women
Pregnancy can sometimes trigger or exacerbate vertigo symptoms. Hormonal changes and shifts in body weight distribution may contribute to this. Pregnant women experiencing vertigo should consult their healthcare provider for safe management strategies.
Children
While less common, vertigo can occur in children. It may be challenging for young children to articulate their symptoms, so parents should be alert to signs of dizziness or balance issues.
The Future of Vertigo Treatment: Emerging Research and Therapies
As medical understanding of vertigo evolves, new treatment approaches are being explored:
- Advanced imaging techniques for more precise diagnosis
- Targeted medications to address specific causes of vertigo
- Virtual reality-based rehabilitation exercises
- Vestibular implants for severe cases of balance disorders
What promising developments are on the horizon for vertigo treatment? Researchers are investigating gene therapies for inherited vestibular disorders and exploring the potential of stem cell treatments to regenerate damaged inner ear cells.
Coping with Chronic Vertigo: Strategies for Long-term Management
For individuals dealing with persistent or recurrent vertigo, developing a long-term management plan is crucial. This may involve:
- Regular vestibular rehabilitation exercises
- Dietary modifications (e.g., reducing salt intake for Ménière’s disease)
- Stress management techniques
- Support groups or counseling to address the emotional impact of chronic vertigo
How can you maintain quality of life with chronic vertigo? Focus on adapting your environment for safety, staying physically active within your limits, and communicating openly with friends, family, and healthcare providers about your needs and limitations.
Vertigo Prevention: Minimizing Risk Factors and Maintaining Inner Ear Health
While not all cases of vertigo are preventable, certain measures may help reduce your risk or minimize the frequency of episodes:
- Maintaining good overall health through regular exercise and a balanced diet
- Managing conditions that can contribute to vertigo, such as high blood pressure or diabetes
- Practicing good sleep hygiene
- Avoiding excessive alcohol consumption and tobacco use
- Protecting your ears from loud noises and infections
Are there specific exercises to prevent vertigo? While no exercise can guarantee vertigo prevention, activities that improve balance and strengthen the vestibular system, such as tai chi or yoga, may be beneficial.
Vertigo in the Workplace: Accommodations and Legal Considerations
For individuals experiencing vertigo, navigating the workplace can present unique challenges. Understanding your rights and available accommodations is crucial:
- Employers are generally required to make reasonable accommodations for employees with vertigo under disability laws
- Potential accommodations might include flexible work hours, modified work environments, or changes in job responsibilities
- Open communication with your employer about your condition and needs is essential
How should you approach discussing vertigo with your employer? Be honest about your condition, focus on your abilities, and come prepared with suggestions for accommodations that would help you perform your job effectively.
The Psychological Impact of Vertigo: Mental Health Considerations
Living with vertigo can take a toll on mental health, potentially leading to:
- Anxiety about future episodes
- Depression due to limitations on daily activities
- Social isolation from fear of symptoms occurring in public
How can you address the psychological aspects of vertigo? Consider the following strategies:
- Seeking counseling or cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Practicing mindfulness and relaxation techniques
- Joining support groups to connect with others experiencing similar challenges
- Maintaining social connections and activities within your comfort level
Remember, addressing mental health is an integral part of managing vertigo and maintaining overall well-being.
Vertigo in Popular Culture: Separating Fact from Fiction
Vertigo has been depicted in various forms of media, sometimes accurately and other times with artistic license. Let’s examine some common portrayals:
- Films like Alfred Hitchcock’s “Vertigo” have brought attention to the condition but may exaggerate or simplify symptoms
- TV medical dramas often use vertigo as a dramatic plot device, potentially leading to misconceptions about its severity or treatment
- Some fictional portrayals may conflate vertigo with other conditions, adding to public confusion
How can media depictions impact public understanding of vertigo? While they can raise awareness, it’s crucial to rely on medical professionals and reputable health resources for accurate information about vertigo, its causes, and treatments.
Technological Advancements in Vertigo Management
The digital age has brought new tools and technologies to aid in vertigo management:
- Smartphone apps for tracking symptoms and triggers
- Wearable devices that monitor balance and provide real-time feedback
- Telemedicine platforms allowing remote consultations with vestibular specialists
- Virtual reality systems for at-home vestibular rehabilitation exercises
How effective are these technological solutions in managing vertigo? While promising, it’s important to use these tools in conjunction with professional medical advice. They can supplement but not replace proper diagnosis and treatment by healthcare providers.
Vertigo Research: Current Studies and Future Directions
Ongoing research continues to expand our understanding of vertigo and potential treatments:
- Genetic studies to identify hereditary factors in vestibular disorders
- Investigations into the relationship between vertigo and other neurological conditions
- Development of more targeted and effective medications
- Exploration of non-invasive brain stimulation techniques for vertigo relief
What are scientists hoping to achieve through vertigo research? The ultimate goals include more accurate diagnostic methods, personalized treatment approaches, and potentially even ways to prevent certain types of vertigo from developing.
As research progresses, individuals living with vertigo can look forward to potentially more effective management strategies and an improved quality of life. Stay informed about the latest developments by keeping in touch with your healthcare provider and reputable health information sources.
Vertigo – HSE.ie
Vertigo feels like you or everything around you is spinning. It’s more than feeling dizzy, it affects your balance.
A vertigo attack can last from a few seconds to hours. If you have severe vertigo, it can last for many days or months.
Vertigo gets better in most cases without treatment. talk to your GP if it keeps coming back or it’s affecting your daily life.
Causes of vertigo
The most common causes of vertigo are inner ear problems that affect your balance.
These include:
- benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) – where specific head movements cause vertigo
- labyrinthitis – an inner ear infection caused by a cold or flu virus
- vestibular neuronitis – inflammation of the vestibular nerve (the nerve in the inner ear that sends messages to the brain)
- Ménière’s disease – a rare inner ear condition that can cause tinnitus (ringing in the ear) or loss of hearing
Other causes of vertigo include:
- migraine
- some types of medicine – check the leaflet to see if it’s listed as a side effect
Sometimes the cause is unknown.
Non-urgent advice: Ask for an urgent GP appointment if
you have vertigo that will not go away or keeps coming back and you:
- have a severe headache
- are being sick or feel very sick
- have a very high temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or above or feel hot and shivery
What happens at your appointment
Your GP will ask about your symptoms to try to find out what type of vertigo you have.
They may do a test to check your balance. They’ll ask you to move quickly from a sitting position to a lying position. This could bring on symptoms.
They may refer you to a specialist for more tests.
Emergency action required: Go to your nearest emergency department (ED) if you have vertigo and:
- double vision or loss of vision
- hearing loss
- trouble speaking
- leg or arm weakness, numbness or tingling
Always take someone who cannot be woken up to the ED or call 112 or 999 and look for an ambulance.
Important
Go to your nearest ED if you have vertigo and:
- double vision or loss of vision
- hearing loss
- trouble speaking
- leg or arm weakness, numbness or tingling
Always take someone who cannot be woken up to the ED or call 999 or 112 and look for an ambulance.
Treating vertigo
The treatment for vertigo depends on the cause.
Your GP may prescribe antibiotics if the cause is an infection.
They may also give you special exercises to do for your balance.
Your GP may prescribe antihistamines. They can sometimes help with vertigo symptoms.
Important
If you drive, you must tell the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) about your vertigo.
Medical fitness for driving – NDLS.ie
Easing the symptoms of vertigo
You can do things to ease vertigo symptoms when they happen and reduce the number of episodes.
Do
lie still in a quiet, dark room to reduce the spinning feeling
move your head carefully and slowly during daily activities
sit down straight away when you feel dizzy
turn on the lights if you get up at night
use a walking stick if you’re at risk of falling
sleep with your head slightly raised on 2 or more pillows
get out of bed slowly and sit on the edge of the bed for a while before standing up
try to relax, anxiety can make vertigo worse
Don’t
do not bend over to pick things up – squat to lower yourself instead
do not stretch your neck, for example, when you reach up to a high shelf
Content supplied by the NHS and adapted for Ireland by the HSE
This project has received funding from the Government of Ireland’s Sláintecare Integration Fund 2019 under Grant Agreement Number 123.
Page last reviewed: 21 March 2021
Next review due: 21 March 2024
COVID in last 4 weeks Dizziness
Dizziness after a COVID infection can be:
- A feeling of spinning or an unusual sense of moving often called vertigo
- Lightheadedness – feeling like you might faint
Both can make you feel a bit off balance.
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Vertigo is often seen in infections caused by viruses because you are weaker and rundown or because the virus has affected the vestibular system, the part of the body between your inner ear and your brain.
If the vestibular system is affected, you may find that you get dizzy when you:
- Move your head
- See lots of movement in front of your eyes (e.g. a fast, busy scene in a film)
- Change position quickly – this can also make you feel sick and your balance may be affected
Dizziness can also be linked to ringing in the ears, reduced hearing/ loss of hearing, eye strain and headaches. These issues may come and go throughout the day.
If they happen all the time or are very bad, you should inform your healthcare professional as they may want to do some further tests.
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Exercises to help with your vertigo
Here are some exercises that may help your recovery. Start by doing these exercises once a day in the evening. When they feel ok, repeat the exercises again earlier in the day. Ideally, these exercises should be done five times a day.
All of the following exercises should be done for 30 seconds each:
- Slowly move your eyes to the left and right with your head staying still
- Slowly move your head to the left and right with your eyes staying fixed on something
- Slowly move your eyes and head together from side to side
- Slowly move your eyes and head in opposite directions
Have something firm to hold onto if needed (e.g. the kitchen sink) for the following exercises:
- Stand with your feet together
- Stand with one foot in front of the other, touching heel to toe
- Stand on one leg
- Stand on the other leg
Gradually increase the speed and time you do each exercise to improve.
If you find these exercises too easy with your eyes open, repeat them with your eyes closed.
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Lightheadedness can be caused by many things and the most common include:
- A lack of water and/or liquids
- Some prescription medicines
- Low blood sugar levels
- Anxiety or stress
- A sudden drop in blood pressure when standing up
- A lack of iron or anaemia
Plan, Pace and Prioritise: Doing too much can make lightheadedness worse so it is important to plan, pace and prioritise your daily activities. Find out more on the managing daily activities page.
If you have lightheadedness when you stand up:
- Avoid moving quickly from lying to sitting to a standing position (get up slowly after lying down or sit for a while before standing)
- Avoid or limit long periods of lying in bed or sitting
- Be active – although doing too much can make lightheadedness worse, activity can improve symptoms – try to do something every day, even for just a few minutes – this can help you keep fit and build muscle
- Find ways to reduce stress – stress can make the symptoms of lightheadedness worse
- Eat and drink regularly – symptoms of lightheadedness can be made worse when eating and drinking patterns change so try and stick to a routine and avoid long periods without eating or drinking
- Rest during illness – infections and other illnesses can worsen symptoms, rest and accept that you’ll want to do less if you become unwell and you may take longer than expected to recover
- Avoid or limit how much alcohol, coffee and tea you drink as these drinks cause your blood vessels to widen and lower your blood pressure
- Include more salt in your diet – this is not advisable if you have high blood pressure, kidney disease or heart disease, so please ask your healthcare professional first
- Try wearing support tights or other forms of compression clothing to improve blood flow in your legs
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Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (PoTS) is an unusual increase in heart rate that happens after sitting up or standing. Some common symptoms include dizziness, fainting, tiredness and palpitations (noticeable fast and strong regular heartbeats).
PoTS is diagnosed if your heart rate increases by 30 beats a minute (bpm) or more (40bpm in those aged 12 to 19) usually within 10 minutes of standing.
What are the symptoms of PoTS? |
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You can develop PoTS suddenly, or it can begin gradually. You can get symptoms almost immediately, or a few minutes after sitting up or standing. Lying down may relieve some of the symptoms. As well as an increase in heart rate, common symptoms of PoTS can include:
Some people notice that a hot environment, eating or tiring exercise can make their symptoms worse. For individuals who menstruate, having a period can make their symptoms worse and this can affect their menstrual cycle. These symptoms can have many different causes such as medicine side effects or low blood pressure, so it’s a good idea to get a proper medical diagnosis. Sometimes they can be wrongly diagnosed as anxiety or panic attacks. |
Some people may have had dizziness and balance problems before having COVID and now these symptoms have got worse.
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Most people will be able to manage their own recovery and it will improve a lot with time.
Move slowly when standing up after lying down or sitting
For some people, simply getting out of bed will be difficult. Before standing up, try sitting on the edge of the bed for a minute or two and wait for the dizziness to pass before trying to stand. At the start, you might need to ask someone to be with you when you try to stand up or go to the toilet.
Aim to move normally
This may be difficult and may take a long time. Moving your eyes, head and body is useful in reducing dizziness and for improving balance and fatigue.
Be safe
You may feel mild dizziness when you move. Reassure yourself that it is ok to feel mild dizziness and that you are safe. The dizziness should stop within 1-2 minutes of being still.
Actions to avoid fainting
Fainting can be avoided by learning to take notice of early warning signs such as:
- Lightheadedness
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Sweating
Immediate action:
- Lie down and lift your legs up
- Sit down if this is not possible
If your situation makes this difficult:
- Cross your legs while standing or rock up and down on your toes
- Clench your bottom and tummy muscles
- Clench your fists
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Consult your GP or healthcare professional if: |
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Seek urgent help if: |
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You suddenly start feeling dizzy at the same time as any of the following symptoms:
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Osteopathy for dizziness – Freedom of movement
Osteopathy for dizziness has long been proven effective in the treatment of this ailment. Dizziness is a symptom of various diseases, and the principle of osteopathy is not to eliminate the symptom, but the true cause that leads to dizziness.
Signs of dizziness may occur with varying degrees of severity and at different intervals. Basically, people feel as if objects are moving in a circle or the person himself is rotating. Dizziness may be accompanied by tinnitus, nausea and vomiting, rapid heart rate and an increase or decrease in blood pressure, increased sweating of the limbs or the whole body, a feeling of fear or suffocation. Sometimes the dizziness is so intense that patients feel like they are about to lose consciousness.
Dizziness is a serious symptom. It testifies to malfunctions in the nerve centers and some parts of the brain, the cerebellum. Often dizzy with pathology of the cardiovascular system, central nervous system, changes in blood composition, problems with the spine, curvature of posture, disorders in the vestibular apparatus.
- Dizziness in women during pregnancy and before or during menstruation.
- With hyperventilation of the lungs (diving to depth).
- Lack of iron in the diet.
- Sudden movements in various directions.
- In severe stress, fright.
- Dysfunctional disorders of the musculoskeletal system (osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, scoliosis, kyphosis, etc.).
- Diseases of the cardiovascular system.
- Pathology of the central nervous system (stroke, neoplasms in the brain, head injuries, etc.).
- ENT diseases (inflammation of the middle ear).
- Endocrine diseases (diabetes mellitus).
- Psycho-emotional disorders.
One of the most common causes of dizziness is a disturbance in the organ of balance, in our vestibular apparatus. Inflammation of the vestibular nerve, increased pressure in the semicircular canals, vertebrobasilar insufficiency, the appearance of osteoliths in the semicircular canals – all these disorders are accompanied by dizziness. Osteopathy of the vestibular apparatus is aimed at regulating the micromobility of the bones of the skull, relieving tension from the meninges and ensuring normal circulation of the cerebrospinal fluid.
The use of drugs for dizziness is a long process and can last for years without bringing the long-awaited effect. Osteopathy for dizziness is especially necessary for physiological dizziness and if the cause of dizziness is not established.
Dizziness can be a symptom of very serious pathologies and osteopathic diagnosis is carried out especially carefully. The osteopath starts by asking the patient if there are any chronic conditions that need to be reported to the doctor. Provide, if laboratory and instrumental studies are available. The next step is to examine the patient. The doctor evaluates the condition of the musculoskeletal system, palpates the internal organs, assesses the mobility of the bones of the skull, examines the muscles and ligaments. If necessary, he can recommend a consultation with a third-party specialist (cardiologist, therapist, etc.).
Osteopath works with the bones of the skull and spine, removes clamps from muscles and ligaments, restores blood and lymphatic supply to the brain and other organs and tissues.
Osteopathy for dizziness has proven itself as an excellent preventive effect on the body as a whole. The mechanisms of self-healing and rejuvenation are launched, the psycho-emotional state improves, the work of the digestive system is regulated and metabolic processes in the body are restored.
Osteopath has knowledge in many areas of medicine, performing osteopathic treatment of vertigo, he can eliminate concomitant pathology, which the patient may not be aware of.
Osteopaths attending the clinic “Freedom of Movement” have a higher medical education, a certificate of completed residency in the main specialty (neurologist, therapist, traumatologist-orthopedist, etc. ) and an education confirmed by a diploma in the direction of “Osteopathy”. To work in the specialty “Osteopathy”, a doctor spends about 10-11 years only on his education. In our clinic you will receive a full range of services for conducting a course of osteopathy for dizziness. High-level specialists with higher medical education, significant experience in osteopathy and who love their job will work with you.
It is necessary to follow the recommendations of the osteopath after the course of treatment. All additional recommendations allow you to consolidate the achieved effect of the treatment and, possibly, get rid of dizziness forever.
Take care of your health and trust it only to professionals. In our clinic you will receive a full range of services for osteopathic treatment. High-level specialists with higher medical education, significant experience in osteopathy and who love their job will work with you.
Osteopathy for dizziness reviews of patients of the clinic “Freedom of Movement”:
https://mcsvoboda. ru/otzyivyi.html
Entrust your health to professionals, make an appointment by phone: +7 (495) 212-08- 81.
We are waiting for you at the address: SZAO, Moscow, Kurkinskoe highway, 30
Our clinic is open from 9:00 to 21:00 seven days a week.
Vegetovascular dystonia (VVD) / Diseases / Clinic EXPERT
If you are often worried about dizziness, increased heart rate, pressure surges, then first of all you need to consult a neurologist (neuropathologist). It is an experienced neurologist of the EXPERT Clinic who will be able to conduct a differential diagnosis necessary to exclude other diseases that are similar in their symptoms to VVD.
Neurologist Bezukh Svetlana Mikhailovna – Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor with 37 years of medical experience. The accumulated experience allows her to quickly formulate a diagnosis, prescribe only the necessary examination and effective treatment.
At the consultation, the doctor will examine you and ask you in detail about your complaints – how, where exactly, in what situations your head hurts and feels dizzy, whether there are pressure surges, nausea, fainting, how long attacks last and other questions.
The neurologist will also prescribe the necessary instrumental and laboratory examinations, which can be partially or fully completed immediately after the consultation:
- ECG
- Ultrasound of bracheocephalic vessels (head and neck)
- 24-hour ECG and blood pressure monitoring
- X-ray of the spine
- blood and urine tests.
Additionally, you may need to consult related specialists – cardiologist, gastroenterologist, endocrinologist.
About vegetovascular dystonia
Vegetovascular dystonia (in other words, autonomic dysfunction) is a disruption of the autonomic nervous system.
The autonomic nervous system is a part of the nervous system that regulates many processes in the internal organs. Sometimes it is called the autonomic nervous system, because. regulation occurs autonomously, i.e. without the participation of human consciousness. The autonomic nervous system conditionally has two sections: sympathetic and parasympathetic, responsible for oppositely directed actions: for example, the parasympathetic section stimulates digestion, and the sympathetic section slows it down. Normally, the parasympathetic and sympathetic systems are in balance without the predominance of one over the other.
Vegetovascular dystonia is an imbalance in the autonomic nervous system, the consequence of which is a violation of the internal organs. Vegetovascular dystonia affects up to 70% of the adult population and 15-25% of children.
Causes of vegetovascular dystonia
To get rid of vegetovascular dystonia, first of all, it is necessary to identify the cause of the disease. This can be done by an experienced neurologist.
Autonomic dysfunction may occur due to one of the following reasons or their combination:
- hereditary predisposition factor (in this case, the manifestations of VVD appear already in childhood)
- previous acute and chronic infectious diseases or intoxications
- chronic psychoemotional stress, depression, sleep disturbance
- sedentary lifestyle work and as a consequence, posture disorder and cervical osteochondrosis
- bad habits (smoking, drinking alcohol)
- as a consequence of a chronic disease of the endocrine (hormonal changes), cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal tract and malnutrition
- diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system.
Symptoms and manifestations of VVD
Violation of the autonomic nervous system may affect one or several organs at once. Depending on this, several types of vegetative-vascular dystonia are distinguished (they are also called syndromes), each of which manifests itself in its own way.
Untreated dystonia
Any form of vegetovascular dystonia significantly affects the quality and lifestyle of a person, depriving him of the opportunity to work and exist normally. In severe cases, VVD can be manifested by loss of consciousness, increased heart rate, and other dangerous conditions. In addition, if you do not deal with the treatment and control of vegetative-vascular dystonia, it can develop into serious diseases of those organs in which the balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic parts of the nervous system is disturbed:
- heart (hypertension, ischemia, stroke and heart attack)
- stomach and intestines (atony (hypotension) of the intestine, gastritis)
- kidney and genitourinary system (urinary incontinence, diseases of the reproductive system in men and women)
- mental and nervous systems (convulsions, panic attacks).
All syndromes associated with vegetovascular dystonia are characterized by periodic exacerbations – crises or attacks. During an attack of VVD, all manifestations of the syndrome (tachycardia, fainting, shortness of breath) sharply worsen, accompanied by a panic attack for no apparent reason.