THE DISORDERS OF DIZZINESS AND
IMBALANCE
Dizziness
Defining dizziness is sometimes
difficult. For some people dizziness means a spinning
sensation--that either you or your surroundings are turning.
To other people, dizziness is a woozy feeling, or perhaps a
sensation that the floor is moving when walking.
Dizziness has even been
described as lightheadedness, a feeling that "I'm just not
right," or a tilting sensation.
Generally, dizziness is considered to be a disruption in
the function of the vestibular system (the organs of balance
in the inner ear). When one or both vestibular systems
malfunction or stop functioning, this disruption causes
incorrect information about movement to be sent to the
balance centers in the brain. The result may be a sensation
of dizziness. This is the reason that people with dizziness
usually see an otologist and audiologist when experiencing
dizziness. However, it is important to realize that
disruptions in other parts of the balance system can also
contribute to the sensations of dizziness.
The dizziness itself is disturbing, but there are many
associated symptoms that are connected with dizziness. Some
of these include vomiting and nausea, headache, pressure in
the ears, head or over the face, ringing or buzzing in the
ears, hearing loss and fatigue. Also associated are memory
difficulties, phobias, panic attacks and difficulty
concentrating have also been associated with dizziness.
Balance
Balance disorders can be described as
either abnormal sensations of movement or actual movement
disorders or a combination of both. Balance disorders are
often associates with dizziness and can negatively impact
every aspect of a person's daily life.
Whenever there is a disruption in nay part of the balance
system, or in the interpretation of movements by the balance
centers in the brain, the result will be a functional
disruption of balance. Often the result is a sensation of
dizziness, but sometimes these disruption may be seen only
in the coordination and execution of movements. One common
complaint associated with impaired balance is staggering or
stumbling when walking. Other complaints include difficulty
doing everyday tasks, especially those requiring a lot of
head movements, or an increase in balance disturbances when
attempting to walk in the dark or when tired. All of these
complaints may have originated from a disorder in the
balance system.
