Dizziness in the elderly can be caused by insomnia, brain tumors, migraines, impaired vestibular function, and cervical spondylosis compressing nerve roots.
Dizziness is one of the common problems in the elderly. Accompanying symptoms often include headache, tinnitus, dizziness, vomiting, nausea, anxiety, panic, disorientation, falls...
Dr. Le Van Tuan, Director of the Neuroscience Center, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, said that dizziness in the elderly can be caused by many underlying diseases.
Neurological diseases such as epilepsy, brain tumors, migraines, sleep disorders, cerebral ischemia, cerebral vascular malformations... can lead to dizziness.
Meniere's disease is a disorder of the inner ear, symptoms include dizziness, hearing loss or hearing loss, and tinnitus, which can be described as a buzzing sound or a rumbling sound in the ears. Doctors often prescribe anti-nausea medications, antihistamines, or benzodiazepines to help control symptoms and advise patients on a low-salt diet.
Pathology that reduces bilateral vestibular function, Dr. Tuan said that nearly 50% of people over 60 years old have reduced vestibular function. Vestibular diseases that cause dizziness in the elderly can be caused by peripheral vestibular damage, cochlear labyrinthitis, cerebral vascular occlusion in the posterior neck, head trauma, vestibular neuritis, head trauma...
Elderly people using drugs such as antibiotics, anti-epileptic drugs, sedatives... are also prone to dizziness due to reduced vestibular function.
Cervical spondylosis causes nerve root compression Cervical spondylosis is a condition of compression of blood vessels and nerve roots due to cervical spondylosis, which is very common in the elderly, leading to cerebral ischemia causing prolonged dizziness, neck and shoulder pain, headaches...
Other diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, kidney failure, atherosclerosis, high or low blood pressure are also causes. Some factors such as weather changes, food poisoning, prolonged stress... can cause headaches and dizziness in the elderly.
According to Dr. Tuan, dizziness not only causes discomfort but also increases the risk of falling, leading to broken bones, head injuries, and traumatic brain injuries. When dizzy, the elderly should lie down comfortably or sit in a soft chair with a backrest to avoid trying to continue walking. Do not change positions suddenly from sitting to standing or from lying to sitting. Avoid activities that use machinery, driving or climbing stairs.
Increase water intake and add green vegetables daily to improve health. Limit eating too salty or too sweet foods to avoid affecting the body's water balance, making it difficult to control blood sugar and causing dizziness.
Relaxing and resting in a comfortable environment, practicing meditation, and light exercise are also ways to reduce stress and eliminate pressure, thereby improving dizziness. If it does not improve, the elderly should see a doctor to determine the cause and find appropriate treatment.
Huy Van
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