Causes of dizziness in old age
Treatment of dizziness is never carried out without diagnosing a specific pathology. An elderly person begins to feel dizzy for many reasons. It can even be a combination of diseases.
Tendency to migraines
A genetic predisposition to migraines provokes unpleasant sensations already at a young age. Migraines vary in severity and occur spontaneously or in a specific sequence.
Severe migraines are accompanied by decreased performance, nausea, sudden mood swings and dizziness. In this case, it manifests itself due to spasm of the labyrinthine artery of the vestibular apparatus, vestibulopathy occurs.
Vascular insufficiency
This is a pathology of the circulatory system as a whole. The vessels lose their elasticity, their tone is impaired, which makes the blood flow through them worse. Poor blood circulation causes oxygen starvation.
Clinically, vascular insufficiency is manifested by sudden dizziness, accompanied by ringing in the ears, cold extremities, and loss of consciousness.
Age-related changes in the body
Menopause brings a lot of unpleasant symptoms to every woman aged 40-45 years. The reproductive function of the body is suppressed, so the body begins to rebuild. Hormones that were part of the monthly cycle and responsible for a number of functions disappear.
Organs adapt to the new blood composition and learn to work in a completely different way. It is impossible to cure dizziness in this case; they will go away on their own over time. But drugs to improve brain function save the situation.
Heredity
A hereditary predisposition to dizziness manifests itself in old age. This is mainly vegetative-vascular dystonia. Medicines for dizziness with VSD are not always sufficient; it is recommended to strengthen the body, walk more and improve nutrition.
Side effects of drugs
Medicines are perceived by each patient individually to varying degrees, so they cannot be called a low-quality batch or a cheap analogue, although this option also occurs.
Dizziness occurs due to toxic poisoning after an overdose, or due to taking blood pressure-lowering drugs. In this case, it is advised to stop taking anti-dizziness pills for older people or reduce the dosage.
Vision problems
Vision deterioration in the elderly begins in 80% of cases. A change in the perception of the picture of the surrounding world is unusual for the brain, which causes dizziness. Incorrectly chosen glasses impair coordination.
Development of ischemia
Coronary heart disease is one of the most common diseases in the modern world. It includes pathologies: myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, atherosclerotic cardiosclerosis.
The cause of its occurrence in an elderly person is considered to be blood clots, plaques, a decrease in the lumen of the arteries, and inflammation inside the vessels.
Atherosclerosis
Arterial disease characterized by the attachment of cholesterol plaques to the walls of the arteries. The disease is provoked by a sedentary lifestyle and fatty foods. Reducing the lumen of the arteries leads to disruption of blood supply to the brain, which can cause dizziness.
Drug treatment does not help solve the problem on its own, so moderate physical activity (walking, swimming pool) and diet are required.
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease causes degenerative pathological changes in the central nervous system. It appears only in old age.
This is a frightening disease for both the patient and his loved ones, as it gradually changes the person they know. Symptoms include shaking paralysis, sleep disturbance, apathy, increased fatigue, and impaired sense of smell.
Diabetes
Diabetes affects the condition of older patients. This is manifested by impaired consciousness, poor immunity, and frequent dizziness. Vertigo is accompanied by pain in the head.
Emotional and mental experiences
A person’s psycho-emotional state is no longer as stable as it was in his youth, and he wonders how to treat these manifestations. They react more sensitively to problems than others. Increased excitability provokes an increase in blood pressure and cerebral vascular spasm.
Distorted perception of surrounding objects
Metamorphopsia is a condition characterized by a distorted perception of the surrounding space and objects. This occurs due to disruption of the sensory organs and pathological changes in them. Metamorphopsia is provoked by drinking and taking psychostimulant drugs.
History taking and external examination
At the very beginning of the examination, it is necessary to identify the very fact of dizziness. Elderly patients tend to mistake one symptom for another, and the concept of dizziness is given a different meaning - nausea, blurred vision.
The neurological examination of the patient itself is of great importance - pay attention to the precise fulfillment of coordination tasks, determine the state of reflexes. It is necessary to find out the nature of the development of the disease, the factors that provoke it. For example, a slow, gradual onset is more typical for dizziness of central origin, while spontaneous and rapid onset is more typical for dizziness of peripheral origin.
Diagnosis is carried out in various body positions, this can also say a lot, for example, they ask the patient to lower his head to the side. If, when changing the position of the head, there is an increase or sudden onset of dizziness, this indicates that disturbances most likely have arisen in the functioning of the vestibular apparatus, and they are benign in nature.
The patient is asked about all previous inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, intoxications (medicinal, alcoholic), and head injuries. During a neurological examination, great attention is paid to nystagmus.
Nystagmus is involuntary high-frequency vibrations of the eyeballs. Spontaneous nystagmus is checked - when looking straight ahead, then when moving it to the side (gaze-induced nystagmus). The Hallpike test is performed - the patient sits on the couch with his eyes open, his head turned 45 degrees to the right.
An ENT examination consists of examining the external auditory canal, eardrum, identifying wax plugs, acute and chronic infections, and traces of trauma.
Allowed anti-dizziness pills
After identifying the patient’s diagnosis, adequate treatment is selected that will not cause an exacerbation of other existing diseases, and a list of suitable and available medications is offered.
For patients of any age, it is important to find inexpensive but effective tablets. Also find out which ones to take for nausea and vertigo in an emergency. Drugs for dizziness always have many analogues, both expensive or cheap tablets, and less effective ones.
Nootropics
Neurometabolic stimulants have a positive effect on the functioning of brain cells, but with caution in elderly people with blood pressure, as they cause changes in blood pressure. Nootropic drugs are prescribed if the patient experiences dizziness due to stressful situations, increased fatigue, and decreased memory.
After a course of treatment, there is an improvement in concentration and thinking. Patients feel that the pills solve their problems.
Glycine
Aminoacetic acid, found in glycine, reduces psycho-emotional stress. Parents buy glycine for their children for exams or important events.
The drug increases mental capacity and improves mood. In patients after a stroke, taking glycine reduces the severity of brain disorders.
Piracetam
Piracetam affects cerebral circulation and enhances metabolic processes. The drug is effective for Parkinson's disease if it is of vascular origin. During Alzheimer's disease, it relieves symptoms of the disease.
Vinpocetine
A micro-stroke or a progressive stroke requires good remedies for dizziness to increase blood flow to the brain and nourish its cells. The drug helps fight hypoxia by facilitating oxygen transport.
Bilobil
If it is difficult to get up in the morning due to weakness and darkening of the eyes, and the patient also suffers from tinnitus, then the herbal medicine Bilobil will improve the supply of oxygen and glucose to brain cells and tissues. The walls of blood vessels become more elastic and stronger.
Cinnarizine
If a patient has problems with blood pressure, then the best medicine for vasodilation and for the vestibular apparatus is cinnarizine. It is also useful for the treatment of vestibulopathy - it reduces the excitability of the vestibular apparatus. The drug increases muscle resistance to hypoxia.
Phenibut
There are many medications that fight anxiety or anxiety, but the most effective remedy is phenibut. It penetrates well into all tissues of the body. Be careful with the dosage as it increases the effect of the sleeping pill.
Anti-inflammatory drugs for vascular compression
Compression of blood vessels occurs due to their squeezing, therefore the lumen decreases and blood circulation worsens. This is caused by cervical osteochondrosis, incorrect position during sleep, and intervertebral hernia.
To reduce inflammation, the following will help:
- nimesil;
- betaserk (better betaserk, since Cavinton doesn’t help much);
- lornoxicam;
- celecoxib.
Vitamin medicines
It is not always necessary to take medications for dizziness; sometimes, when there is an imbalance and dizziness, the cause is avitaminosis. A lack of B vitamins has this effect.
A vitamin complex is immediately prescribed to compensate for the lack of all vitamins and microelements.
Muscle relaxants to reduce muscle tone
Muscle spasm interferes with the movement of blood through the vessels, causing severe pain (in this case, only urgent injections can save you). But spa is not very effective for dizziness.
- Decamethonium;
- Imbretil;
- Toxiferin.
Antibacterial drugs
Antibacterial medications cause side effects: dizziness, nausea or vomiting, redness of the skin:
- Tetracycline;
- Sulfanilamide;
- Vibramycin.
Bonnin
Bonin is effective for positional paroxysmal positional vertigo, which is caused by turning or tilting the head, or changes in height. According to the instructions, take 25-50 mg of antihistamines and antiemetics for motion sickness an hour before the trip.
Betahistine and cheap analogues
Betahistine is used for vestibular pathology. It improves microcirculation of the labyrinth and conductivity in the neurons of the vestibular nuclei. Analogues:
- Vestibo;
- Vertran;
- Tagista.
Cavinton
The release form of Caviton is a solution for infusion in ampoules. It increases blood circulation in the brain and increases the resistance of neurons to hypoxia. Helps remove the consequences of hemorrhagic stroke.
Betaver
Not all drugs relieve severe dizziness of various origins. Betaver is a modern drug that promotes permeability and microcirculation of the inner ear. Improvements are observed already at the initial stage of treatment.
Traditional methods
- Juices made from carrots, beets and pomegranate have the most noticeable effect. Vegetable juices will help both relieve dizziness and eliminate vitamin deficiency.
- For the purpose of prevention and treatment, it is recommended to drink teas from sage, mint, mistletoe, and hawthorn.
- Tinctures of garlic, clover flowers, ginseng, chestnut buds, elecampane root, parsley seeds.
- Inhaling the vapors of cut onions will help fight the attack.
- Aromatherapy. Fir, camphor and juniper oil are used. For chronic diseases, you can do sessions in courses; for a single attack, a one-time inhalation of vapors will be enough.
- Massage of toning points. It is best to massage the point above the upper lip, on the chin and located between the first and second fingers.
Attention! Before use, make sure that you are not allergic to these plants and that they are compatible with the medications you are taking.
For cervical osteochondrosis
Cervical osteochondrosis is a well-known disease in the modern world, not only among older people. Mixing of spinal discs compresses blood vessels. This reduces brain nutrition.
Patients complain that their eyes begin to darken and the occipital lobe hurts.
Vasobal
Vasobal has a cumulative effect, so it is necessary to follow the dosage regimen and not skip days. Medicines only help for 2-3 months. It reduces the permeability of vessel walls, but at the same time improves blood circulation.
Tanakan
Tanakan is a herbal medicine that helps normalize cerebral and peripheral circulation. Due to the antihypoxic effect on tissue, the risk of hypoxia is reduced. Positively affects metabolic processes in cells.
