Dizziness is one of the common discomfort sensations in middle-aged and elderly people. In mild cases, it is characterized by dizziness, blurred vision, blurred vision and rotation, unstable walking, light head and feet; in severe cases, it is like sitting in a boat, rotating and unstable, unable to stand, or accompanied by nausea, vomiting, tinnitus, blurred vision, sweating, pale face, numbness of upper limbs or single limbs, etc. In severe cases, it can suddenly fall down. It is mostly seen in middle-aged and elderly people, but can also occur in young people. It can occur repeatedly and hinder normal work and life, and in serious cases, it can develop into a life-threatening stroke.
What happens to dizziness in middle-aged and elderly people?
Dizziness is a symptom, not a disease, and the causes of dizziness are extremely complex. It can be caused by cervical spine hyperplasia compression, narrowing, spasm and compression of the carotid artery, resulting in insufficient blood supply to the brain, or it can be caused by blood pressure, heart and lung. Therefore, if dizziness occurs in the elderly, a thorough examination is recommended to see if there is cervical spine hyperplasia compressing the carotid artery, or if there is plaque in the inner wall of the carotid artery, which affects the blood supply to the brain.
Usually, the main causes of dizziness include otogenic causes, cervical spondylosis, and cerebral insufficiency, of which cerebral insufficiency is the most common. Otogenic causes such as Meniere’s disease, labyrinthitis, and sudden deafness are common in young people; cervical spondylosis and cerebral insufficiency are common in middle-aged and elderly people. About 90% of geriatric dizziness is due to inadequate blood supply from the vertebrobasilar artery. Brain tissue is very sensitive to changes in blood oxygen, and long-term inadequate blood supply and hypoxia can easily cause brain dysfunction and dizziness symptoms.
Some middle-aged and elderly people who have nausea and dizziness think that the dryness in their bodies causes “fire” and gastrointestinal discomfort. In this regard, experts pointed out that more than half of the dizziness and nausea in middle-aged and elderly people are caused by cerebral ischemia, and if not paid attention to and timely treatment, it is easy to occur acute cerebrovascular disease.
In particular, when the elderly appear blurred vision, dizziness attacks and other symptoms, often suggest the vertebrobasilar artery ischemia, narrowing, and the vertebrobasilar artery is the main blood vessels of the brainstem blood supply, once the infarction, it will lead to brainstem respiratory heartbeat center damage, life-threatening. Elderly people with cerebral insufficiency, especially suspected vertebrobasilar insufficiency, should be aware of the occurrence of stroke. In this case, standardized examination and treatment are needed to reduce the risk of stroke.
Some patients refuse to undergo further testing and treatment for financial reasons. In fact, further examination and treatment are indeed very necessary. Doctors usually check the MRA of the head and ultrasound of the blood vessels in the neck to understand and analyze the situation of the blood vessels inside and outside the skull, and then assess whether anticoagulation and prolonged antiplatelet therapy are needed according to the degree of sclerosis and stenosis of the blood vessels and the absence of thrombosis.
If stenosis exists, thrombus is often formed in the stenotic area, and the dislodgement of thrombus can lead to distal vessel infarction and stroke, while timely detection and standardized treatment can greatly reduce the formation of thrombus and the chance of stroke.
Active and effective prevention is the key:
The best solution for dizziness is still prevention. It is essential for the elderly to have regular blood pressure, heart sounds, heart rhythm, as well as routine blood tests, blood lipids, blood viscosity, EEG, cerebral hemogram, ultrasound and X-ray of the neck blood vessels to prevent the problem before it happens.
In addition, it is recommended that elderly people develop a reasonable health care program.
A Quit smoking and drinking, avoid raw, cold, greasy and overly salty, spicy and acidic food. In particular, animal liver, kidney, intestines and other meat, egg whites and fish roe should be eaten sparingly.
B Eat more fresh vegetables, fruits, bean sprouts, melons, black fungus, celery, water chestnuts, beans, milk, fish, shrimp, etc. Strawberry juice is especially recommended for patients with coronary heart disease, and some surveys have shown that such juice is beneficial to the prevention of coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular disease.
C Regular practice of taijiquan helps to maintain a happy and calm mind; and taijiquan as a soothing movement of sports, has the effect of blood circulation and tendon relaxation. It can dispel diseases and strengthen the body.
Family care is essential:
1, in the acute attack period, should be absolutely bed rest, do not get up and walk alone forcibly, so as not to fall and accidents.
2. Avoid strong light stimulation in the room when lying down, and draw the curtains to avoid light.
3.The vertigo can be reduced when you are in a specific position, so you should help the patient to assume a comfortable position to reduce the vertigo symptoms and make the patient fully rest.
4.Assist patients to find the cause of vertigo, so as to treat the symptoms, and more importantly, eliminate patients’ nervousness about the disease, which can help to relieve the symptoms and shorten the course of the disease.
5.The intake of water and sodium should be limited during the attack to control edema, which is also one of the measures to prevent and treat this disease.
6, usually there should be good habits, keep enough sleep, avoid over-stressed brain and physical work, in order to prevent recurrence and attacks.