What are the causes of vertigo in the elderly? What is vertigo? Vertigo usually manifests as a feeling of vertigo, balance disturbance and imbalance. Patients feel themselves rotating and swaying when they open their eyes, as if they are riding in a car or boat. During the attack, the patient is unable to stand up and has symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, ringing in the ears, sweating, bradycardia and a drop in blood pressure. Elderly people are the most common group of vertigo, and the causes of vertigo in the elderly are complex. In order to relieve vertigo, it is necessary to identify the specific causes of vertigo in order to provide targeted treatment. Neurological lesions Mainly related to cerebrovascular disease, risk factors include hypertension, coronary heart disease, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes. Common diseases such as cerebral infarction, tumor, traumatic brain injury, certain types of epilepsy, but often accompanied by other symptoms of the nervous system. Cervical vertigo Cervical spondylosis is the only cause of cervical vertigo. The vertigo attacks are mainly related to the type of cervical spondylosis, mostly of the vertebral artery type. This is due to the local swelling caused by degenerative changes of vertebral joints, which compresses the vertebral artery and causes inadequate blood supply to the vertebral basilar artery, thus leading to insufficient blood supply to the brain and easily triggering cervical vertigo. It is characterized by dizziness, lightheadedness or syncope when the head is lowered, tilted or the neck is turned from side to side. Vestibular vertigo Vestibular vertigo is mainly seen in Meniere’s disease and otoliths. The main clinical manifestations are sudden vertigo, nystagmus and being forced to lie still with the eyes closed, afraid to turn the head and body, among which Meniere’s disease also has tinnitus and ear stuffiness. Ocular vertigo includes severe astigmatism, refractive error, ocular trauma, macular degeneration, diabetic eye muscle paralysis and various congenital eye diseases. These eye diseases may cause ophthalmogenic vertigo attacks, which are characterized by relatively mild and short-lived vertigo symptoms, aggravated when looking at external moving objects with open eyes, and relieved or disappeared after closing eyes, usually accompanied by related symptoms such as diplopia, blurred or diminished vision. Systemic vertigo Some systemic diseases, such as severe arrhythmia, hypertension, diabetes, anemia, hyperthyroidism, uremia, etc., can cause vertigo attacks. It is usually mild vertigo, accompanied by a sense of swaying and instability. Psychogenic vertigo Psychogenic vertigo refers to dizziness caused by emotional disorders. Dizziness attacks are closely related to psychogenic factors such as stress, panic, anxiety and depression. What should the elderly do if they get vertigo? 1. During the attack period, you should rest in bed as soon as possible and keep the room quiet, air circulation and avoid stimulation. The patient’s position should be chosen according to different diseases and the degree of dizziness. 2.For vertigo, you should take timely symptomatic treatment and go to a nearby hospital for specialist treatment as soon as possible. 3.Pay attention to psychological guidance. The attack of vertigo has correlation with psycho-psychological factors. The role of doctors’ words of comfort should be paid attention to. Under the premise of clear diagnosis, doctors should give timely comfort to patients, patiently explain the condition and its prognosis, inform that vertigo is a short time attack, reduce or eliminate patients’ nervous and anxious psychological state, and quiet peace of mind helps to smoothly pass the improvement. How to prevent vertigo? 1. Exercise properly, enhance physical fitness and combine work and rest. Avoid excessive physical and mental exertion, ensure sufficient sleep, and develop the habit of going to bed on time. Combine tai chi and walking with other exercises. 2, diet should be vegetarian and easy to digest. It is not advisable to consume tobacco, alcohol, strong tea, coffee, leeks, chili peppers, garlic and other stimulating foods. 3, during the attack period, bed rest is recommended to prevent injuries from rising and falling. Reduce head rotation. Avoid sudden and strong head movements: In middle-aged and old-aged vertigo attacks, cervical spine osteoporosis, vertebral structure instability, osteophytes, spinal stenosis, vertebral artery sclerosis, resulting in insufficient blood supply to the vertebral basilar artery, it is necessary to calm down the spirit, slow movement, avoid sudden and strong head rotation, and do less or slow rotation and bending movements. 4, the bedroom light should be dim, the environment should be quiet. 5, keep a relaxed mood, maintain an optimistic and open-minded attitude, prevent excessive fatigue and mental tension, avoid anxiety, depression and other negative feelings.