Manuel Mozota Nunez.
Los dizziness are a reason for frequent inquiry, both in Primary Care and in the Emergency Department and, although most of the time it is not serious, “it is very disabling and it can greatly reduce the quality of life of the person who suffers from it”, as pointed out by the head of the Otorhinolaryngology Working Group of the Spanish Society of General and Family Physicians (SEMG), on the occasion of the celebration of its Congress National from June 7 to 11 in Bilbao.
The XXVIII National Congress of General and Family Medicine has included in its scientific program a update of the most frequent diseases and pathologiesas is the case of vertigo, whose incidence increases between old people“but it can affect women and men of any age, and even children”, reported Manuel Mozota Núñez.
The head of the SEMG Otorhinolaryngology Working Group has listed the differences between peripheral and central vertigo. Peripheral vertigo is due to an alteration in the structures of the inner ear that control balance, which is the svestibular system or vestibular nerve that connects with the brain. It is the most common type, includes between 85 to 90 percent of cases of vertigo and is distinguished by a sudden onset and its symptoms are usually intense, increasing with movement of the head or change of posture. The most frequent clinic would be the presence of nystagmus, dizziness, sweating, nausea, vomiting, tachycardia, loss of balance and sometimes tinnitus.
On the other hand, central vertigo would be due to a change in the brain, so it is not related to head movements or changes in posture. Its symptoms are usually less intense and appear and evolve progressively. In the same way, Mozota remembers that she can be accompanied by neurological symptoms such as diplopia, ataxia, facial paralysis and dysarthria among others.
Prevalence and incidence of vertigo
Knowing the people who are affected by vertigo “is complicated”, according to Mozota. The results of a study published in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine suggest that dizziness and vertigo are common in the population, with a prevalence of 23 percent and an approximate incidence of 3 percent. The most frequent diagnoses were paroxysmal positional vertigo benign (28.2 percent) and vestibular migraine (28.2 percent), followed by Ménière’s disease (13.8 percent), disorders of vascular origin (5.7 percent), chronic subjective dizziness (4, 6 percent) and vestibular neuritis (4 percent).
In general, “most of the problems that affect the vestibular system tend to have a benign cause and evolve favorably, although during the acute phase of the episodes, and depending on the type of vertigo, there are drugs that can help mitigate the symptoms”, in the words of the SEMG expert.
Although it may contain statements, data or notes from health institutions or professionals, the information contained in Medical Writing is edited and prepared by journalists. We recommend the reader that any questions related to health be consulted with a health professional.
