Fainting or vertigo and being able to tell the difference

Sometimes we can experience some really unpleasant sensations that seem to have come out of nowhere; we begin to feel faint. These can be really unsettling not to mention worrying. If our world starts to spin and we find ourselves on the ground then it is understandable that we might think that there is something really serious wrong with us. We might begin to worry about a stroke or even a brain aneurysm that is causing the balance problems; it may feel like there is pressure in head. There can be many reasons as to why we might feel faint including dehydration or hunger. Sometimes we can mistake vertigo for a fainting attack so it is worth finding out what the difference is between these two things.

Vertigo doesn't make you pass out, but it can make you unbalanced enough that you end up on the floor. What happens during a vertigo attack is that the world starts to seem like it is spinning or you begin to feel like you are spinning. This sensation is unlike dizziness because there is no obvious reason as to why you are feeling it; there is no outside explanation to account for the way your head is spinning and you haven't done anything to cause it. There can sometimes even be swooshing noises in our heads.

There are many causes for fainting, but vertigo has far less probable causes. It is usually caused by a problem with our vestibular system. This is the system in our body that is responsible for our balance and it tells the brain where we are in relation to space; e.g. are we standing, lying, or sitting. Anything that interferes with this system can cause the symptoms that we associate with vertigo. There are a few possible causes for this interference including; disease, injury, infection, and disruption within the inner ear. Vestibular system and what is vertigo

The important thing with vertigo or any episode of fainting is that we take immediate precautions to prevent ourselves from injury. If we fall over due to feeling faint or because vertigo has made us lose our balance then we can cause a lot of injury. We could be at risk of breaking a bone or getting a head injury. The best thing to do when these episodes occur is to lie down. It is also vital that we stop the car if we are driving, and stop using any machinery. If we have experienced vertigo then we need to avoid heights until it is resolved. Getting vertigo while up the top of a ladder would be a recipe for disaster. Safety precautions for vertigo balance problems

The treatment for generals episodes where you just feel faint will always depend on the cause. In many cases it will just be a case of getting something to eat or having a drink if we are dehydrated. With vertigo we might have to deal with the condition awhile. Just like with fainting the treatment will depend on the actual cause, but these days most causes can be dealt with. In severe cases this can involve surgery. Natural remedies are also found to work quite well. Homeopathic remedies and what you can do with vertigo

See also:

• How To Tell If I Have Benign Postural Vertigo
• The Other Causes Of Vertigo