Assoc. Prof. from Adana City Training and Research Hospital Ear Nose and Throat Clinic. Dr. Talih Özdaş emphasized that benign vertigo diseases, which cause dizziness and balance problems as a result of the movement of crystals in the inner ear, are treated without medication with maneuver movements. Assoc. Prof. said that they started drug treatment for attacks that lasted for days, such as nausea, vomiting, weakness and confinement of the person to bed. Dr. Talih Özdaş stated that if it is accompanied by complaints such as speech impairment and numbness in the arm, this condition may have a neurological origin.
“VERTIGO HAS BEGAN TO BE CONFUSED WITH THE ‘DIZZINESS’ SYMPTOM”
Assoc. Prof. pointed out that vertigo cases began to be confused with the symptom of ‘dizziness’ after the major earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş. Dr. Özdaş said, “The phenomenon we call vertigo is the feeling of the person or the surroundings as spinning as a result of the movement of the crystals in the inner ear. There is also the symptom of ‘dizziness’ that is mixed with this case. In the case of dizziness, the patient feels as if he is in a void, as if the ground is slipping under his feet, or as if he is about to become dizzy.” “Especially with the big earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş and the ongoing aftershocks, people constantly apply to our clinic saying ‘I have vertigo’. In fact, they experience the symptom of ‘dizziness’. When we look at these, we see that most of the complaints are due to stress, not ear or neurological origin,” he said.
“THERE IS A 50 PERCENT INCREASE IN BOTH CASES; IT IS EXPECTED TO LAST 1-2 YEARS”
Assoc. Prof. stated that vertigo attacks and cases with ‘dizziness’ symptoms, which sometimes last a few hours and sometimes months, have increased by 50 percent since February, when the earthquake occurred. Dr. Özdaş said:
“Dizziness is usually due to psychological reasons. It is seen when we are under stress, when our blood pressure or sugar drops, or when we become dehydrated. It also increased after the earthquake. Because dizziness and vertigo are already triggered by anxiety. As the aftershocks continued, our people became stressed. Our patients suffered from vertigo attacks and dizziness, too. “They started to apply to our clinic with an increase of 50 percent. In the literature, it is stated that the earthquake effect will last up to 1-2 years, depending on the frequency and feeling of aftershocks. In other words, we expect these vertigo and dizziness complaints to continue for 2 years.”
COMPLAINTS OF SPEECH DISTURBANCE AND NUMBER IN THE ARM ARE BRAIN ORIGIN
Explaining the treatment methods, Assoc. Dr. Özdaş continued:
“As a result of our examinations, if there is vertigo, we start our treatment with a maneuver method or medication depending on the patient’s condition. However, if it is not ear-related, we refer the person to a psychiatrist when we notice the symptom of dizziness. When we encounter severe conditions such as speech impairment, numbness in the arm, we refer the patient to neurology. If the patient comes with dizziness, The patient may even be having a heart attack. If there is a blockage in the veins, a ‘stroke’ may occur. Those with these complaints should definitely consult an ear, nose and throat, neurology or internal medicine specialist. After the patient’s complaints are listened to, the necessary treatment will be started as a result of the examinations. One should never use drugs unconsciously, the source must be known. should be investigated.” (DHA)