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DISORDERS
(Their description, characteristics or symptoms,
causes, and complementary or alternative treatments)
Disorder: DIZZINESS (VERTIGO)
Description: Vertigo is a sensation of dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness that results from an impaired sense of balance and equilibrium. Dizziness is not synonymous with vertigo. In some cases, dizziness can be a warning sign of a heart attack, stroke, concussion, or brain damage. Dizziness can also be caused by Meniere’s disease, a disorder that affects the part of the inner ear that controls balance.
Symptoms: Symptoms can be mild, i.e., a short-lived sensation of faintness, unsteadiness or lightheadedness or more severe, with a feeling that the room is spinning or that the individual is spinning too. Vertigo is sometimes accompanied by nausea and hearing loss.
Incidence: Anyone may occasionally experience a feeling of lightheadedness, dizziness, unsteadiness or the sensation of feeling faint. Older people are more prone than others to experience vertigo. With increasing age, nerve impulses require more time to travel from the eyes to the brain, which can cause dizziness and loss of balance upon sudden movement. . As people age, tiny bits of debris may accumulate in the inner ears and press against the hair cells, resulting in false signals being sent to the brain. This can interfere with the sense of balance.
Causes: True "dizziness" is usually caused by a sudden drop of blood pressure in the brain from standing up too quickly from lying or sitting down, (postural hypotension); fatigue; stress; low blood sugar (hypoglycemia); temporary blockage of blood to the brain as in a transient ischemic attack; anemia; low blood iron; and certain drugs. True vertigo has to do with a problem somewhere within the equilibratory system; e.g., the middle ear, eighth (acoustic nerve), cranial nerve, the brain (brain stem), or the eyes.
Treatments: With any dizziness, first take a few deep breaths and sit down to rest. Severe or prolonged dizziness must be evaluated by an exam and blood tests.
Nutrients:
Supplement Dosage Comments
|
Vitamin B Complex |
100 mg. 3 times daily, with meals. |
B vitamins are necessary for normal brain and central nervous system function. |
|
Vitamin B3 (niacin) |
100 mg. 3 times daily. Do not exceed this amount. |
Improves cerebral circulation and lowers cholesterol. |
|
Vitamin C |
3,000-10,000 mg. daily. |
An antioxidant that also improves circulation. |
|
Vitamin E |
Start with 200 IU daily and increase slowly to 400-800 IU daily. |
Improves circulation. |
|
Lecithin |
As directed on label. |
Helps to prevent hardening of the arteries and improve brain function. |
|
Coenzyme Q10 |
100-200 mg. daily. |
Improves circulation to the brain. |
|
Ginkgo biloba |
|
See under Herbs below |
|
Vitamin A |
10,000 IU daily |
Enhances immunity and acts as an antioxidant. |
|
Zinc |
30 mg. daily. Do not exceed a total of 100 mg. daily from all supplements. |
Promotes a healthy immune system and helps maintain vitamin E levels. |
Herbs:
 | Ginkgo biloba improves circulation and improves brain function by increasing the supply of oxygen to the brain. |
| Butcher’s broom and cayenne (capsicum) help improve circulation. |
| Dandelion tea or extract is very good for high blood pressure. |
| Ginger relieves dizziness and nausea. |
Recommendations:
| Avoid alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, and all fried foods. |
| Limit your total sodium intake to less than 2,000 mg. per day. Too much sodium can disrupt the workings of the inner ear. |
| Avoid making rapid changes in body position. |
| If you begin to experience dizziness soon after taking new medication, assume that the problem is drug related, and contact your prescribing physician. |
| Vertigo may be a sign of an underlying problem that requires treatment. Consult your health care provider. |
Considerations:
| Air contains less oxygen at altitudes high above sea level. Lower oxygen levels can cause mild, temporary dizziness or lightheadedness. |
| Certain activities, such as amusement park rides, watching action movies, sailing, or playing virtual-reality video games may bring dizziness. In such cases, symptoms diminish soon after the activity is stopped. |
Vitamin For Life Recommended Regimen and cost:
|
Product No |
Description |
Comments |
Cost |
|
890-15 |
B Complex 100 mg. tabs. |
1 tablet 3 times daily. |
$8.95/100 |
|
255-15 |
Niacin 100 mg. tabs. |
1 tablet 3 times daily. Do not exceed this amount. |
$2.75/100 |
|
970-12 |
Vitamin C 1000 mg. with rose hips tabs. |
1 tablet 3 times daily. |
$5.75/60 |
|
234-15 |
Vitamin E 400 IU (D-alpha tocopheryl) |
1 tablet daily. |
$8.95/100 |
|
921-15 |
Lecithin 1200 mg. softgels |
As directed on label. |
$4.50/100 |
|
949-11 |
Coenzyme Q10 100 mg. capsules |
As directed on label. |
$19.95/30 |
|
950-12 |
Ginkgo biloba extract 60 mg. capsules |
As directed on label. |
$9.95/60 |
|
958-15 |
Vitamin A |
1 softgel daily. |
$3.95/100 |
|
26-15 |
Zinc gluconate (chelated) 25 mg. tablets |
1 tablet daily. |
$3.49/100 |
Sources:
Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 2nd Edition
By James F. Balch, M.D. & Phyllis A. Balch, C.N.C.
Prevention’s Healing with Vitamins, by the Editors of
Prevention Magazine Health Books
Alternative Medicine, The Definitive GuideCompiled by the Burton Goldberg Group
