Do You Get Dizzy Spells? (draft)

Dear Dr. Meinig: This is an inquiry about extreme and persistent dizziness which afflicts older people.

In this particular case, tests reveal an insufficient amount of blood getting to the brain but a wide variety of medication gives little relief–and often causes even worse side effects.

Have there been any recent observations along this line, or would a special diet…other than the standard low-salt, low-sugar, high-protein diet…be of any help?

This concerns a close friend of ours, but I feel that it would pertain to many other older people too. We would very much appreciate your discussing this malady in your OVN column. And thank you sincerely for any suggestions you may have. – E.P.

 

Dear E. P.: All people get a little dizzy spell from time to time such as when arising quickly. It is true that such disturbances do occur more frequently as we become older. The cause in your friend’s case is only one of many that affect our balance center. The eyes, ears, nerves, muscle, joints and tendons can and are involved in one type of case or another.

Ischemic vertigo, as you mentioned, is due to a deficiency of blood. This may be the result of a contraction of blood vessels from a variety of tension causes or may be due to a distortion or relaxation of blood vessel walls in the lower part of the body permitting blood to drop and stagnate so that too little flows upward to the brain area. It can be caused by arteriosclerosis or the filling up of blood vessels with cholesterol-calcium deposits. Anemia and high or low blood pressure may contribute to such dysequilibrium.

In some cases of tension or reduced circulation the vitamin choline has proved helpful in 5 to 10 days. Doses of 100 to 1000 mg have been used.

In cases of high blood pressure, there is usually a poor liver function present. The diet of such people is often high in cereal and sodium foods and salt intake is too great. Potassium foods tend to be low. To help reduce the blood pressure, eliminate salt, cereals, and grain foods; increase potatoes, bananas, fruit, and vegetables. Supplements of calcium, iodine, and bile are helpful. Constipation, if present, should be corrected by improving the dietary.

If the blood pressure is low we often find a diet high in potassium, fats and oils but low in vitamin B, salt, meat, fish, and cereals. The basal metabolic rate is often low as is thyroid gland activity. To normalize, eliminate all fruit and vegetable juices, reduce fruit intake to no more than three pieces during the day and increase cereals, fish, meat, salt, vitamin B. Check on your thyroid activity to see if it is needed as a supplement.

Vitamin E is very helpful in circulation problems, so should not be forgotten when people find either they or the world is going round and round. I would be remiss if I did not mention the importance of reducing refined foods and the adding of vitamin C as these are important to consider in the correction of all body ailments.