GIDDINESS OR VERTIGO.- Giddiness may be an affection of itself or it may be a symptom of some other disease, such as heart disease, apoplexy, and affections of the nerves of hearing. Those who have any tendency to these diseases should take warning when giddiness appears and seek medical aid; but when there is nothing of this accompanying it, giddiness, though troublesome and alarming, is not necessarily a dangerous disease. When there is fainting with the giddiness the article on FAINTING must be referred to for the treatment. Giddiness often appears in connection with affections of the stomach and digestion; and it may be of this nature even when there are no active symptoms of indigestion present.
Diagnosis.- In order to distinguish giddiness that is purely functional-that is to say, not connected with disease of the brain, heart, or any of the organs- it is necessary to examine these organs and see that there are no other signs or symptoms present of their being diseased. Simple giddiness is not attended with the same constitutional weakness as giddiness from heart disease; the giddiness which accompanies a slight apoplectic seizure is followed by transient weakness of one or other limb or part of the body. When. giddiness follows a hearty meal it is always an alarming symptom.
General Treatment.- Attention must be paid to the general health; late suppers, hot, crowded rooms, stimulants, and tobacco must be avoided. Habits of early rising and retiring, and open-air exercise should be cultivated.
Medicines.- (Every fifteen minutes during an attack until relieved; three times a day as a preventive.)
Gelsemium 3.
-Simple giddiness. A medicine of wide range.
Arnica 3.
-When giddiness comes after a hearty meal.
Nux v. 3.
– When due to disordered stomach; with constipation; in nervous, irritable subjects; worse from close thinking; from looking up.
Pulsatilla 3.
– After eating rich food; worse from looking up; when sitting.
Belladonna 3.
– With sparkling light before the eyes; vertigo on turning over in bed; on rising up from lying down; after stooping.
Calcarea c. 6.
– On rising after sleeping; after suppression of old ulcers.
Nat.m. 6.
-Giddiness coming on when lying down; in unhealthy subjects who are always cold and suffer from constipation.
Sulph. 6.
-After suppression of ulcers or eruptions; with bleeding at the nose.
Mercurius 6.
– Dizziness only in the evening; accompanied by dimmed sight.
Cocc. Ind. 3.
-Giddiness like seasickness; when sitting upright in bed.
China 3.
-Giddiness with deafness, or roaring in the ears.
