Protect the health of the elderly from the early signs

Caring for and protecting the health of the elderly has always been identified by the Ho Chi Minh City health sector as one of the core and continuous tasks. Recently, health experts have continuously warned about transient dizziness in the elderly, a symptom that seems mild but has a high potential risk if ignored.

Doctor Dinh Huynh To Huong, Department of Neurology, examines elderly patients.

One morning at the beginning of the week, Mr. L., 72 years old, living in Ho Chi Minh City, woke up from his sleep but suddenly felt dizzy. He recounted: "As soon as I sat up, I felt everything spinning like a top, I had to hold on to the bed to avoid falling."

The dizziness lasted for many days and was accompanied by nausea, making it impossible for Mr. L. to stand on his own. It was only when he went to the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City that he learned that he had benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, a disorder that can be effectively treated if detected early.

After undergoing the otolith repositioning test and being instructed in balance recovery exercises, Mr. L. quickly improved his condition and returned to normal activities. His story shows that seemingly simple symptoms can pose great risks if ignored.

Elderly people are being treated at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City.

According to Dr. Dinh Huynh To Huong, Department of Neurology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, dizziness is one of the most common symptoms in the elderly and can be completely cured if detected early and treated properly.

“As age increases, the nervous system and balance organs begin to decline. Elderly people often use many types of medication at the same time and have underlying diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, etc., which increase the risk of dizziness and loss of balance,” the doctor analyzed.

What is worrying is that many people still mistakenly believe that dizziness is just a normal thing in old age. This subjectivity causes many cases to be hospitalized late, wasting golden time, especially for dangerous diseases such as stroke in the posterior fossa, brain tumors, and cerebral circulation disorders.

Doctor Huong warned: “If the dizziness persists, accompanied by numbness and weakness in the limbs, difficulty speaking, and blurred vision, the patient must go to the doctor immediately for timely screening.” In clinical practice, the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City has received many cases of elderly people delaying medical examination, leading to unfortunate complications that could have been prevented.

Analyzing more clearly, Master, Doctor Tran Le Linh, Department of Examination, City University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital said: "Dizziness in the elderly does not always have a single cause, many cases of patients have two to three diseases at the same time such as vestibular disorders, high blood pressure, cervical spondylosis, anxiety disorders, etc. This makes diagnosis and treatment more complicated".

From there, Dr. Linh believes that treating dizziness in the elderly must be a three-way coordination process involving doctors, patients and families. In addition to taking medication, it is necessary to combine balance recovery exercises, maintain proper nutrition, get enough sleep and especially receive mental support from relatives. This comprehensive approach helps to quickly reduce symptoms and prevent the risk of recurrence, which is very likely to occur in people with underlying diseases.

According to experts, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is quite common but is easily overlooked because patients often self-medicate or treat it incorrectly. Meanwhile, this condition responds very well to the otolith repositioning test, a simple, non-invasive method that brings quick results.

Elderly people learn about health care at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital.

Doctors recommend that, in addition to treatment, elderly people with illnesses need to practice daily balance recovery, increase gentle exercise appropriate to their health, control underlying diseases well, maintain an optimistic spirit, and avoid prolonged stress. These factors play an important role in maintaining the stability of the vestibular system and the entire body.

Dizziness can be a symptom of a wide range of medical problems from benign to dangerous, therefore, doctors at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City advise people to absolutely not use drugs on their own, especially sedatives, painkillers, anti-emetics, etc. Drug abuse not only causes side effects but also masks symptoms, slowing down the process of correct diagnosis. Dizziness is not a small matter, it is a warning from the body, especially for the elderly who are prone to circulatory, nervous and balance problems.

Nhat Thanh

Source: https://nhandan.vn/bao-ve-suc-khoe-nguoi-cao-tuoi-tu-nhung-dau-hieu-ban-dau-post926335.html