Vertigo’s Deadly Consequences And What To Do About It

With the exception of fatal falling, we don’t usually think of a relationship between vertigo and death.

It’s a very limiting condition but deadly? Most wouldn’t say so…

But a new study published in the journal JAMA Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery reveals terrifying consequences of vertigo.

It may be increasing your risk of dying by 44 percent—and not just from falling.

The scientists examined the relationship between all different types of balance disorder with premature death, and also with death from a selection of specific causes.

They obtained the information of 5,816 adults that had participated in the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1999 and 2004. They were all 40 years and older and had all completed the modified Romberg Test of Standing Balance on Firm and Compliant Support Surfaces.

The researchers followed them from the point at which their data were collected until December 2015, giving them an average observation period of 12.5 years.

1,530 of their subjects died during the observation period, and they diagnosed balance disorders in 18.2 percent of those between the ages of 40 and 49, 33.5 percent of those between 50 and 64, and 61.9 percent of those from 65 years upwards.

After they adjusted their results to take into account factors that had previously been linked with death, such as sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyles, and chronic health conditions, they concluded the following:

1. People with balance disorders were 44 percent more likely than the general population to die early of any cause (all-cause mortality), had a 65 percent higher risk of dying of cardiovascular disease, and a 30 percent higher risk of dying of cancer.

2. They were 232 percent more likely to die in accidents.

3. Those with vestibular balance disorder, which is the most common form that involves structures in the inner ears, were 31 percent more likely to die prematurely of all causes, 59 percent more likely to die of cardiovascular disease, and 39 percent more likely to die of cancer.

These findings remained consistent even when the researchers excluded the participants who had cardiovascular disease or cancer at the beginning of the study.

The study cannot tell us whether vertigo causes death or whether other health conditions cause both, but it does mean that vertigo can be used as an indicator of long-term health and a predictor of death.

What remains clear is that you absolutely must start addressing your vertigo today. Fortunately, there are simple vertigo exercises, explained here, that eliminate almost all types of vertigo and dizziness, sometimes on the very first day…