Why Anxiety Is Often Misdiagnosed as Vertigo
Anxiety can cause the body to react in strange and uncomfortable ways. From increased heart rate to gastrointestinal discomfort to vague aches and pains, we know now that anxiety and its resultant emotions have a direct effect on the various systems in our bodies. One of these, the vestibular system, is responsible for our sense of balance and spatial orientation. When we feel anxious, this system can be affected, causing feelings of unsteadiness, dizziness, blurred vision, and lightheadedness. Naturally, these feelings can be frightening and lead many people to a doctor’s office. In these appointments, an immediate conclusion is sometimes drawn to a medically diagnosable problem—in this case, vertigo, whose symptoms include dizziness, loss of balance, a spinning or whirling sensation, nausea, and sensitivity to light and........
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