OSTEOPOROSIS: A HEADY STUDY
Low bone density is linked to dizziness
A study in Neurology links low bone density with vertigo, a disorder that causes dizziness.Researchers at the Seoul National University College of Medicine in Korea analyzed medical records of more than 400 people. They found that people with osteoporosis were three times more likely to have vertigo than people with normal bone density. People with osteopenia, a condition that precedes osteoporosis, were twice as likely to have vertigo.The exact mechanism is not known, but "these findings suggest a problem with calcium metabolism," says study author Ji Soo Kim, MD.
The American Academy of Neurology has issued a new treatment guideline for vertigo that works quickly-without drugs, uncomfortable sleeping positions or cervical collars. Instead, it involves a doctor or therapist moving the afflicted person's head and body while the person sits on a bed or table. Anyone experiencing vertigo should contact a doctor for advice and possible treatment.