After the occurrence of vertigo episodes, patients tend to avoid movements of the head and visually stressful environments, which has detrimental consequences in terms of compensation and recovery of balance. In the Otorhinolaryngology Consultation - Vertigo , available at Hospital da Luz Torres de Lisboa, under the coordination of Sandra Duarte Costa , an assessment of the limitations in the balance function is done, the patients having the possibility to benefit from the Program of Vestibular Rehabilitation, which resorts to virtual reality. Vertigo, or dizziness, is a quite common complaint which can manifest itself differently . The modern world, extensively bombarded by visual stimuli – via mobile phones, computers or television –, leads to an imbalance in the valuation of the sensorial information. Light, colour and moving images, lead to a sensory overload, with complaints of instability, disorientation and nausea, that often result in conditions of anxiety. In an upward spiral, patients with these symptoms start showing behaviours of avoidance: going to the mall, supermarket or a concert, making trips by train or car, for instance, becomes problematic. Their personal and social life gets compromised, sometimes developing real phobias. Vestibular rehabilitation (or rehabilitation of balance function): Is a customized program, integrating movements of the head, neck and eyes, with the purpose of training balance and thus offer an improvement in quality of life. It may resort to virtual reality, which has proven to be a powerful tool in order to, progressively and safely, desensitize, reduce or even annul the complaints, so as to allow people to resume their ordinary life. Learn more about the clinical team and schedule an appointment on MY LUZ or at hospitaldaluz.pt/torres-de-lisboa/en .
