How to relieve dizziness and balance difficulties after an earthquake? Expert answer: In addition to looking far away, you can also "do this"
Can’t tell if it’s a real earthquake or a “fake earthquake”! Who is prone to “post-earthquake vertigo syndrome”?
A strong earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale occurred in eastern Taiwan on April 3 this year (2024). Since then, large and small aftershocks have continued. From the evening of the 22nd to the morning of the 23rd, the Central Meteorological Administration has recorded nearly 200 aftershocks; updated in the early morning of this (23rd) There were two earthquakes with a magnitude of 6 or above. Dr. Huang Xuan, an expert in critical care medicine, pointed out in a social post that frequent earthquakes may cause people to have the illusion that “there are no earthquakes but they feel like everything is shaking.”
Dr. Huang Xuan explained that the above-mentioned illusion is called “post-earthquake dizziness syndrome” (PEDS) in medicine, which is a psychological or physiological reaction that may occur after experiencing frequent earthquakes. Previous research has shown that people in areas where earthquakes or aftershocks continue to occur will indeed be more or less dizzy and unable to distinguish between real earthquakes and “fake earthquakes.”
Generally speaking, this condition is more likely to occur in women, the elderly, those who live on high floors, those who are prone to seasickness or motion sickness, those who are stressed or in a state of anxiety, and those who have just experienced a major disaster or even experienced psychological trauma. In addition, according to a document published by a Japanese research team in “PLoS One”, people with PEDS are more likely to be in indoor environments, and the symptoms can last from days to months.
Not only will you feel dizzy and have difficulty balancing! Top 10 symptoms of post-earthquake vertigo syndrome
Dr. Huang Xuan further pointed out that the following may be common symptoms when PEDS occurs:
Dizziness: Feeling that you or your surroundings are moving or rotating.
Difficulty with balance: Feeling unsteady when walking or standing.
Tinnitus: high-frequency buzzing or other sounds that continue to occur in the ears.
Anxiety: Feeling nervous or uneasy.
Insomnia: difficulty falling asleep or poor sleep quality.
Panic attack: Sudden feelings of extreme panic and uneasiness.
Inattention: Difficulty concentrating on tasks or activities.
Avoidance behavior: Avoiding earthquake-related things or situations.
Hypervigilance: Overly sensitive to the surrounding environment.
Easily startled: Overreacting to sudden sounds or movements.
Dr. Huang Xuan emphasized that these symptoms do not necessarily appear all at once, but sporadic symptoms may appear within hours or days after the earthquake and may last for a period of time. For example, if you receive an earthquake warning in the middle of the night, you will become anxious and have difficulty falling back to sleep. People in hardest-hit areas may be more sensitive to earthquake shaking, and PEDS symptoms may occur more frequently.
How to relieve post-earthquake vertigo syndrome? In addition to looking further into the distance, you can also “do this”
The lead author of the above-mentioned study, Professor Miwa Takeke of Kyoto University School of Medicine, said that if people have persistent dizziness after an earthquake, they can pause the work or to-do list at hand and recalibrate the vestibule of the inner ear by “gazing into the distance.” system, and sensory signals from the eyes and nerves in the feet, thereby improving balance. Furthermore, trying to go outside and enjoy the vista, or simply drink cold or hot drinks, can help soothe the body and relieve discomfort in a short period of time.
If symptoms persist or become more severe, doctors may recommend that patients use over-the-counter antihistamines, also known as motion sickness medications, to relieve symptoms. Dr. Huang Xuan also reminds the public that if PEDS symptoms cannot be relieved and the following conditions occur, they should seek professional help as soon as possible:
Persistent feeling of uneasiness: unable to carry out daily activities after the earthquake, and continuing to feel dizzy and uneasy.
Appetite problems: It is easy to be unable to eat due to anxiety, which has seriously affected life.
Sleep problems: It is easy to wake up in the middle of the night or suffer from insomnia all night, which leads to poor sleep quality.
Mood swings: Emotions such as anger, sadness, or despair cannot be calmed down, or they fluctuate violently.
Social Isolation: Begins to avoid interacting with others or feels disconnected from your surroundings.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): persistent panic, nightmares at night, and avoidance of things or places related to the trauma.
Source:
“Earthquakes occur frequently, what should we do?” - Dr. Ooi Hean
Post-earthquake dizziness syndrome following the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes, Japan
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