Head for heights
Fear of heights means no fear of heights and no particular susceptibility to heights of heights to have. In contrast to fear of heights, vertigo is a normal phenomenon and not pathological. Anyone who is in exposed places at a greater height above the ground rates their own posture as unstable. Normal altitude vertigo can also trigger feelings of anxiety and vegetative symptoms such as sweating .
A head for heights is often a requirement for a certain route when hiking or mountaineering . A head for heights is also required for the exercise of certain professions, such as chimney sweep or roofer .
Causes of vertigo
There are understandable biological causes for vertigo, on the one hand the innate so-called “cliff phenomenon”, which describes that small children and also many animals avoid great depths without having had bad experiences beforehand.
On the other hand, vertigo is caused by a destabilization of the body posture, which is caused by the eyes being too far away from the nearest visible fixed object and is also known as distance vertigo. In order to be able to see the object in three dimensions, the head begins to sway imperceptibly, and the body then sways a little with postural reflexes . At the same time, the body stabilizes its position over the periphery of the retina . When looking down, this stabilizing factor is missing. This physiological fluctuation is normally balanced out by the balance organ and the proprioceptive nerves. However, this can actually increase the risk of falling , for example if the sense of balance is damaged .
Training for a head for heights
Normal vertigo, in contrast to fear of heights, decreases when you get used to it. In this respect, a head for heights can be learned to a certain extent, depending on the biological disposition. Even experienced mountaineers have to get used to exposed areas again at the beginning of the season.
The following measures can help in borderline situations:
- As far as possible, far and deep views should be avoided and the focus should be directed on the next steps.
- As far as possible, it should not be standing freely in exposed places without looking for a firm hold.
- When looking down, it should be ensured that high-contrast objects are in the lateral field of vision, since the stabilization of the position takes place via the periphery of the retina.
- A quick look into the depth is less of a hindrance, as the vertigo takes a few seconds.
- Observing moving objects such as clouds or birds or looking through binoculars increases the dizziness.
- Twisted head positions should be avoided so as not to put additional strain on the sensory organs.
literature
- Martin Roos: When the height becomes hell . In: DAV Panorama - magazine of the German Alpine Club . No. 1 , 2008, ISSN 1437-5923 , p. 67–69 ( alpenverein.de [PDF; 339 kB ]).
- Pepi Stückl, Georg Sojer: Mountaineering: Textbook and guide for all forms of mountaineering . Mountain hiking - high-altitude tours - climbing on rock and ice - ski tours - safety technology - help with fellow soldiers. 1st edition. Bruckmann, Munich 2006, ISBN 978-3-7654-4484-5 .
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Thomas Brandt: Vertigo: Its Multisensory Syndromes . 2nd Edition. Springer-Verlag, London et al. 2003, ISBN 978-1-4757-3801-8 , pp. 418-422 (English, google.co.uk ).