Dizziness can be described in many ways
- Unsteady, poor balance
- Lightheaded
- Spinning or motion sensation
- Vague spatial disorientation symptoms
- Floating sensation
- Foggy
Vertigo is the sensation of motion, but you are not moving. It is a symptom, not a diagnosis. Vertigo is often a spinning type sensation. Associated nausea and vomiting are common.
Vertigo causes include:
- benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
- vestibular neuritis
- Ménière’s disease
- motion intolerance
- central vestibular dysfunction
- peripheral vestibulopathy
- infective labyrinthitis
- vestibular migraine
- otologic surgery
- otosclerosis
- vertebrobasilar insufficiency
- cardiovascular dysfunction
- medication side effect
- head injury
- cerebellopontine tumors or vascular lesions
- cervical vertigo
- anxiety disorders
- idiopathic (unknown cause)
Unsteadiness causes include:
- medication side effect
- peripheral or central vestibular abnormality
- central nervous system lesion
- acute/chronic otitis media
- head injury
- perilymph fistula
- hyperventilation
- functional (non-organic)
Lightheadedness causes include:
- medication side effect
- cardiovascular problem
- central nervous system lesion
- metabolic
- anxiety
- systemic etiology
Diagnosis of Vertigo Based on Duration of Symptoms
Seconds
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
- Superior canal dehiscence
- Uncompensated weakness
- Transient ischemic attack
Minutes to Hours
- Menier’s disease
- Migraine-associated vertigo
- Transient ischemic attack
- Autoimmune disorder
- Panic Attack
- Metabolic disorder
- Iatrogenic disease
Many Hours to Days
- Neuronitis
- Trauma
- Multiple sclerosis
- Benign intracranial hypertension
- Autoimmune disorder
- Iatrogenic disease
Kaylie, D., D. Garrison, et al. (2012). “Evaluation of the patient with recurrent vertigo.” Archives of otolaryngology–head & neck surgery 138(6): 584-587.
Symptoms of Dizziness Due to Aging
You may notice a lightheadedness, spinning sensation, giddiness, wooziness or unsteadiness that occurs when quickly turning or changing positions, when bending over and returning to an upright position or when looking up or down. These symptoms last for a short time. You may notice a tendency to sway or veer from side to side when walking.
Vertigo / Dizziness Evaluation and Treatment:
Accurate diagnosis is very important. This requires a complete history and physical examination. Audiologic testing is often needed. Other potential tests include CT scan. MRI, ENG -vestibular testing and blood work. Dizziness treatment is then tailored to the specific problem.
If you have vertigo problems, please call (503) 257-3204 or request a visit online with us.
References:
Kaylie, D., D. Garrison, et al. (2012). “Evaluation of the patient with recurrent vertigo.” Archives of otolaryngology–head & neck surgery 138(6): 584-587. Weber, P. C. (2008). Vertigo and disequilibrium: a practical guide to diagnosis and management. New York, Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.
Call Mt. Hood ENT & Allergy at (503) 257-3204 for more information or to schedule an appointment.