What causes dizziness?

Introduction

Dizziness is a common and multifaceted symptom that can arise from various underlying conditions. It is frequently reported in both primary care and specialized medical settings, particularly among elderly patients. Understanding the causes of dizziness is crucial for effective diagnosis and treatment.

Key Insights

Cardiovascular Causes
- Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of dizziness, especially in elderly patients. Low blood pressure and cardiac arrhythmias are also noted contributors.
Vestibular Disorders
- Peripheral vestibular disorders, such as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and Meniere's disease, are common causes of dizziness . Vestibular dysfunction increases with age due to the decline in vestibular hair cells and neurons.
Psychiatric Causes
- Psychiatric disorders, including anxiety and panic attacks, are significant contributors to dizziness. These conditions can either cause dizziness directly or exacerbate existing balance disorders .
Multifactorial Causes
- Dizziness often has multiple contributing factors, including vestibular, psychiatric, and cardiovascular causes. Many patients experience dizziness due to a combination of these factors .
Adverse Drug Effects
- Medications can also contribute to dizziness, particularly in elderly patients. Adverse drug effects are a notable minor cause of dizziness.
Central Nervous System Disorders
- Central causes of dizziness include cerebrovascular disorders, migraines, multiple sclerosis, and tumors of the posterior fossa. These conditions are less common but still significant .

Conclusion

Dizziness is a complex symptom with multiple potential causes. Cardiovascular disease, vestibular disorders, and psychiatric conditions are the most common contributors. Often, dizziness results from a combination of these factors, especially in elderly patients. Understanding the multifactorial nature of dizziness is essential for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.

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What causes dizziness?

Summary

Introduction

Key Insights

Conclusion

Sources and full results

Causes of Persistent Dizziness in Elderly Patients in Primary Care

Cardiovascular disease is the most common major cause of dizziness in elderly patients in primary care, with adverse drug effects being a significant contributory cause.

Causes of Persistent Dizziness

Vestibular disease and psychiatric disorders are the most common causes of persistent dizziness in outpatients, with multiple factors contributing to symptoms in about 50% of cases.

A clinical taxonomy of dizziness and anxiety in the otoneurological setting.

Dizziness and anxiety can interact in various ways, including dizziness caused by psychiatric disorders, cooccurrence of psychiatric and balance disorders, problematic coping with balance symptoms, and neurological linkage.

Dizziness and Imbalance in the Elderly: Age-related Decline in the Vestibular System.

Age-related decline in the vestibular system contributes to dizziness and imbalance in older people, and customized management using vestibular rehabilitation and prosthetic devices can improve postural balance.

Dizziness in Older People

Dizziness in older people can be caused by damage to visual, proprioceptive, somatosensory, and vestibular systems, as well as changes in brain centers integrating these signals.

Pharmacologic treatment of persons with dizziness.

Vertigo is rarely caused by visual or somatosensory malfunction, but may be a result of a combination of sensory disturbances related to motion and central malfunction of the comparison mechanism.

How Common Are Various Causes of Dizziness?: A Critical Review

Dizziness is due to vestibular or psychiatric causes in over 70% of cases, with serious treatable causes being uncommon, diagnostic testing can be reserved for a small subset of patients.

Dizziness and vertigo.

Vertigo can be caused by benign paroxysmal peripheral vertigo, vestibular neuritis, vestibular migraine, and Meniere's disease, and identifying the cause is crucial for effective treatment.

Central Vertigo and Dizziness: Epidemiology, Differential Diagnosis, and Common Causes

Central causes account for nearly one-fourth of dizziness, with cerebrovascular disorders, migraines, multiple sclerosis, tumors, neurodegenerative disorders, drugs, and psychiatric disorders being the most common.

Dizziness and vertigo

Dizziness and vertigo can be caused by various illnesses, but it is often caused by inner ear issues.

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