Introduction Dizziness is a common problem in the elderly (65 years and older), with a prevalence between 13% and 38% depending on the population studied. Dizziness affects the lives of older adults and is associated with restrictions in activities of…
Key Points Dizziness is highly prevalent among patients aged 65 years and older and may be associated with several common health conditions and the medications used to treat those conditions. The consequences of dizziness affect patients’ health and quality of…
Introduction Dizziness is a broad term used to describe a variety of sensations such as vertigo, unsteadiness, imbalance, light-headedness, and similar symptoms. The prevalence of dizziness increases steadily with age. Although debate is still ongoing regarding the underlying causes of…
Clinical Vignette A 68-year-old male with a history of myocardial infarction 5 years ago, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes presents with the acute onset of rotational vertigo with nausea and vomiting and hearing loss in the right ear. Left-beating nystagmus is…
Introduction Without a doubt, vestibular dysfunction can cause dizziness; however, other systems that interact with the vestibular system can also be involved. The goal of this chapter is to discuss the role of cardiovascular reflexes in contributing to dizziness. A…
Uncommon Causes of Chronic Disequilibrium in the Adult Bilateral Vestibular Loss Epidemiology . Bilateral vestibular loss is uncommon. In some patients the cause is known, whereas in other patients the condition seems to be idiopathic, and these patients tend to…
Clinical Vignette A.S. was a 34-year-old healthy female, without significant past medical history, who presented to the otology clinic 10 years ago for evaluation of a 3-day complaint of a “blocked” right ear: muffled hearing, aural fullness, and a low-pitched…
Introduction Superior semicircular canal dehiscence (SSCD) can be defined as an anatomic anomaly found (occasionally incidentally) on high-resolution temporal bone computed tomography (CT) scan or at surgical exploration ( Fig. 12.1 ) or as a syndrome, a constellation of symptoms,…
Introduction The clinical association of migraine and vertigo or dizziness has been given many names in the literature, including migraine-associated vertigo, migraine-associated dizziness, vestibular migraine, migrainous vertigo, migraine-related vestibulopathy, basilar artery migraine, and others. According to Stewart and associates, 17%…
Case study: L.R. is a 40-year-old female referred by her primary care physician with a chief complaint of acute, severe, room-spinning vertigo. She stated that she awoke at 4 a.m. when the sensation of vertigo came on very suddenly, was…