Dizziness

For the film, see Dizziness (film).
"Dizzy" redirects here. For other uses, see Dizzy (disambiguation).
Dizziness
Vertigo, the sensation of one's surroundings spinning around them, is a common symptom of dizziness.
SpecialtyENT surgery, Otorhinolaryngology; if the dizziness is confirmed to be a symptom of a nervous system disorder, then neurology
Symptomsvertigo, lightheadedness, giddiness, or unsteadiness

Dizziness is an imprecise term that can refer to a sense of disorientation in space, vertigo, or lightheadedness.[1] It can also refer to disequilibrium[2] or a non-specific feeling, such as giddiness or foolishness.[3]

Dizziness is a common medical complaint, affecting 20–30% of persons.[4] Dizziness is broken down into four main subtypes: vertigo (~25–50%), disequilibrium (less than ~15%), presyncope (less than ~15%), and nonspecific dizziness (~10%).[5]

  • Vertigo is the sensation of spinning or having one's surroundings spin about them. Many people find vertigo very disturbing and often report associated nausea and vomiting.[6]
  • Presyncope describes lightheadedness or feeling faint; the name relates to syncope, which is actually fainting.
  • Disequilibrium is the sensation of being off balance and is most often characterized by frequent falls in a specific direction. This condition is not often associated with nausea or vomiting.
  • Non-specific dizziness may be psychiatric in origin. It is a diagnosis of exclusion and can sometimes be brought about by hyperventilation.[3]
  1. ^ Dizziness at the U.S. National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
  2. ^ Reeves AG, Swenson RS (2008). "Chapter 14: Evaluation of the Dizzy Patient". Disorders of the Nervous System: A Primer. Dartmouth Medical School. Archived from the original on 2011-08-24. Retrieved 2011-05-24.
  3. ^ a b Branch Jr WT, Barton JJ (February 10, 2011). "Approach to the patient with dizziness". UpToDate.
  4. ^ Karatas M (November 2008). "Central vertigo and dizziness: epidemiology, differential diagnosis, and common causes". The Neurologist. 14 (6): 355–64. doi:10.1097/NRL.0b013e31817533a3. PMID 19008741. S2CID 21444226.
  5. ^ Post RE, Dickerson LM (August 2010). "Dizziness: a diagnostic approach". American Family Physician. 82 (4): 361–8, 369. PMID 20704166.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Epi09 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).