Ask Dr. Nick
On today’s episode, Dr. Nick talks about the possible causes of dizziness and how they can be differentiated. Feeling dizzy affects many people throughout their lives, but most cases can be effectively treated when properly diagnosed. If you have a sudden attack of dizziness with no known cause, it is not a bad idea to seek an immediate diagnosis from an emergency room. They can rule out major problems before seeking more effective therapies. Dizziness itself comes from problems in the vestibular system. This can be in the peripheral vestibular system within the inner ear or the central vestibular system within the brain. A good history that covers the nature, frequency, severity, and timing of dizziness and associated symptoms can be highly diagnostic. Then, a proper physical exam with specific testing will confirm that diagnosis. A correct diagnosis is essential to effective treatment results. Check out the video for more in depth information on the different causes of dizziness!
Reference: Brandt T, Dieterich M. The dizzy patient: don’t forget disorders of the central vestibular system. Nat Rev Neurol. 2017;13(6):352‐362.
