Dizziness

When you are dizzy, you may feel lightheaded or lose your balance. If you feel that the room is spinning, you have vertigo. A sudden drop in blood pressure or being dehydrated can make you dizzy. Many people feel lightheaded if they get up too quickly from sitting or lying down.

Dizziness usually gets better by itself or is easily treated. However, it can be a symptom of other disorders. Medicines may cause dizziness, or problems with your ear. Motion sickness can also make you dizzy. There are many other causes.

If you are dizzy often, you should see your health care provider to find the cause.

Source: MedlinePlus
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/dizzinessandvertigo.html

Key Point 1

Dizziness is a vague word that can mean different things to different people.  You’d be amazed how much a good history can tell you, so a good interview must be done to find the root of the problem.

Key Point 2

Dizziness is very common.  Even though there are many effective treatments, often many people just suffer with it in silence.  It is important to work with your doctor to get a diagnosis so you can get a treatment that works.

Webisode

Full Episode

Conduct an off-site search for Dizziness from MedlinePlus.  These up-to-date search results are based on search terms specific to Second Opinion Key Points.

• Dizziness and Vertigo
• Ear Disorders
• Tinnitus
• Meniere’s Disease

Resources

There are a very large number of organizations dedicated to helping people with Dizziness. This is only a partial list.

The AGS Foundation for Health in Aging (FHA):  The FHA aims to build a bridge between the research and practice of geriatrics health care professionals and the public, and to advocate on behalf of older adults and their special needs: wellness and preventive care, self-responsibility and independence, and connections to the family and community.

Mayo Clinic:  Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical practice dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of virtually every type of complex illness.

Paige Lab-Spatial Orientation Research:  Part of the University of Rochester Medical Center, one of the nation's top academic medical centers.