TBL Neuro Flashcards
This accounts for an estimated 5 percent of primary care clinic visits
dizziness
What are the four categories of dizziness?
vertigo
disequilibrium
presyncope
lightheadedness
4 main causes of vertigo?
benign paroxysmal positional vertigo Meniere disease (increased endolymph in inner ear) vestibular neuritis (viral infection of vestibular nerve) labyrinthitis
What can cause presyncope?
many medications
**medication regimens should be assessed in pts with this type of dizziness
What are two major causes of disequilibrium?
diabetic neuropathy
Parkinson disease
What kinds of things can cause vague lightheadedness?
depression
anxiety
hyperventilation syndrome
What tests can be done to hone in on a diagnosis for dizziness?
nystagmus
Dix-hallpike maneuver
orthostatic blood pressure testing
What is used to treat benign paroxysmal positional vertigo?
Epley maneuver
vestibular rehabilitation
What is used to treat Meniere disease?
intratympanic dexamethasone
gentamicin
What is used to treat vestibular neuritis?
steroids
What is used to treat orthostatic hypotension?
alpha agonists
mineralocorticoids
lifestyle changes
How to treat disequilibrium and lightheadedness?
treat the underlying cause
What should you ask patients about when they present with dizziness?
drugs caffeine nicotine alcohol head trauma and whiplash injuries
False sense of motion, possibly spinning sensation
vertigo
What two things usually cause vertigo with hearing loss?
Maniere disease
labyrinthitis
What two things usually cause vertigo without hearing loss?
BPPV
vestibular neuritis
What usually causes episodic vertigo?
BPPV
Maniere disease
What usually causes persistent vertigo?
vestibular neuritis
labyrinthitis
This diagnosis should be considered after other causes of vertigo have been ruled out, and the vertigo presents with current migraine or history of migraine and one of the following symptoms during last two episodes of vertigo: migraine headache, photophobia, aura
migrainous vertigo
What are some cardiovascular causes of dizziness?
arrhythmias
MI
carotid artery stenosis
orthostatic hypotension
What are some cardiovascular meds that increase the risk of orthostatic hypotension in older people?
alpha blockers ACE inhibitors beta blockers clonidine reserpine doxazosin diuretics etc etc etc
**used to treat HTN
Loose otolith in semicircular canals causing a false sense of motion
benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
What are some diagnostic criteria for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo?
episodic vertigo
no hearing loss
positive findings on Dix-Hallpike maneuver
What is hyperventilation syndrome? How can you diagnose it?
hyperventilation causing respiratory alkalosis; may be provoked by anxiety; symptoms are reproduced by voluntary hyperventilation
What is Meniere disease? How can you diagnose it?
a type of vertigo; increased endolymph in the inner ear; episodic vertigo with hearing loss
What is orthostatic hypotension? How much must blood pressure drop?
a type of presyncope, in which blood pressure drops in response to position change and causes decreased blood flow to the brain; BP drops 20mmHg systolically or 10mg diastolically or pulse increases 30bpm
What does this make you think of?
shuffling gait with reduced arm swing and possible hesitation
Parkinson disease
If dizziness lasts minutes, this needs to be ruled out; other associated symptoms usually present
stroke or TIA