The dizzy patient Flashcards
what is the prevalence of dizziness?
it is the most common cause of presentation to the primary care physician in people over 74 years old
what is the percentage of people in the community that suffer from dizziness?
17%
>25% of 50-64 year olds state that they currently suffer dizziness
how many people in the UK consult their GP with vertigo?
5/1000
by the age of 80…
2/3 women and 1/3 men will have experienced episodes of vertigo
what is etiology of dizziness?
Cardiovascular system Haematological and metabolic Anxiety Neurological conditions Drug side-effects / interactions Migraine Otological Trauma
what is the definition of dizziness?
non-specific term, which may cover vertigo, pre-syncope, disequilibrium, etc.
what is the definition of vertigo?
a sensation of movement, usually spinning
what are the central pathways of the balance systems of the body?
visual cardiovascular vestibular vestibule-ocular reflex vestibulospinal tract proprioceptive
what are the conditions that affect the vestibular balance system?
BPPV
menieres
vestibular
neuronitis
what are the conditions that affect the vestibulospinal tract and vestibule-ocular reflex?
stress
migraine
SOL
MS
what are the conditions that affect the proprioceptive balance systems?
DM
arthritis
neurology
what are conditions that affect the visual balance system?
cataracts
DM
what are the conditions that affect the cardiovascular balance systems?
arrthymias
postural hypotension
how can we use history the differentiate between cardiac, neurological & vestibular?
Lightheadedness, syncope, palpitations
Blackouts, visual disturbance, paraesthesia, weakness, speech & swallow problems
Vertigo is a sensation of motion: spinning, falling, being pushed
things to ask in the history?
Triggers? Time Course? Associated symptoms? Precipitators? Alleviating factors? Medication?
vertigo episodes…
duration of episodes is the key
which condition has vertigo episodes that last seconds?
BPPV
which condition has vertigo episodes that last hours?
Menieres
which condition has vertigo episodes that last variable?
migraine associated vertigo