- Section 1 Ageing population and policy
- Section 2 Key concepts in care of older adults
- Section 3 Principles and organization of care
- Section 4 Age-related biological changes, altered physiology, and vulnerability to diseases and chronic conditions
- Section 5 Geriatric syndromes in clinical practice
- Section 6 Nutrition and metabolism
- Section 7 Mobility disorders: prevention, impact, and compensation
- Section 8 Infections in older adults: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 9 Cancer: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 10 Vascular diseases: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 11 Neurological disorders: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 12 Cognitive decline and dementia in older adults: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 13 Mental health of older adults
- Section 14 Management of common medical conditions: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Chapter 140 Common geriatric emergencies
- Chapter 141 Management of acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease
- Chapter 142 Oral health and mouth diseases
- Chapter 143 Gastrointestinal disease in the older population
- Chapter 144 Malabsorption
- Chapter 145 Constipation and faecal incontinence
- Chapter 146 Age-associated breathlessness
- Chapter 147 Anaemia
- Chapter 148 Endocrinology of ageing
- Chapter 149 Sexuality in older persons
- Chapter 150 Skin diseases more common in older adults
- Chapter 151 Common age-related eye diseases and visual impairment
- Chapter 152 Hearing impairments and their treatments
- Chapter 153 Dizziness and vertigo
- Section 15 Palliative medicine and end-of-life care
- Section 16 Healthy ageing
(p. 1177) Dizziness and vertigo
- Chapter:
- (p. 1177) Dizziness and vertigo
- Author(s):
Declan Lyons
, Avril Beirne
, and Joanna Lawson
- DOI:
- 10.1093/med/9780198701590.003.0153
Dizziness is one of the commonest symptoms described by older adults, particularly women, and is associated with reduced quality of life, functional decline, and falls. The term dizziness is used by patients to describe a variety of symptoms, including a hallucination of movement (vertigo), light-headedness, and a true appreciation of unsteadiness associated with gait disorders. Although there are age-related decrements in the somatosensory, visual, vestibular, and motor systems, dizziness should not be regarded as part of normal ageing. Diagnosis can usually be reached without specialist investigations, through focused history taking and bedside clinical assessment, including careful examination of eye movements and the Dix-Hallpike test. The underlying cause may be in one or several physiological systems and this will guide treatment plans. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and neuritis are more common than Meniere’s. The presence of red flag symptoms or signs suggesting central vestibular disease will require further imaging.
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- Section 1 Ageing population and policy
- Section 2 Key concepts in care of older adults
- Section 3 Principles and organization of care
- Section 4 Age-related biological changes, altered physiology, and vulnerability to diseases and chronic conditions
- Section 5 Geriatric syndromes in clinical practice
- Section 6 Nutrition and metabolism
- Section 7 Mobility disorders: prevention, impact, and compensation
- Section 8 Infections in older adults: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 9 Cancer: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 10 Vascular diseases: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 11 Neurological disorders: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 12 Cognitive decline and dementia in older adults: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 13 Mental health of older adults
- Section 14 Management of common medical conditions: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Chapter 140 Common geriatric emergencies
- Chapter 141 Management of acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease
- Chapter 142 Oral health and mouth diseases
- Chapter 143 Gastrointestinal disease in the older population
- Chapter 144 Malabsorption
- Chapter 145 Constipation and faecal incontinence
- Chapter 146 Age-associated breathlessness
- Chapter 147 Anaemia
- Chapter 148 Endocrinology of ageing
- Chapter 149 Sexuality in older persons
- Chapter 150 Skin diseases more common in older adults
- Chapter 151 Common age-related eye diseases and visual impairment
- Chapter 152 Hearing impairments and their treatments
- Chapter 153 Dizziness and vertigo
- Section 15 Palliative medicine and end-of-life care
- Section 16 Healthy ageing