Dizziness and Vertigo : how to deal with it
Introduction : Dizziness and vertigo are among the most common symptoms causing patients to visit a physician (as common as back pain and headaches). Falling can be a direct consequence of dizziness in this population, and the risk is compounded in elderly persons with other neurologic deficits and chronic medical problems. These terms are often used interchangeably, but they refer to distinct experiences. Dizziness can encompass various sensations, including lightheadedness, unsteadiness, and a feeling of floating. Vertigo, on the other hand, is characterized by a false sense of spinning or movement, as if the surrounding environment is in motion. A report using data from the Swedish National study on Aging and Care (SNAC) found that in patients younger than 80 years, the prevalence of falls was 16.5% and that of dizziness was 17.8%, whereas in patients older than 80 years, the prevalence of falls was 31.7% and that of dizziness was 31.0%. [3] The younger patients tended to ...