The word "dizzy" is often used to describe a variety of sensations from lightheadedness to feeling weak or unsteady. Vertigo however, is dizziness that creates the sense that you or your surroundings are spinning or moving. It is defined as a false illusion of motion with a distinct sensation of rotation ("The room was spinning around me").
Acute attacks are well-defined isolated spells of vertigo with a distinct onset and offset, whereas chronic vertigo is defined as a continuous or chronic sensation. Recurrent attacks or vertigo are addressed as chronic vertigo.
Dizziness is the reason for over 7 million clinic visits in the United States each year. Dizziness is a common complaint among older persons, especially. Dizziness in the elderly has been associated with syncope, functional disability, nursing home placement, stroke, and even death.
There are a variety of conditions that can cause vertigo. The evaluation often focuses on uncovering any underlying medical problems.
The Medifocus Guide on Vertigo provides answers to the following important questions and medical issues:
What is vertigo?
Are there any recognized risk factors for developing vertigo?
What kinds of medical tests are used to determine the cause of vertigo?
What is the current standard of care for the treatment of vertigo?
What treatment options are available for the management of vertigo?
Are there any promising new developments or potential breakthroughs in treatment?
Who are the most notable medical authorities who specialize in vertigo?
Where are the leading hospitals and centers of research for vertigo?
What are the most important questions to ask my doctor about vertigo?
What Your Doctor Reads:
This MediFocus Guide contains an extensive listing of citations and abstracts of recent journal articles that have been published about this condition in trustworthy medical journals. This is the same type of information that is available to physicians and other health care professionals. A partial selection of journal articles that are abstracted in this MediFocus Guide includes:
Why history is the key in the diagnosis of vertigo. Practitioner. 2000
Vertigo. Taking the spin out of life. Mayo Clinic Health Letter. 2000
Neurology. 3: Dizziness. Medical Journal of Australia. 2000
Efficacy of vestibular rehabilitation. Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America. 2000
Diagnosis and treatment of psychologic symptoms and psychiatric disorders in patients with dizziness and imbalance. Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America. 2000
Overview of psychologic effects of chronic dizziness and balance disorders. Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America. 2000
Distinguishing and treating causes of central vertigo. Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America. 2000
Diagnosis and initiating treatment for peripheral system disorders: imbalance and dizziness with normal hearing. Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America. 2000
Vertigo and dysequilibrium with associated hearing loss. Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America. 2000
Outcome measures for assessment of treatment of the dizzy and balance disorder patient. Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America. 2000
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