Dizziness

Dizziness: When the world loses stability

Dizziness is a general term describing a range of sensations, including false sense of movement, weakness, pre‑syncope, and balance disturbances. It is one of the most common complaints at a doctor's visit. For accurate diagnosis it is important to distinguish what exactly the person feels, as there can be completely different causes behind it: from inner ear problems to heart diseases.

Types of dizziness: Vertigo, presyncope and balance disturbances

• Vertigo (true dizziness): This is an illusion of movement, most often rotation, of oneself or surrounding objects. The sensation is similar to having just gotten off a carousel. Vertigo almost always indicates a problem with the vestibular apparatus — the system in the inner ear and brain responsible for balance. The most common causes are benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), vestibular neuritis (inflammation of the vestibular nerve) or Ménière's disease. In children, the cause can be ear infections.
• Presyncope (pre‑fainting state): This is a feeling of weakness, "darkening in the eyes" and approaching loss of consciousness. It occurs due to a temporary reduction in blood flow to the brain. Causes can include a sudden drop in blood pressure upon standing, dehydration, anemia, or heart problems.
• Balance disturbance (disequilibrium): This is a feeling of unsteadiness, swaying while walking without a sense of rotation. Often associated with neurological disorders or problems with sensation in the legs.

Other causes

Sometimes dizziness is nonspecific and can be caused by anxiety, a panic attack, side effects of medication, or low blood sugar. For more details about this condition during pregnancy, read the article "Dizziness during pregnancy".