

Prevalence rates vary depending on the patient’s age and the cause of the dizziness.Įssentially any and every part of the vestibular system can malfunction, potentially providing symptoms of dizziness. Dizziness and related vestibular symptoms are the main reasons for visiting a doctor after 75 years of age. 1 Dizziness is common in all age groups however, its frequency does increase with age. In the adult population, 42% report dizziness at some time. It is the third most common symptom presentation (combined with imbalance and falls) for outpatient medical consultation, behind chest pain and fatigue.

If they are episodic, they can last anywhere from seconds to minutes or hours to months at a time.ĭizziness is a common complaint in the medical environment. Dysequilibrium: a sensation of unsteadiness.Vertigo: a sensation of movement, often described as a spinning, twisting, or turning.

It might or might not precede actual syncope and can be accompanied by tachycardia, palpitations, or diaphoresis. Presyncope: a more extreme form of lightheadedness.Lightheadedness: a vague sensation of floating or wooziness.These descriptions are not quantifiable, are not mutually exclusive, and can lead to further diagnostic dilemmas, yet this approach has persisted probably because of the complex nature of the symptom. The nomenclature of dizziness can be divided according to the following list. Furthermore, it may be a component of a larger or more diffuse problem. Dizziness is not exclusive to the vestibular system. It is difficult to quantify because of its subjective nature. It is commonly accompanied by gait imbalance.ĭizziness is a symptom and not a diagnosis it can be compared with pain in that respect. Dizziness can be described as a sensation or illusion of movement (such as spinning, rotating, tilting, or rocking), unsteadiness, or dysequilibrium.
