title: The dizzy patient: stepwise workup of a common complaint.
abstract: Dizziness is a common and potentially disabling complaint among older patients. A major consequence of dizziness is falls, which can lead to death or significant functional disability. Dizziness can be separated into four broad categories: vertigo, disequilibrium, near-syncope, and nonspecific. Given its multitude of possible etiologies, dizziness often poses a diagnostic dilemma for the physician. Symptoms can result from a disturbance in any number of balance control systems, including the visual pathways, vestibular apparatus, cardiovascular system, and CNS. In evaluating dizziness, the physician should first obtain a careful medical history and perform a targeted physical examination. Depending upon the organ system involved, an audiologist, otolaryngologist, neurologist, cardiologist, and/or psychiatrist should then be consulted for further assessment and management.
authors.affiliation: Lehman College, City University of New York (CUNY), USA.
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Weinstein
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Devons
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004244:Dizziness / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence