Diagnosis and Evaluation
A detailed history is the most useful part of the evaluation. The information you provide is critical in helping your healthcare provider determine the cause of the dizziness. You should make sure to give your healthcare provider the following information:
Is the dizziness characterized by sensations of spinning, fainting, unsteadiness, or lightheadedness?
Is the dizziness related to different body positions?
Do you have other symptoms (eg, nausea, vomiting, fainting, fatigue, depression, or ringing in the ears, etc) along with the dizziness?
Is the problem most likely to occur after a meal, with coughing, urinating, while turning over in bed, or with other specific activities? How often does it happen?
What medications are you taking? A "brown-bag" inventory (see Health Assessment) can help make sure that all drugs are accounted for, including over-the-counter preparations.
The physical examination will include multiple blood pressure measurements in both arms, while you are lying down, standing, and sitting. An electrocardiogram and other testing (eg, stress test) may be recommended to evaluate your heart. Your healthcare provider may also want to perform some tests that involve putting your head and body in various positions. This can help identify signs of inner ear problems (eg, if characteristic eye movements are brought on) or BPV (if symptoms are reproduced).
More than 75% of cases of dizziness can be diagnosed by history and physical examination. However, depending on the results of the history and physical, your healthcare provider may recommend other tests, such as an MRI, CAT scan, inner ear tests, etc.
A detailed history is the most useful part of the evaluation. The information you provide is critical in helping your healthcare provider determine the cause of the dizziness. You should make sure to give your healthcare provider the following information:
Is the dizziness characterized by sensations of spinning, fainting, unsteadiness, or lightheadedness?
Is the dizziness related to different body positions?
Do you have other symptoms (eg, nausea, vomiting, fainting, fatigue, depression, or ringing in the ears, etc) along with the dizziness?
Is the problem most likely to occur after a meal, with coughing, urinating, while turning over in bed, or with other specific activities? How often does it happen?
What medications are you taking? A "brown-bag" inventory (see Health Assessment) can help make sure that all drugs are accounted for, including over-the-counter preparations.
The physical examination will include multiple blood pressure measurements in both arms, while you are lying down, standing, and sitting. An electrocardiogram and other testing (eg, stress test) may be recommended to evaluate your heart. Your healthcare provider may also want to perform some tests that involve putting your head and body in various positions. This can help identify signs of inner ear problems (eg, if characteristic eye movements are brought on) or BPV (if symptoms are reproduced).
More than 75% of cases of dizziness can be diagnosed by history and physical examination. However, depending on the results of the history and physical, your healthcare provider may recommend other tests, such as an MRI, CAT scan, inner ear tests, etc.
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