Dizziness, Vertigo and Imbalance

Dizziness and vertigo are among the most common symptoms causing patients to visit a physician (as common as back pain and headaches). Falling can be a direct consequence of dizziness, and the risk is compounded in elderly persons with other neurologic deficits and chronic medical problems.

Dizziness is a symptom, which may be defined as a sensation of unsteadiness or imbalance, a disorientation in relation to an individual’s surroundings. The symptom of dizziness may vary widely from person to person and be caused by many different diseases. It varies from a mild unsteadiness to a severe whirling sensation known as vertigo. Because there is little representation of the balance system in the conscious mind, it is not unusual for it to be difficult for patients to describe their symptom of dizziness to the physician. In addition, because the symptom of dizziness varies so widely from patient to patient and may be caused by many different diseases, the physician commonly requires extensive testing to be able to provide the patient with some knowledge about the cause of their dizziness. Often times, the symptoms are a result of a disorder in the inner ear, which is the body’s control centre for balance.