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Suggest Treatment For Light Dizziness In An Elderly Person With Hypertension
Posted on
Mon, 1 Aug 2016
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Mon, 1 Aug 2016
Answered on
Tue, 23 Aug 2016
Last reviewed on
Question : I am a 72 yr old in good health taking high blood pressure and cholesterol pills daily For the past 2 weeks i suffer from light headedness especially when I get up in the morning and sometimes before retiring at night.
Brief Answer:
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Lightheadedness is a very common symptom, but is also a non specific one, meaning it can be related to several causes.
Blood pressure fluctuations can be a common cause of dizziness, both due to low and high blood pressure, so I hope you have been monitoring your blood pressure from time to time to assure medication is adequate. It is also important to check for orthostatic hypotension, an excessive drop of blood pressure when you change position from supine to standing, it is done by comparing blood pressure first after lying flat for about 5 mins, then standing and measuring blood pressure after 1 and 3 minutes, in orthostatic hypotension there is a drop of at least 20 mmHg of systolic blood pressure..
If blood pressure is stable then it is important to check for anemia or metabolic abnormalities through some routine blood tests like blood count, glucose, liver and kidney function and electrolytes.
Neck arthritis is also a common cause of lightheadednes, as it may lead to compression of the upper cervical nerves which through providing information on head and neck position are important in maintaining balance. A neck spine x-ray would be a simple routine test to evaluate that.
Inner ear is also involved in balance, but usually there is vertigo, a sensation of spinning movement, rather than simple lightheadedness.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Lightheadedness is a very common symptom, but is also a non specific one, meaning it can be related to several causes.
Blood pressure fluctuations can be a common cause of dizziness, both due to low and high blood pressure, so I hope you have been monitoring your blood pressure from time to time to assure medication is adequate. It is also important to check for orthostatic hypotension, an excessive drop of blood pressure when you change position from supine to standing, it is done by comparing blood pressure first after lying flat for about 5 mins, then standing and measuring blood pressure after 1 and 3 minutes, in orthostatic hypotension there is a drop of at least 20 mmHg of systolic blood pressure..
If blood pressure is stable then it is important to check for anemia or metabolic abnormalities through some routine blood tests like blood count, glucose, liver and kidney function and electrolytes.
Neck arthritis is also a common cause of lightheadednes, as it may lead to compression of the upper cervical nerves which through providing information on head and neck position are important in maintaining balance. A neck spine x-ray would be a simple routine test to evaluate that.
Inner ear is also involved in balance, but usually there is vertigo, a sensation of spinning movement, rather than simple lightheadedness.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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