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What Causes Frequent Episodes Of Dizzy Spells In An Elderly Person?
Question: My mother is 94 years old, and in pretty good health for her age. She is taking atenolol (1/2 pill per day), one baby aspirin, and assorted vitamins. She started using Spiriva a few months ago, due to limited lung function resulting from radiation therapy for breast cancer ~20 years ago.
She has had dizzy spells of late - does not faint or fall. She recovers quickly and goes through her day as though nothing has happened.
What could be causing these spells?
She has had dizzy spells of late - does not faint or fall. She recovers quickly and goes through her day as though nothing has happened.
What could be causing these spells?
Brief Answer:
Likely to be related to the blood flow to certain areas in her brain.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome and thanks for your query.
I understand your concern and love for your mother.
The commonest cause of dizziness at her age and with the conditions mentioned is a decrease in the blood flow to certain areas in the brain. This is related to her blood pressure, the beating of the heart. It can also be related to her blood oxygen saturation ( SPO2).
There are better anti hypertensive for her at this age than Atenolol, with her other conditions and her cardiologist might change to one of those depending on the findings.
Likely to be related to the blood flow to certain areas in her brain.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome and thanks for your query.
I understand your concern and love for your mother.
The commonest cause of dizziness at her age and with the conditions mentioned is a decrease in the blood flow to certain areas in the brain. This is related to her blood pressure, the beating of the heart. It can also be related to her blood oxygen saturation ( SPO2).
There are better anti hypertensive for her at this age than Atenolol, with her other conditions and her cardiologist might change to one of those depending on the findings.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Brief Answer:
Spiriva is an unlikely cause. A CCB or ARB would be preferable to atenolol
Detailed Answer:
I would like to have a look at her ambulatory blood pressure monitoring / holter monitoring result when it is available.
At her age and with her lung problems, an anti hypertensive in the group of Calcium channel blocker or ARB would be preferable to a beta blocker Atenolol.
Spiriva is unlikely to cause dizziness as it is a rare side effect of Spiriva
Spiriva is an unlikely cause. A CCB or ARB would be preferable to atenolol
Detailed Answer:
I would like to have a look at her ambulatory blood pressure monitoring / holter monitoring result when it is available.
At her age and with her lung problems, an anti hypertensive in the group of Calcium channel blocker or ARB would be preferable to a beta blocker Atenolol.
Spiriva is unlikely to cause dizziness as it is a rare side effect of Spiriva
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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