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What Causes Short Episodes Of Intense Dizziness?
Question: Hello, I am female, 69yrs old with afib among other things. Recently I have been experiencing a lot of dizziness when I go from a sitting position to a laying down position. This is not normal for me. I am able to stop the dizziness by opening my eyes and focusing on an object for 5 to 10 seconds. Sometimes the dizziness stays gone, sometimes it returns. My concern is am I possibly having XXXXXXX strokes or something similar and need to go to the hospital or at least contact my PCP?
Brief Answer:
BPPV is your most likely diagnosis
Detailed Answer:
Good evening ma'am. My name is Dr. Saghafi and I am an adult neurologist and I see cases such as yours no less than 6-10x per week. It's very common and common in the over 65 year age category although it is not uncommon in the "youngsters" as well. You are describing classic symptoms of a condition called BENIGN PAROXYSMAL POSITIONAL VERTIGO. The name says exactly what it is as well as what the primary symptoms are as well as the expected clinical course......(BENIGN).
The way it comes about is through the changing of the position of your head in space. That way, when you are lying and come to a sitting or standing position the head changes its position which changes the relative orientation of your inner ear canals and these are where the signals for where a person's head is in space. In the case of a pathology there are otoliths which are small bits of calcified inner ear Hair cells that break off from the semicircular canals which is the processing relay station that eventually feeds up to the brain where the electrical signals are converted.
There are exercises that will get your head used to the condition just by doing what are called the BRANDT-DAROFF EXERCISES. How successful a person is depends upon what else is going on and how dedicated the patient can be to this regimen which requires daily practice until the dizziness subsides completely.
Nothing you've said thus far strikes me as being a prelude to strokes, mini-strokes, or similar things to do.
I hope this addresses your concerns. If so, may I ask for the favor of a HIGH STAR RATING on our interaction and some brief written feedback.
Write to me at: bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi for additional comments, concerns, or to upload information that you would like me to look at as well in the event you get a CT or MRI scan done of the head.
This query required 12 minutes to read, research, and compile an envoy to the patient.
BPPV is your most likely diagnosis
Detailed Answer:
Good evening ma'am. My name is Dr. Saghafi and I am an adult neurologist and I see cases such as yours no less than 6-10x per week. It's very common and common in the over 65 year age category although it is not uncommon in the "youngsters" as well. You are describing classic symptoms of a condition called BENIGN PAROXYSMAL POSITIONAL VERTIGO. The name says exactly what it is as well as what the primary symptoms are as well as the expected clinical course......(BENIGN).
The way it comes about is through the changing of the position of your head in space. That way, when you are lying and come to a sitting or standing position the head changes its position which changes the relative orientation of your inner ear canals and these are where the signals for where a person's head is in space. In the case of a pathology there are otoliths which are small bits of calcified inner ear Hair cells that break off from the semicircular canals which is the processing relay station that eventually feeds up to the brain where the electrical signals are converted.
There are exercises that will get your head used to the condition just by doing what are called the BRANDT-DAROFF EXERCISES. How successful a person is depends upon what else is going on and how dedicated the patient can be to this regimen which requires daily practice until the dizziness subsides completely.
Nothing you've said thus far strikes me as being a prelude to strokes, mini-strokes, or similar things to do.
I hope this addresses your concerns. If so, may I ask for the favor of a HIGH STAR RATING on our interaction and some brief written feedback.
Write to me at: bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi for additional comments, concerns, or to upload information that you would like me to look at as well in the event you get a CT or MRI scan done of the head.
This query required 12 minutes to read, research, and compile an envoy to the patient.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Where do I learn about the BRANDT-DAROFF Exercises?
Brief Answer:
I am happy to provide you with a link on the internet
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for your interest in knowing more of these exercises. They are best with 2 people since it is very difficult for 1 person to push themselves to the necessary levels of placing their bodies into uncomfortable positions that tend to initiate the "dizzy spells."
An assistant, however, has the advantage of being able to direct and manage the exercises for the patient who does their best to be as passive and NON-resistant as possible. They also can keep the patient safe from falling since at the outset of these exercises the patient will feel dizzy and vertiginous and if not careful could fall from the XXXXXXX sofa, or table where they are seated if nobody were present to help. You will see what I mean when you look into how these exercises are properly done.
Here is a YOUTUBE video of the exercise when only 1 person is present. I do not recommend doing it yourself though unless you have no choice. Depending upon how dizzy you get when you change positions you may fall off the table or bed.
XXXX
Here is a PDF document that will show the technique step by step. One thing you have to remember and that is the Brandt-Daroff exercises are not designed to ABSOLUTELY CURE this disorder. In other words, after the dizziness resolves in the first few days of doing these one must continue for at least 10-11 days to make sure things stick. But we recognize the fact, that nearly 50-80% of individuals who get better after these exercises will relapse and that a 2nd or even 3rd round may have to be done.
If that happens then, one must resort to other procedures which generally are best done by a physician who is knowledgeable in the maneuver.
I hope this addresses your concerns. If so, may I ask for the favor of a HIGH STAR RATING on our interaction and some brief written feedback.
Write to me at: bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi for additional comments, concerns, or to upload information that you would like me to look at as well in the event you get a CT or MRI scan done of the head.
This query required 80 minutes to read, research, and compile an envoy to the patient.
I am happy to provide you with a link on the internet
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for your interest in knowing more of these exercises. They are best with 2 people since it is very difficult for 1 person to push themselves to the necessary levels of placing their bodies into uncomfortable positions that tend to initiate the "dizzy spells."
An assistant, however, has the advantage of being able to direct and manage the exercises for the patient who does their best to be as passive and NON-resistant as possible. They also can keep the patient safe from falling since at the outset of these exercises the patient will feel dizzy and vertiginous and if not careful could fall from the XXXXXXX sofa, or table where they are seated if nobody were present to help. You will see what I mean when you look into how these exercises are properly done.
Here is a YOUTUBE video of the exercise when only 1 person is present. I do not recommend doing it yourself though unless you have no choice. Depending upon how dizzy you get when you change positions you may fall off the table or bed.
XXXX
Here is a PDF document that will show the technique step by step. One thing you have to remember and that is the Brandt-Daroff exercises are not designed to ABSOLUTELY CURE this disorder. In other words, after the dizziness resolves in the first few days of doing these one must continue for at least 10-11 days to make sure things stick. But we recognize the fact, that nearly 50-80% of individuals who get better after these exercises will relapse and that a 2nd or even 3rd round may have to be done.
If that happens then, one must resort to other procedures which generally are best done by a physician who is knowledgeable in the maneuver.
I hope this addresses your concerns. If so, may I ask for the favor of a HIGH STAR RATING on our interaction and some brief written feedback.
Write to me at: bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi for additional comments, concerns, or to upload information that you would like me to look at as well in the event you get a CT or MRI scan done of the head.
This query required 80 minutes to read, research, and compile an envoy to the patient.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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