what can cause dizziness in elderly
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Dizziness in Older People As can be seen from the table above, the main two sources of dizziness in older people are the ear (otologic -- peripheral vestibular) and the brain. This brief review of the causes of dizziness is divided into five main categories: 1) otologic; 2) central; 3) medical; 4) psychogenic; and 5) unlocalized.
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Aging & Health A to Z Unsteadiness (disequilibrium) or loss of balance when standing or walking are often experienced along with vertigo and other types of dizziness. The causes include: Inner ear problems. These can cause sensations of floating or unsteadiness, especially in the dark. Vision problems.
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Balance disorder A circulatory system disorder, such as low blood pressure, can lead to a feeling of dizziness when we suddenly stand up. Problems in the skeletal or visual systems, such as arthritis or eye muscle imbalance, also may cause balance problems.
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- Age-related dizziness and imbalance. A tendency to fall and symptoms of dizziness should not be dismissed as unavoidable consequences of aging but may be important signs of a disease that might be cured or controlled. Because balance is a complex function, there is often no single identifiable cause of falls in an elderly person. However, older people with chronic dizziness or imbalance are two to three times more likely to fall in comparison with older people who do not experience these problems. 1.
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Feeling dizzy? Here are seven reasons for a spinning head and how you can stop it Dizziness and unsteadiness are more likely when the eyes, vestibular system of the inner ear and muscles are no longer working in harmony. Age-related cardiovascular problems can also cause dizziness by affecting blood flow.
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Causes of Dizziness Causes of dizziness related to vestibular system dysfunction are listed below. Disequilibrium: unsteadiness, imbalance, or loss of equilibrium; often accompanied by spatial disorientation. An acoustic neuroma is a benign tumor growing on the vestibulo-cochlear nerve.
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Causes of Dizziness Specific vestibular system problems. Vestibular dysfunction is most commonly caused by head injury, aging, and viral infection. Other illnesses, as well as genetic and environmental factors, may also cause or contribute to vestibular disorders. Causes of dizziness related to vestibular system dysfunction are listed below. Disequilibrium: unsteadiness, imbalance, or loss of equilibrium; often accompanied by spatial disorientation.
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Vertigo in the Elderly: What Does It Mean? Or, the problem may be related to medication causing depressed blood pressure to the brain. If a sensation of spinning is involved, it might be benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), the most common cause of vertigo in the elderly.
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Dizziness: Lightheadedness and Vertigo - Topic Overview Although dizziness can occur in people of any age, it is more common among older adults. A fear of dizziness can cause older adults to limit their physical and social activities. Dizziness can also lead to falls and other injuries.
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Don't Dismiss Drugs That Cause Dizziness Dizziness is just such a side effect. On the surface, it seems like a minor problem. This might be because it's so common. Hundreds of frequently prescribed medications cause dizziness or vertigo. As the saying goes, familiarity breeds contempt. In reality, though, dizziness can be a killer. Medications that make older people unsteady on their feet can lead to falls and fractures that may prove deadly.
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- Causes of dizziness. Common causes of dizziness include a migraine, medications, and alcohol. It can also be caused by a problem in the inner ear, where balance is regulated. Dizziness is often a result of vertigo as well. The most common cause of vertigo and vertigo-related dizziness is benign positional vertigo (BPV).
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- This leaflet gives a brief overview of the causes of dizziness, including vertigo, feeling faint and balance problems. There are separate, more detailed leaflets for some of the conditions listed.
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Inner Ear 'Rock Slides' Lead To Vertigo About 1 in every 5 patients referred to him has this condition. And some researchers estimate that about 50 percent of all dizziness in older people is due to BPPV. This is really a success story in medicine, says Hain. We've figured out the cause of this condition — and we've figured out how to treat it..
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Dizziness Dizziness has many possible causes, including inner ear disturbance, motion sickness and medication effects. Sometimes it's caused by an underlying health condition, such as poor circulation, infection or injury. The way dizziness makes you feel and your triggers provide clues for possible causes. Other signs and symptoms that may occur along with dizziness if you have anemia include fatigue, weakness and pale skin. 2  Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). 3  This condition generally occurs in people with diabetes who use insulin. 4  Dizziness (lightheadedness) may be accompanied by sweating and anxiety.
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Aging & Health A to Z Unsteadiness Unsteadiness (disequilibrium) or loss of balance when standing or walking are often experienced along with vertigo and other types of dizziness. The causes include: 1  Inner ear problems. 2  These can cause sensations of floating or unsteadiness, especially in the dark. 3  Vision problems. 4  Cataracts, macular degeneration, glaucoma and weakening eyesight (reduced visual acuity) are risk factors for disequilibrium. 5  Numbness.
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Neurologist: How to know when dizziness is serious Neurologist Dr. Susan Lotkowski, D. O., stroke director at The Memorial Hospital of Salem County in Mannington, said dizziness occurs mostly in older adults, but can affect people of any age and should be a red flag that something is out of sync. “The way dizziness makes you feel, such as the sensation of the room spinning, feeling faint or as if you’ve lost your balance, provides clues for possible causes,” she said.
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Overview 1 Older adults are more likely to have medical conditions that cause dizziness, especially a sense of imbalance. They're also more likely to take medications that can cause dizziness.  A past episode of dizziness. If you've experienced dizziness before, you're more likely to get dizzy in the future.
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Dizziness, Giddiness and Feeling Faint Expensive investigations are rarely helpful in dizzy elderly people. The cause of the dizziness can be diagnosed in most cases on the basis of a thorough clinical history and examination and often does not require hospital referral.
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- Less common causes. Less common causes of dizziness include a tumor of the vestibulocochlear nerve (acoustic neuroma); a tumor, stroke, or transient ischemic attack (TIA) affecting the brain stem; an injury to the eardrum, inner ear, or base of the skull; multiple sclerosis; low blood sugar; and pregnancy.
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Can dementia cause dizziness? Dementia can cause dizziness, particularly if it is vascular dementia, but I do not see dizziness caused by Alzheimer's very often. Dizziness is more commonly associated with vascular dementia because blood flow to the brain is restricted. With Alzheimer's, your loved one's balance may be affected. Balance issues are common with dementia, which may give an observer the impression that the person is suffering from dizziness.
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The Effects of Low Sodium in the Elderly Confusion, disorientation and drowsiness--common symptoms of low sodium--may masquerade as the symptoms of other neurological conditions in the elderly, such as vascular dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
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Overview 1 Anxiety disorders. 2  Certain anxiety disorders may cause lightheadedness or a woozy feeling often referred to as dizziness. 3  These include panic attacks and a fear of leaving home or being in large, open spaces (agoraphobia).4  Low iron levels (anemia). Neurological conditions. 2  Some neurological disorders — such as Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis — can lead to progressive loss of balance. 3  Medications. 4  Dizziness can be a side effect of certain medications — such as anti-seizure drugs, antidepressants, sedatives and tranquilizers.
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8 Reasons You Get Dizzy Dizziness is a more common complaint among older adults—probably because it’s a side effect of nearly every prescription drug (and many over-the-counter medications), and because age-related changes in your body can cause dizziness, Dr. Moore says.
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- Dizziness or light-headedness when standing occurs in about 20% of older people. It is more common among people with coexisting disorders, especially high blood pressure, and among residents of long-term care facilities. Many falls may result from dizziness when standing. Older people should avoid prolonged standing.
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- Benign causes of dizziness included peripheral vertigo (294 cases) and orthostatic hypotension (121 cases). Factors associated with serious diagnoses included abnormalities on focal examination, age greater than 60 years, and imbalance as the chief complaint.
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Dizziness and Vertigo When you're dizzy, you may feel lightheaded, woozy, or disoriented. If you feel like you or the room are spinning, you have vertigo. These feelings may make you lose your balance. Dizziness can have many different causes. A sudden drop in blood pressure or being dehydrated can make you dizzy. Many people feel lightheaded if they get up too quickly from sitting or lying down. Certain medicines and problems with your inner ear may cause dizziness. So can motion sickness. Sometimes dizziness can be a symptom of other disorders. As people get older, they may have more health problems and take more medicines. This makes them more likely to have problems with dizziness and balance. Dizziness usually gets better by itself or is easily treated. If you are dizzy often, you should see your health care provider to find the cause. NIH: National Institutes of Health