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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Dizziness?

While I was away, my husband woke up in the night to use the washroom and was so dizzy that he fell to the ground. He felt dizzy until he went back to bed. He was fine in the morning and has been ok ever since. He did not go to the hospital. He thinks he had this spell, because he had been working long and late hours. He is 64 years old.
Mon, 24 Nov 2014
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Neurologist 's  Response
Hello dear,
I am getting it like your husband had this single episode of dizziness and as you mentioned that it improved once he went back to bed, it appears to be somehow related to posture.It may be an episode of postural hypotension or syncope.Cardinal features in an episode of syncope are premonitory symptoms of palpitations,excessive sweating and paleness on face just before the episode.Characteristically,patient with syncope have a transient loss of consciousness,for a few seconds following which he regains consciousness.
Another differential to think of in this case can be of an atypical form of seizure,but that is a remote possibility.Was this dizziness associated with sudden neck flexion or extension or lateral flexion?If yes,possibility of a benign vertigo can be considered.Is your husband having any ear problems like ringing in the ears,hearing loss?If yes,this may be associated with such an episode.Is your husband a diabetic?Diabetics may have autonomic dysfunction,which may cause this.Some drugs can also cause this type of problem.Please visit a neurologist,he may examine and take detail history and do simple firstline tests like screening for hypotension with postural drop.He will definitely be of help.Please ask further if you feel so.
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What Causes Dizziness?

Hello dear, I am getting it like your husband had this single episode of dizziness and as you mentioned that it improved once he went back to bed, it appears to be somehow related to posture.It may be an episode of postural hypotension or syncope.Cardinal features in an episode of syncope are premonitory symptoms of palpitations,excessive sweating and paleness on face just before the episode.Characteristically,patient with syncope have a transient loss of consciousness,for a few seconds following which he regains consciousness. Another differential to think of in this case can be of an atypical form of seizure,but that is a remote possibility.Was this dizziness associated with sudden neck flexion or extension or lateral flexion?If yes,possibility of a benign vertigo can be considered.Is your husband having any ear problems like ringing in the ears,hearing loss?If yes,this may be associated with such an episode.Is your husband a diabetic?Diabetics may have autonomic dysfunction,which may cause this.Some drugs can also cause this type of problem.Please visit a neurologist,he may examine and take detail history and do simple firstline tests like screening for hypotension with postural drop.He will definitely be of help.Please ask further if you feel so.