Dizziness in older people

Authors

  • Grzegorz Sielski Department and Clinic of Geriatrics of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz
  • Małgorzata Sielska Department and Chair of Music Therapy of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz
  • Marta Podhorecka Department and Clinic of Geriatrics of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz
  • Dominika Gębka Department and Clinic of Geriatrics of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz
  • Marta Sucharska-Szymkowiak Department and Clinic of Geriatrics of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz
  • Natalia Ciesielska Department and Clinic of Geriatrics of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz
  • Łukasz Rolka Clinic of Adult Neurology of the Medical University of Gdańsk
  • Katarzyna Porzych Department and Clinic of Geriatrics of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz
  • Kornelia Kędziora-Kornatowska Department and Clinic of Geriatrics of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12775/MBS.2015.023

Keywords

dizziness, falls, elderly

Abstract

Dizziness is a very common disorder, and its incidence increases with age. It is a symptom of disorder not the essence of the disease. It is usually the result of disorders of the vestibular system, and can be caused by damage to the labyrinth (vertigo) or its innervation (dizziness). Dizziness deals with two areas of medicine - otolaryngology and neurology. Borderland  of these specialties is neurotology, which has been recently considered as a separate specialty. However, it is difficult to diagnose and treat the causes of dizziness and often beyond the otolaryngologist and neurologist  close cooperation of other professionals such as: a cardiologist, ophthalmologist, radiologist, orthopedist, and even a psychiatrist is required. Dizziness is a hardly perceptible symptom and usually very difficult to diagnose. In older persons dizziness occurs due to many different reasons of central, peripheral or psychiatric nature as well as on a background of variety of systemic diseases. Best pharmacological treatment should be started after the appropriate diagnostics and after proper diagnosis. If the cause of dizziness is vestibular system, customized exercise can have a very beneficial effect on the recovery of functional capacity.

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Medical and Biological Sciences

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Published

2015-11-02

How to Cite

1.
SIELSKI, Grzegorz, SIELSKA, Małgorzata, PODHORECKA, Marta, GĘBKA, Dominika, SUCHARSKA-SZYMKOWIAK, Marta, CIESIELSKA, Natalia, ROLKA, Łukasz, PORZYCH, Katarzyna and KĘDZIORA-KORNATOWSKA, Kornelia. Dizziness in older people. Medical and Biological Sciences. Online. 2 November 2015. Vol. 29, no. 3, pp. 37-42. [Accessed 6 July 2025]. DOI 10.12775/MBS.2015.023.

Issue

Vol. 29 No. 3 (2015)

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REVIEWS

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