Medical and Biological Sciences
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Dizziness in older people
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.12775/MBS.2015.023
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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