Worsening Dizzy Spells

[ilovemarkb]

74 Yr old gentleman with symptoms of dizziness that dibilatate. Yesterday's episode was initiated when cleaning his fridge. Frequency is around 3-4 times weekly PMH - Ex heavy drinker...hyperthyroidism....prostate problens.... healthy Bmi range.... Pre diabetic... ongoing aching legs (long term). Hearing has worsened.....
GP says probably vertigo (a few weeks ago) no medication given. Not convinced it is vertigo. Frustrated that over 70.s seem to be fobbed off. Also he is frightened to leave the house in case he has one of these spells. And I am frightened he falls and knocks his head. Any suggestions what else could be causing these?

[Cloverjo]

Could be low blood pressure, especially if it happens on moving from seated to standing.

[Sqad]

Good shout from Cloverjo, particularly if he is taking tablets to lower his BP in which case the dose needs adjusting.
However....aged 74 years with the symptoms that you have described and toe positional aspect pointed out by Cloverjo, I would suggest that it may well be due to arthritis in the neck, nipping off one of the blood vessels to the part of the brain that is responsible for balance....a condition called ..vertebro-basilar insuffuciency.
In certain critical movements of the neck, the artery is "nipped off".."bent" for a matter of seconds which is enough time to make you dizzy.
Nothing can be done about it........live with it.
Make sure that you have a batch of blood tests to check on conditions that could also cause his problems.

[KARL]

Sympathise with the over 70s bit - it is an extension/selection of the requirement within the NHS to delay things for waiting list and budgeting reasons. One sometimes wonders whether how the heavier part of this burden seems to end up on the older generation isn't brought about by "he/she doesn't have long left anyway" thought. Ah, but some promise that it's all soon going to be so much better.