Dizziness is a common symptom that has many causes. Frequent bouts of dizziness may indicate an underlying health condition. At Modern Migraine MD, with office locations in the NoMad neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City, Toms River, New Jersey, and Aventura, Florida, Risa Ravitz, MD, diagnoses and rules out neurological causes of dizziness. Modern Migraine MD specializes in telemedicine appointments, helping patients in multiple states get a diagnosis quickly. Call or schedule an appointment online today.
Dizziness describes various sensations such as lightheadedness, spatial disorientation, or unsteadiness. The sensation may affect your balance, increasing your risk of falls.
Dizziness may occur at any time, whether you’re moving or lying down. Along with the dizzy sensation, you may also have other symptoms, such as:
Though feeling dizzy is unsettling, it’s not always the symptom of a serious health condition.
Vertigo isn’t the same as dizziness. With vertigo, you may feel like the room is spinning or tilting.
There are many causes of dizziness. Your brain relies on input from your ears, eyes, muscles, and skin to maintain balance and steadiness. Any condition or disease that interferes with this input may cause dizziness.
Common neurological causes of dizziness include:
With BPPV, you may experience dizzy spells when you change the position of your head or body. BPPV affects your balance because of changes in the position of the calcium crystals in your inner ear.
A vestibular migraine is a type of migraine that may cause dizziness with or without head pain.
Vestibular neuritis affects the nerve that connects your inner ear to your brain — the vestibular nerve. With this condition, you may have ongoing vertigo and hearing loss.
Meniere’s syndrome means there’s too much fluid in the inner ear, affecting balance.
A stroke is a life-threatening medical condition that occurs when there’s a blockage in the flow of blood to the brain. Dizziness is a symptom of a stroke.
Cardiovascular conditions such as atrial fibrillation may also cause dizziness. Low blood sugar, vision problems, and anxiety may also make you feel unsteady.
You can expect a comprehensive and patient-centered exam during a dizziness evaluation at Modern Migraine MD. Dr. Ravitz takes a holistic approach to care, focusing on your whole health, not your symptoms or disease.
During your evaluation, the neurology specialist asks detailed questions about your symptoms, medical history, usual diet and exercise habits, and daily routine.
Dr. Ravitz performs various tests to assess your neurological function. If needed, she requests diagnostic tests such as blood work, MRI, or CT scan.
The goal of the evaluation at Modern Migraine MD is to confirm or rule out a neurological cause to explain your dizziness. Depending on the findings, Dr. Ravitz makes the appropriate treatment recommendations and referrals.
To get answers to explain your dizziness, call Modern Migraine MD or schedule an appointment online today.