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Blurred Vision, Dizziness, Off Balance, No Energy, Hand Discomfort. Is This Anxiety?
Question: for the past year iv'e been having these strange feelings, suddenly i get blurred vision, then dizzyness like as if i'am going to pass out but i don't, my balance is offset like someone walking when they are drunk, then my whole body feels as if it's moving in slow motion and i have no energy, i also get strange sensations in my left hand, i have had several test for this and it always comes back normal, i have now been told that it is anxitey, but how can this be, one minute i'am laughing and joking, then suddenly theses strange things start happening.
Hi there,
Thanks for writing in.
I am a medical specialist with an additional degree in sub specialty of Cardiology.I read your mail with diligence.
Let us see what causes dizziness and you can tell us something more and we reach the diagnosis. Dizziness can be caused by problems in the brain or the inner ear, though the cause may lie outside.
1. In a patient of hypertension on treatment (you are not hypertensive if you are you will have to tell us what drugs you are taking) postural hypotension is one of the commonest cause. Though, postural hypotension can occur without being hypertensive or on drugs. To counter this (dizziness) and otherwise also you break an action into small components for example if you are lying down and you have to go outside the room, it should be four step process:a. From lying position to sitting position in bed.b. Please hang your legs besides the bed.c. Now stand but not walk if you are not dizzy thend. Walk on. This way you will avoid fall.Treatment would be maintain adequate intake of salt and hydration.
2.Complications from diabetes (if your investigations have excluded this does not apply to you but normal aging process apply in that we are talking of accelerated atherosclerosis, can cause arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) which can lead to lowered blood flow to the brain, causing symptoms which may make one feel like things are moving around her/him or she/he is moving around the things ...these symptoms are are called Vertigo whereas dizziness is usually used to denote light headedness. In any case hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia (which can be first symptoms of Diabetes, the first neurological symptoms may be dizziness.
3. You have heart flutters, what I am curious to know, how far you have been investigated for this. For to me these denote arrhythmias of heart for which your doctor should- apart from physically examining you thoroughly- may need to perform certain tests like Holter if EKG has not been sufficient to find out the nature of arrhythmia. Additional advantage of Holter is symptom correlation (in your case with dizziness and arrhythmias). Drugs used to control arrhythmias can also cause dizziness.
4.Thyroid disease (you have not written what kind of thyroid disease you have but both hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism can be associated with dizziness as one of its symptoms. : Abnormalities of the thyroid may also cause dizziness as one of its symptoms. Hyperthyroidism (too much thyroid hormone) may cause palpitations, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, and dizziness.Hypothyroidism (too little thyroid hormone) may cause low blood pressure and a decreased heart rate leading to dizziness, weakness, lethargy, and chills.5.Migraine, a form of headache, may also cause dizziness and vertigo. The vertigo is usually followed by a headache. There is often a prior history of similar episodes but no lasting problems.6. Cervical Spondylosis: When osteophytes arising from cervical press on verterbral artery, a condition called Verterbro Basillar Insufficiency is produced which can manifest as dizziness. A cervical spine x-ray or cervical spine scan is good enough to diagnose. A cervical support collar may be required as part of treatment.Apart from following are the cause of Vertigo which may at some stage behave like an episode of dizziness therefore kept in mind a). Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common form of vertigo and is characterized by the sensation of motion initiated by sudden head movements or moving the head in a certain direction. b).Vertigo may also be caused by inflammation within the inner ear (labyrinthitis or vestibular neuritis), which is characterized by the sudden onset of vertigo and may be associated with hearing loss.
c).Meniere's disease is composed of a triad of symptoms including: episodes of vertigo, ringing in the ears (tinnitis), and hearing loss. People can be asymptomatic in between episodes.
d). Head trauma and neck injury may also result in vertigo, which usually goes away on its own.
Any of the illness may start with or end with dizzy spells. If you feel that you have not been properly investigated, you can always ask for second opinion of another city neurologist. Giving up everything to a possibly or perceived wrong diagnosis is not appropriate. In fact I would urge you to see your doctor so that second opinion can be arranged. So, if you are actually suffering from a known illness thereafter treatment begins. If you have any question for me, I will be more than happy to answer the same as soon as possible. Regards.
With Best Wishes
Dr Anil Grover,
Medical Specialist & Cardiologist
M.B.;B.S, M.D. (Internal Medicine) D.M.(Cardiology)http://www/ WWW.WWWW.WW
Thanks for writing in.
I am a medical specialist with an additional degree in sub specialty of Cardiology.I read your mail with diligence.
Let us see what causes dizziness and you can tell us something more and we reach the diagnosis. Dizziness can be caused by problems in the brain or the inner ear, though the cause may lie outside.
1. In a patient of hypertension on treatment (you are not hypertensive if you are you will have to tell us what drugs you are taking) postural hypotension is one of the commonest cause. Though, postural hypotension can occur without being hypertensive or on drugs. To counter this (dizziness) and otherwise also you break an action into small components for example if you are lying down and you have to go outside the room, it should be four step process:a. From lying position to sitting position in bed.b. Please hang your legs besides the bed.c. Now stand but not walk if you are not dizzy thend. Walk on. This way you will avoid fall.Treatment would be maintain adequate intake of salt and hydration.
2.Complications from diabetes (if your investigations have excluded this does not apply to you but normal aging process apply in that we are talking of accelerated atherosclerosis, can cause arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) which can lead to lowered blood flow to the brain, causing symptoms which may make one feel like things are moving around her/him or she/he is moving around the things ...these symptoms are are called Vertigo whereas dizziness is usually used to denote light headedness. In any case hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia (which can be first symptoms of Diabetes, the first neurological symptoms may be dizziness.
3. You have heart flutters, what I am curious to know, how far you have been investigated for this. For to me these denote arrhythmias of heart for which your doctor should- apart from physically examining you thoroughly- may need to perform certain tests like Holter if EKG has not been sufficient to find out the nature of arrhythmia. Additional advantage of Holter is symptom correlation (in your case with dizziness and arrhythmias). Drugs used to control arrhythmias can also cause dizziness.
4.Thyroid disease (you have not written what kind of thyroid disease you have but both hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism can be associated with dizziness as one of its symptoms. : Abnormalities of the thyroid may also cause dizziness as one of its symptoms. Hyperthyroidism (too much thyroid hormone) may cause palpitations, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, and dizziness.Hypothyroidism (too little thyroid hormone) may cause low blood pressure and a decreased heart rate leading to dizziness, weakness, lethargy, and chills.5.Migraine, a form of headache, may also cause dizziness and vertigo. The vertigo is usually followed by a headache. There is often a prior history of similar episodes but no lasting problems.6. Cervical Spondylosis: When osteophytes arising from cervical press on verterbral artery, a condition called Verterbro Basillar Insufficiency is produced which can manifest as dizziness. A cervical spine x-ray or cervical spine scan is good enough to diagnose. A cervical support collar may be required as part of treatment.Apart from following are the cause of Vertigo which may at some stage behave like an episode of dizziness therefore kept in mind a). Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common form of vertigo and is characterized by the sensation of motion initiated by sudden head movements or moving the head in a certain direction. b).Vertigo may also be caused by inflammation within the inner ear (labyrinthitis or vestibular neuritis), which is characterized by the sudden onset of vertigo and may be associated with hearing loss.
c).Meniere's disease is composed of a triad of symptoms including: episodes of vertigo, ringing in the ears (tinnitis), and hearing loss. People can be asymptomatic in between episodes.
d). Head trauma and neck injury may also result in vertigo, which usually goes away on its own.
Any of the illness may start with or end with dizzy spells. If you feel that you have not been properly investigated, you can always ask for second opinion of another city neurologist. Giving up everything to a possibly or perceived wrong diagnosis is not appropriate. In fact I would urge you to see your doctor so that second opinion can be arranged. So, if you are actually suffering from a known illness thereafter treatment begins. If you have any question for me, I will be more than happy to answer the same as soon as possible. Regards.
With Best Wishes
Dr Anil Grover,
Medical Specialist & Cardiologist
M.B.;B.S, M.D. (Internal Medicine) D.M.(Cardiology)http://www/ WWW.WWWW.WW
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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