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What Causes Sudden Giddiness In Elderly?
Question: Hi,
This s XXXXXXX my maternal uncle who s 50 years old yesterday night by 2 am when he woke up from sleep got severe guidiness and the place around him started revolving around him and he experienced this oly wen he was lying and whenever he sat he didn't get t.. he says that he didn't get sleep after that ,as soon as we went for a consultation with doctor this evening he checked whether he got sweating and has he felt any abnormal chest pain and he was asked to take ecg..which I have attached here, why does this happened suddenly and do V need to worry so much for this and still V have to b more cautious..
regards, XXXXXXX
This s XXXXXXX my maternal uncle who s 50 years old yesterday night by 2 am when he woke up from sleep got severe guidiness and the place around him started revolving around him and he experienced this oly wen he was lying and whenever he sat he didn't get t.. he says that he didn't get sleep after that ,as soon as we went for a consultation with doctor this evening he checked whether he got sweating and has he felt any abnormal chest pain and he was asked to take ecg..which I have attached here, why does this happened suddenly and do V need to worry so much for this and still V have to b more cautious..
regards, XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Giddiness needs to be evaluated further.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Welcome to health care magic,
The underlying cause for this sudden giddiness could be dehydration,low blood sugar,vasovagal, orthostatic hypotension or due to anxiety etc but in majority of cases no exact cause could be found out eve after all relevant investigations.
However,We will have to rule out causes from cardiac and non cardiac for which your uncle will require detailed history, thoroughly clinical examination for heart like ECG (here it is completely normal-the file you attached),blood pressure measurements in different positions like supine,sitting and immediately after standing, echo cardiography of heart etc specially in persons who is above 50 years of age.
If his giddiness has subsided now then there is no need to worry much but if same episodes get repeated again then he will require some medical attention.
The definitive treatment will depend on the underlying cause.
Meanwhile he can do below things,
1) Maintain proper hydration and electrolyte balance by taking proper fluid intake throughout the day.
2) Check his blood sugar.
3) Positioning on the grounds immediately whenever there is giddiness spells and leg elevation, will cause pooling of blood in the upper part of body mainly in brain.
4) Always wait for 4 to 5 minutes before changing the posture so suddenly.
5) Take tab.Cinaarizine (stugeron forte 75 mg) for symptomatic relief.
Hope this will help you.
Giddiness needs to be evaluated further.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Welcome to health care magic,
The underlying cause for this sudden giddiness could be dehydration,low blood sugar,vasovagal, orthostatic hypotension or due to anxiety etc but in majority of cases no exact cause could be found out eve after all relevant investigations.
However,We will have to rule out causes from cardiac and non cardiac for which your uncle will require detailed history, thoroughly clinical examination for heart like ECG (here it is completely normal-the file you attached),blood pressure measurements in different positions like supine,sitting and immediately after standing, echo cardiography of heart etc specially in persons who is above 50 years of age.
If his giddiness has subsided now then there is no need to worry much but if same episodes get repeated again then he will require some medical attention.
The definitive treatment will depend on the underlying cause.
Meanwhile he can do below things,
1) Maintain proper hydration and electrolyte balance by taking proper fluid intake throughout the day.
2) Check his blood sugar.
3) Positioning on the grounds immediately whenever there is giddiness spells and leg elevation, will cause pooling of blood in the upper part of body mainly in brain.
4) Always wait for 4 to 5 minutes before changing the posture so suddenly.
5) Take tab.Cinaarizine (stugeron forte 75 mg) for symptomatic relief.
Hope this will help you.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Answered by
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