Vertigo and Dizziness

Vertigo and dizziness are among the most common presenting symptoms across medical settings. The differential diagnosis is broad and includes life-threatening diseases such as stroke and cardiac arrhythmia amidst the majority with benign vestibular or medical disorders. Differentiating dangerous from benign disorders can be challenging. The traditional approach to diagnosis relies on dizziness 'type' (vertigo, presyncope, disequilibrium, and others) to direct diagnostic inquiry, but this approach fails to distinguish benign from dangerous causes. A new approach emphasizing 'timing' and 'triggers' for dizziness and vertigo allows rapid identification of patients at high risk for dangerous disorders that need urgent management.