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Medical Author:

John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

John P. Cunha, DO, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Cunha's educational background includes a BS in Biology from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and a DO from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in Kansas City, MO. He completed residency training in Emergency Medicine at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, New Jersey.

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Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Rapid evaluation and treatment may be necessary if health care practitioners suspect a serious cause of dizziness.

The health care practitioner will ask detailed questions to define the type of dizzy feeling.

• The patient's description of the dizzy feeling may be the most important detail.
  
  
• The patient's history may be the only clue, because often your evaluation takes place after the dizzy symptoms have gone.
  
  
• Other symptoms may give evidence of possible causes.

The patient will be given a detailed physical exam to further define likely causes.

Tests ordered will be based on the diseases suggested by the patient's history and results of the physical exam.

• The health care practitioner may include tests for less likely but dangerous illnesses or diseases.
  
  
• In the Emergency Department, the patient may be placed on a heart monitor, electrocardiogram (ECG) may be performed, and blood studies may be ordered if indicated by the history of the dizziness or the physical exam.
  
  
• Sometimes, specialized tests such as a CT scan or a cardiac stress test may be ordered. Rarely, the patient may have to have surgery to treat internal bleeding or hemorrhage, if this is found to be the cause for the symptoms.
  
  
• The patient may be hospitalized or sent to a physician specialist depending on the possible causes.
  
  
• The health care practitioner may find no specific cause for the dizziness, but instead may exclude serious diseases.

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