Dizziness Specialist

What is dizziness?

Dizziness is when you feel woozy, lightheaded, or unsteady. Sometimes dizziness occurs right before or after you faint, or lose consciousness temporarily. 

Fainting is also known as syncope. Other common terms for fainting include passing out or blacking out.

Syncope often happens when your blood pressure is too low and not enough blood reaches your brain. Dizziness and fainting can be benign or may be a symptom of a medical condition that needs treatment.

What symptoms occur with dizziness?

People describe dizzy spells in various ways. Unsteadiness and a loss of balance are common symptoms, as are lightheadedness and feeling faint. You may also feel like you’re floating or swimming.

Dizziness that creates a false sense of spinning when you aren’t moving is known as vertigo.

What causes dizziness?

Arizona Heart Arrhythmia Associates treats many heart-related causes of dizziness and fainting, including:

• Heart attack
• Heart failure
• Arrhythmia
• Atrial fibrillation
• Low blood pressure (hypotension)
• Cardiomyopathy
• Transient ischemic attack (a mini stroke)

All of these conditions can cause poor blood circulation, which prevents your brain from getting enough blood.

Other causes of dizziness include inner ear problems, neurological conditions like migraines, anxiety disorders, and certain medications.

How is dizziness diagnosed and treated?

Arizona Heart Arrhythmia Associates performs a physical exam and asks you to describe your dizziness, including when it occurs and other symptoms you experience.

Depending on what they find during your exam, they may perform a variety of tests, such as:

• Electrocardiogram (EKG)
• Echocardiogram
• Cardiac stress test
• Holter monitor or event monitor
• Electrophysiology study

They may also perform a head-up tilt table test to diagnose the underlying cause of your dizziness and fainting. A tilt table test evaluates how your heart and blood pressure respond to the force of gravity.

During the test, you lie securely strapped to a table that slowly tilts upward. Your provider keeps track of your blood pressure and heart rate to see how they change as the table tilts.

After diagnosing your condition, Arizona Heart Arrhythmia Associates creates an individualized treatment plan. Treatment for dizziness includes medications, healthy lifestyle changes, and procedures that treat your specific condition.

To get treatment for the root cause of your dizziness and fainting, call Arizona Heart Arrhythmia Associates or book an appointment online today.