Dear Dr. Johnson: I am 72 and have had bouts of dizziness now for several years. The dizziness almost always occurs when I change position, move my head in a certain way or hold it in a certain way. I have been to several doctors and they have all examined me thoroughly and have reassured me that there is nothing wrong or at least anything they can find to correct. They end it by saying that it is simply a part of aging and they call it ”benign
dizziness.”
I continue to worry that there may be something they are missing. Do you think I should seek still more opinions, or am I foolishly going from one doctor to another?
I never tell people they are foolish for seeking advice about something that concerns them. However, you are obviously right in wondering just how many doctors you should consult for this condition.
It is certainly true that many people past the age of 50–with increasing risk as they grow older–develop what is often referred to as benign positional intermittent dizziness. These are fancy words to describe the kind of problem you might well have. This kind of dizziness is not constant, it typically occurs with positional change, and it is not associated with any other problems such as hearing loss or facial problems, etc.
In truth, nobody knows the exact reason for this kind of dizziness, though many theories abound. Most physicians end up trying to help people learn to live with the condition, though the intermittent use of medications such as Dramamine or Antivert may be helpful in some individuals.
In short, while I cannot be certain about your condition, I can at least say that it sounds like you are part of that vast army of individuals past 50 who develop intermittent dizziness that just can`t be pinned down to a specific treatable cause.
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