Balance, dizziness and vertigo are some of
the most common complaints that people bring to their doctors, yet sometimes
the cause can be difficult to diagnose. The Center for Balance, Dizziness and
Vertigo at the LifeBridge Health Brain & Spine Institute offers Baltimore and surrounding areas several
sophisticated diagnostic tools, medications and surgical techniques to help
identify and treat dizziness.
Dizziness or balance problems can stem from a number of
cardiovascular, neurological and psychiatric disorders,
including:
- Acoustic
neuroma
- Aging
- Aortic
stenosis
- Arrhythmia
- Autoimmune
vestibulopathy
- BPPV
(benign paroxysmal positional vertigo)
- Brain
stem infarcts
- Cardiomyopathy
- Cerebellar
disease
- Cerebellar
infarct
- Chiari
malformations
- Depression
- Labyrinthine
infarct
- Side
effects from medication
- Multiple
sclerosis
- Parkinson's
disease
- Peripheral
neuropathy
- Primary
neurogenic hypotension
- Psychosomatic
disorders
- Syphilitic
labyrinthitis
- Vestibular
migraine
- Vestibular
neuritis
Most of
these causes are treatable. If symptoms persist for more than two weeks, it's
usually a good idea to seek medical attention.
At the Center for Balance,
Dizziness and Vertigo, our neurologists work hand in hand with a physical
therapist. At the center, advanced technologies and clinical evaluations are
offered to help with making a correct diagnosis. Physicians study quick
movements of the eyes and check the symmetry of the inner ear. During an
advanced ENG video test, patients wear a comfortable video goggle with infrared
cameras that provide detailed information about their balance system.
The combination of a complete neurological evaluation,
video ENG recordings and selected blood tests often point to a specific
diagnosis.
Within one or two weeks, referring physicians receive a
complete neurology consultation note, detailed video ENG report and specific
recommendations for management of these patients. If interested, video clips of
the pertinent ENG findings are available via e-mail. We also make arrangements
for rehabilitation, and monitor patients until their symptoms are successfully
controlled or resolved.
Treatment options include vestibular exercises,
medication adjustments, lifestyle modifications and education. The center has a
95 percent success rate.
The center is lead by Majid Fotuhi, M.D., who received his
medical degree from Harvard Medical School and his doctorate in neurosciences at Johns Hopkins. Dr.
Fotuhi completed his internship, fellowship and residency at
Johns
Hopkins Hospital. He is the author of The Memory Cure: How to Protect Your Brain
Against Memory Loss and Alzheimer's Disease.
The Center for Balance, Dizziness and Vertigo is
a part of the LifeBridge Health Brain & Spine Institute, which encompasses
Sinai
Hospital and Northwest Hospital Center, each of which has dedicated institute programs. The
Center for Balance, Dizziness and Vertigo is located on the Sinai Hospital of
Baltimore campus.
For more information about the services
available at the Center for Balance, Dizziness and Vertigo or the LifeBridge
Health Brain & Spine Institute, please call
1-888-747-8899. You can also view our brochures online: Balance, Dizziness, and Vertigo and Majid Fotuhi,
M.D., Ph.D.
