Dizziness is common in many ages, mainly in the elderly. A study recently published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, an influential journal in North America, analyzed the causes of dizziness in 1027 patients who, more than 72 years old, were leading a normal life in the community. A total of 261, or 24%, had relevant dizziness. Statistics showed the most common causes were anxiety and depression. A smaller number of patients showed deafness, excessive medication intake and postural hypotension (blood pressure lowers when the person rises quickly). Some presented problems with balance. Fewer had previous history of heart conditions. But, almost all had more than one of the risk factors above.

According to Dr Paulo Rogerio M de Bittencourt, PhD, Head of the Clinical Neurology Unit S/C Ltd, in Curitiba (www.unineuro.com.br), these results are very pertinent to the practice of Medicine in Brazil. Here, dizziness is still seen as a symptom of labyrinthitis, and patients end up being oriented to take medication for such. This is typical of, what was called in the CPI of drugs, a GL (good for losers) case. After all, labyrinthitis is never the problem of these patients.

But the problem in Brazil gets worse. The authors of the North American study concluded that dizziness is a symptom of multiple causes, as do other symptoms the elderly have. The treatment is: decrease risk factors. For example, teach patients to get up slowly when getting out of bed, decrease their medication. The reason why we have GLs in Brazil is because the medication recommended here are tranquilizers and/or vasodilators which make a person more confused, and their blood pressure lowers more when changing positions. Dr Paulo Rogerio M de Bittencourt co-authored a study in his patients with Dr Clovis Arns da Cunha, currently vice-director of the Hospital Nossa Senhora das Graças, published in the Revista da Associação Médica do Paraná, over 10 years ago, studying several elderly who had just developed Parkinson’s symptoms while talking drugs as Vertix, Vertizine and Stugeron. Nevertheless, these drugs are still widely and indiscriminately used.