Acknowledgments.

PART I: Dizziness: What Does it Mean?

Introduction.

1. The Balancing Act.

2. Feeling Off–Balance.

3. Finding the Cause of Dizziness and Vertigo.

PART II: The Causes of Dizziness.

4. Peripheral Vestibular Disorders.

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo.

Vestibular Neuronitis.

Labyrinthitis and Other Ear Infections.

Perilymph Fistula.

Cholesteatoma.

Otosclerosis.

Trauma to the Ear.

Meniere′s Disease.

Recurrent Vestibulopathy.

Motion Sickness.

Height Dizziness.

5. Central and Vascular Vestibular Disorders.

Acoustic Neuroma.

Other Brain Tumors.

Cerebral Atrophy.

Disorders of the Blood Supply.

Transient Ischemic Attacks.

Stroke.

Migraine.

Epilepsy.

Multiple Sclerosis.

Other Central Vestibular Disorders.

6. Systemic Disorders.

Cardiovascular Diseases.

Bacterial and Viral Diseases.

Connective Tissue and Arthritic Problems.

Blood Disorders.

Diabetes.

Chronic Kidney Disease.

Thyroid Disorders.

Allergies.

Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMJ).

Medications and Other Substances.

7. Dizziness and Anxiety.

Anxiety.

Phobias.

Depression.

Somatization.

Psychotherapy and Other Treatments.

PART III: Treatment for Dizziness.

8. Medical, Dietetic, and Surgical Treatments.

Medication.

Diet.

Surgery.

9. Therapy and Rehabilitation.

Team Approach to Rehabilitation.

Physical Therapy Exercises You Can Do at Home.

Relaxation Techniques.

Hypnosis.

Biofeedback.

Psychotherapy.

Helping Yourself.

Future Hope for Chronic Dizziness.

Appendix A. Helpful Sources.

Appendix B. Suggested Reading.

Glossary.

Index.

Brian W. Blakley, M.D., Ph.D., is the director of the Dizziness Clinic at Wayne State University Medical Center. He specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the ear.

Mary–Ellen Siegel, M.S.W., is a lecturer in the Department of Community Medicine (Social Work) at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. A psychotherapist in private practice, she is the author of several books on health, including The Cancer Patient′s Handbook.

• When you turn your head suddenly, do you feel sick to your stomach?
• Do you often become dizzy when you get up too quickly from a chair?
• Have you ever felt a sense of motion when you′re standing still?

• Identifies and explains the three types of dizziness: vertigo, imbalance, and fainting.
• Describes treatment options, from medication or surgery to therapy and rehabilitation.
• Outlines self–help options, including relaxation techniques, biofeedback, and exercise.