Dizziness and head pressure

Dear Ask The Doctor: I get REAL BAD dizziness, and when I take Gingko Biloba, 200mg, it STOPS. What is the cause of my dizziness? Could it be that I have Hydrocephalus, or something else? Why does Ginkgo WORK to stop my dizziness?

Dear George: There are many conditions which cause dizziness. To identify the various causes it would be necessary to differentiate true dizziness from other similar symptoms. True dizziness usually results from conditions affecting the inner ear including infections, tumors, Meniere's Disease and Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo. Meneire's disease is a condition affecting the inner ear which causes ringing in the ear (tinnitus), dizziness and hearing loss. BPPV is non fatal condition which results in severe dizziness and nausea, is o ften a short duration and occurs with changes in position of the head.

Syncope (fainting or feeling faint) is often confused with dizziness. Hydrocephalus is more likely to cause fainting than true dizziness. Syncope is unlikely to be relieved by ginko biloba and is cause most often by a drop in blood pressure from some other condition such as irregular heart beats and medications.

It is perhaps best you see aphysician for a complete workup so that he/she may rule out any potentially life-threatening condition.