Dizziness by Ray Sahelian, M.D.

Vertigo, a feeling of turning or whirling usually involving inner ear problems, so-called "chronic nonspecific dizziness" in which victims also suffer imbalance and are super-sensitive to some motions such as walking in a busy store or driving in the rain, is more complex.

Dizziness is among the most common complaints in medicine, affecting approximately 20% to 30% of the general population. The term dizziness includes a variety of different sensations each points in distinct diagnostic direction: rotational vertigo or other illusory sensation of motion indicates vestibular origin, whereas a sensation of light-headedness, giddiness, unsteadiness, drowsiness, or impending faint implies nonvestibular origin.

Cause of chronic dizziness
Chronic dizziness that is not due to vertigo, a problem that has puzzled doctors for years, may have a variety of causes including anxiety disorders and brain injury. Common diagnoses of chronic nonspecific dizziness include psychiatric or neurologic conditions, including primary or secondary anxiety disorders, migraine, traumatic brain injury and abnormalities in the body system which controls involuntary actions. Two-thirds of patients have medical conditions associated with the onset of dizziness, whereas one third have anxiety disorders as the initial cause.