Dizziness as a Nonspecific Complaint in the Emergency Department: Some Useful Considerations

Dizziness is one of the most common reasons for presentation to emergency departments (EDs). While excellent reviews exist on distinguishing central from peripheral vestibular causes, the aim of this article is different. Instead of focusing on this classic differentiation, dizziness as a nonspecific symptom will be addressed. Practical considerations will be outlined to help avoid missing red flags. Emphasis is placed on history-taking and clinical examination, supported by statistical reasoning. It will be argued that this approach does not require additional time—an especially valuable resource in the ED—and may even reduce overall time expenditure without compromising diagnostic accuracy.