Drop attack

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Drop attacks are sudden spontaneous falls while standing or walking, followed by a very swift recovery, within seconds or minutes.

Causes

Drop attacks are typically seen in elderly patients, and the most common cause is carotid sinus hypersensitivity, resulting in either short periods of reversible asystole, or in marked drop in blood pressure in response to carotid sinus stimulation.

Other causes include the following:

  1. vascular - transient ischemic attack, cerebrovascular accident, dissection, occlusion, hemorrhage
  2. epilepsy/paroxysmal
  3. degenerative
  4. structural
  5. metabolic
  6. cardiac
  7. psych
  8. labirynth idropsy: an overflow of endolymph in ear labirynth causes distortions and breaks; see also Ménière's syndrome

Diagnosis


it:Attacco con caduta