PRESYNCOPE
Cardiovascular causes of dizziness include arrhythmias, myocardial infarction, carotid artery stenosis, and ortho-static hypotension.21 Of patients with supraventricular tachycardia, 75 percent experience dizziness and about 30 percent experience syncope.23 Symptoms brought on by postural changes suggest a diagnosis of orthostatic hypotension.9 A variety of cardiovascular medications increase the risk of orthostatic hypotension in older persons, including reserpine (at doses greater than 0.25 mg), doxazosin (Cardura), and clonidine (Catapres).24