Vestibular disorders: orthostatic dizziness: practice question

A ENT question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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ENT · Vestibular disorders: orthostatic dizziness

Sample item

A 70-year-old on antihypertensives has light-headedness on standing that settles when he sits. There is no spinning, and blood pressure falls by 30 mmHg on standing. What is the cause?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Orthostatic hypotension

Light-headedness on standing with a fall in blood pressure indicates orthostatic hypotension, not vertigo. Medication review and hydration are the first steps. BPPV gives spinning on head movements.

Option by option

  • A. Meniere disease

    Meniere disease gives vertigo with hearing loss and tinnitus.

  • B. Orthostatic hypotension (correct)

    Correct. A postural fall in blood pressure with presyncope is orthostatic hypotension.

  • C. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

    BPPV produces brief rotatory vertigo with head turning.

  • D. Vestibular neuritis

    Neuritis gives continuous vertigo for days.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is B, Orthostatic hypotension. Light-headedness on standing with a fall in blood pressure indicates orthostatic hypotension, not vertigo.

Why is "Meniere disease" not the answer?

Meniere disease gives vertigo with hearing loss and tinnitus.

Why is "Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo" not the answer?

BPPV produces brief rotatory vertigo with head turning.

Why is "Vestibular neuritis" not the answer?

Neuritis gives continuous vertigo for days.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Vestibular disorders: orthostatic dizziness in ENT. Medication review and hydration are the first steps. BPPV gives spinning on head movements.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Vestibular disorders: orthostatic dizziness?

Learn tuning fork results and audiogram patterns by sketching them. Then use the flashcards and the other ENT questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.