A 97-year-old man became dizzy and fell onto the floor. You find him sitting on the floor with his wife next to him. His wife states that he did not lose consciousness and that this has happened several times over the past two days. Currently, the patient is alert and oriented and complaining of dizziness and a headache. He has a history of coronary artery disease, emphysema, and hypertension, and states that he saw his doctor two days ago. Which one of the following questions would be most helpful in identifying the cause of this patient's signs and symptoms?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Asking about any new medications prescribed by the doctor would be most helpful in identifying the cause of the patient's symptoms as certain medications can cause dizziness or have interactions with his current medications. Asking about a previous stroke, his recent food and drink intake, or why he didn't call 911 previously may provide some additional information, but will not help identify the immediate cause of his symptoms.

A 97-Year-Old Man Became Dizzy and Fell onto the Floor