Man Wakes Up Dizzy, Diagnosed with Posterior Cerebral Artery Stenosis; Doctors Warn of 5 Abnormal Symptoms

A 63-year-old man woke up experiencing severe vertigo, feeling as though the world was spinning, accompanied by nausea, vomiting, unsteadiness, and noticeable hearing loss in his right ear. Initially believing it was merely an inner ear disorder, he rested at home, but when his condition did not improve, he rushed to the hospital. Tests revealed he actually had "posterior cerebral artery stenosis" affecting the cerebellum region.

Dr. Li Swinhwa, head of the neurology department at Taipei Medical University Hospital, explained that posterior cerebral artery disease typically presents with vertigo as the primary symptom. Since blood vessels supplying the cerebellum and inner ear are interconnected, blockages can cause dizziness, hearing loss, and nausea simultaneously, which is often mistaken for sudden hearing loss or vestibular neuritis.

Beyond vertigo, this patient also exhibited trunk tilting while sitting, inability to point accurately with his hands, and slight facial numbness—all signs of central nervous system abnormalities. Further examination confirmed acute ischemia in his right cerebellum.

Dr. Li noted that when experiencing vertigo, many people first suspect inner ear disease, as this patient did. However, with preexisting conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes that were poorly controlled, he fell into the high-risk group for cerebrovascular disease. Therefore, sudden severe vertigo should not be dismissed as a common ear condition.

Fortunately, the patient received prompt treatment with antiplatelet medication and intravenous fluids, followed by physical rehabilitation. His condition improved significantly within weeks, his gait stabilized, and he returned to near-normal daily functioning.

Doctors further explained that most vertigo cases are non-serious and treatable with medication, vestibular rehabilitation, or inner ear repositioning maneuvers. However, some cases involve serious conditions like stroke or brain tumors, requiring detailed history-taking, neurological examination, and possibly CT scans or MRI for confirmation.

Dr. Li warned that if vertigo accompanies any of the following danger signs, immediate medical attention is crucial:

- Vertigo that does not improve or worsens progressively - Unsteady gait or weakness in one arm or leg - Double vision, blurred vision, or slurred speech - Severe headache, especially described as "the worst headache of my life" - Presence of cerebrovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or atrial fibrillation

Doctors emphasize that while vertigo does not always indicate serious illness, if symptoms persist and are accompanied by neurological abnormalities, patients should not delay seeking medical evaluation from a physician as soon as possible.