Drop Attacks: Causes & Reasons

Possible Causes for Drop Attacks

Observation suggests that drop attacks tend to be experienced in the later stages of Meniere’s and don’t affect everyone. [american-hearing.org]

attacks, constant sense of imbalance Dizziness or hearing loss can predominate in Ménière's disease. [sunnybrook.ca]

This is because you may have sudden attacks of vertigo, or even drop attacks, with little warning. [patient.info]

Carotid Sinus Syncope

Syncope Deglutitional Syncopes Drop Attack Drop Attacks Effort Syncope Effort Syncopes Episode, Syncopal Fainting Hyperventilation Syncope Hyperventilation Syncopes Micturition [decs.bvs.br]

These falls/attacks are called cryptogenic drop attacks. References:[5][12] The differential diagnoses listed here are not exhaustive. [amboss.com]

Drop attacks in older adults: systematic assessment has a high diagnostic yield. [ahajournals.org]

Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency

It is sometimes known as beauty salon or Golden Gate Bridge syndrome, due to the effect of tilting the head back, causing vertigo or drop attacks. [almulcahy.com.au]

[…] symptoms (diplopia, bilateral visual loss, drop attacks, etc). [accesssurgery.mhmedical.com]

Symptoms may include, but not be limited to: dysarthria; headache; paresis of one or more of the extremities; blurred vision; and the "drop attack." [forum.newhob.com]

Myoclonic-Astatic Epilepsy

OBJECTIVES: We studied epileptic drop attacks (EDA) in symptomatic epilepsy of early childhood by means of video-polygraphic recordings and compared clinico-electrical differences [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

In the myoclonic atonic seizure, patients showed brief myoclonic flexor spasms, immediately followed by atonic falling. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

[…] my·o·clon·ic a·stat·ic ep·i·lep·sy a petit mal variant characterized by atonic (drop attacks) and tonic or tonic-clonic attacks in neurologically disabled for example, hemiplegic [medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com]

Syncope

These falls/attacks are called cryptogenic drop attacks. References:[5][12] The differential diagnoses listed here are not exhaustive. [amboss.com]

Autonomic failure 8.1.2 Epilepsy and ictal asystole 8.1.3 Cerebrovascular disorders 8.1.4 Migraine 8.1.5 Cataplexy 8.1.6 Drop attacks 8.2 Neurological tests 8.2.1 Electroencephalography [escardio.org]

(e.g., double images, dysarthria) Duplex ultrasound of the carotid and subclavian arteries showing stenosis Vertebrobasilar insufficiency “Drop attacks” can be seen with [amboss.com]

Subclavian Steal Syndrome

The symptoms from the compromised vertebrobasilar and brachial blood flows constitute the subclavian steal syndrome (SSS), and include paroxysmal vertigo, drop attacks and [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

[…] symptoms (diplopia, bilateral visual loss, drop attacks, etc). [accesssurgery.mhmedical.com]

Drop attacks (syncope) - fall to the ground without warning, ± temporary loss of consciousness with immediate recovery. [patient.info]

Adams-Stokes Syndrome

Drop attacks. Transient ischemic attack (TIA or mini stroke). Syncope due to hypovolemia. Treatment Reversible causes such as drug toxicity should be addressed. [cardiachealth.org]

System(s) affected: cardiovascular, nervous Synonym(s): drop attacks; Morgagni, Morgagni-Adams-Stokes; Spens syndrome Epidemiology Incidence Incidence rate of 5–10% for those [unboundmedicine.com]

Drop attacks. Transient ischaemic attack. Syncope due to hypoperfusion - eg, due to hypovolaemia. [patient.info]

Cataplexy

His recently developed "drop attacks" on laughter were recognized as cataplexy and led to the diagnosis of Niemann-Pick type C disease. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

A 9-year-old boy was admitted for assessments of frequent "drop attacks" while laughing. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Cataplexy mimics include syncope, epilepsy, hyperekplexia, drop attacks and pseudocataplexy. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Micturition Syncope

These falls/attacks are called cryptogenic drop attacks. References:[5][12] The differential diagnoses listed here are not exhaustive. [amboss.com]

Cerebrovascular disease is an uncommon cause of syncope, In patients with vertebrobasilar transient ischemic attacks or subclavian steal syndrome, syncope and drop attacks [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

(e.g., double images, dysarthria) Duplex ultrasound of the carotid and subclavian arteries showing stenosis Vertebrobasilar insufficiency “Drop attacks” can be seen with [amboss.com]

Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome

Ninety-eight patients >1 year to <30 years of age, with slow spike-and-wave patterns on EEG, seizure types including drop attacks, and either a history of or active atypical [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Tonic, myoclonic, or atonic seizures can lead to sudden falls (drop attacks). [orpha.net]

[…] to 49% reduction in atonic seizures, 16 participants had 0% to 24% reduction in atonic seizures and one participant had an increase in their total number of atonic seizures [doi.org]

Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsy

This case study highlights the need to consider psychological factors when evaluating otherwise unexplained drop attacks. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Patient: This 15-year-old, mentally retarded girl developed drop attacks at the age of 3.25 years, later clonic and clonic-tonic, as well as myoclonic seizures. [thieme-connect.com]

There may be different types of seizures with common occurrence of astatic seizures (drop attacks), tonic seizures, tonic-clonic seizures, atypical absence seizures and complex [news-medical.net]

Vasovagal Syncope

These falls/attacks are called cryptogenic drop attacks. References:[5][12] The differential diagnoses listed here are not exhaustive. [amboss.com]

[…] tool=bestpractice.com It has many causes, and is distinct from vertigo, seizures, coma, falls, psychogenic pseudosyncope, drop attacks, transient ischaemic attacks, and states [bestpractice.bmj.com]

Absence Seizure

Seizures or Drop Attacks brief seizures, short duration cause an unexpected and rapid fall to the ground can result from tonic (stiffening) or atonic (sudden loss of tone [thebarrow.org]

Atonic (also called a drop attack) : Atonic seizures cause loss of muscle tone. In fact, Atonic literally means “without tone” so the muscles become weak. [efepa.org]

Atonic (also called drop attacks). [stanfordchildrens.org]

Narcolepsy

Case 2 was an 11-year-old girl presenting with recurrent episodes of myoclonic attacks simultaneously with dropping objects immediately after hearty laughs, in addition to [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

attacks). [americanaddictioncenters.org]

"Drop attacks" are a sudden and complete loss of movement. [reddit.com]

Epilepsy

Lennox-Gestaut syndrome or other epilepsies with drop attacks. Epilepsies where the seizure focus is in an area essential for function. [neurosurgery.ucla.edu]

Atonic seizures, also known as drop attacks, drop seizures or akinetic epileptic drop attacks, may involve a sudden loss of muscle tone, a head drop or leg weakening. [uchospitals.edu]

Sixty percent of patients can eliminate these drop attacks by having certain connections between the two sides of the brain severed (a corpus callosum resection), but this [neurosurgery.ucla.edu]

Narcolepsy-Cataplexy Syndrome

Cataplexy - may mimic drop attacks, syncope, seizures/epilepsy, transient ischaemic attack, periodic paralysis (channelopathies), psychiatric disorder, or cataplectic-like [patient.info]

This is a simple test that differentiates cataplexy from other drop-attacks. [scholarpedia.org]

In other typical cataplectic attacks the head may drop or the jaw may become slack. [evelinalondon.nhs.uk]

Orthostatic Hypotension

OH is defined specifically as a 20mmHg drop in systolic, and/or a 10mmHg drop in diastolic BP within 3 min of standing. [clinicaltrials.gov]

Heart attacks and heart failure may put you at risk. [13] Irregular heart rhythms can cause this drop in blood pressure, as can valve disease. 7 Decide if your medication [wikihow.com]

Postprandial hypotension is a sudden drop in blood pressure after a meal. [nhlbi.nih.gov]

Migraine

In previous studies, researchers found that during migraine attacks, levels of CGRP tend to rise in the blood, and drop after the attack resolves. [time.com]

The serotonin level drops during migraine attacks. [marham.pk]

Serotonin levels drop during migraine attacks. [mayoclinic.org]

Sick Sinus Syndrome

Drop attacks (Tumarkin’s otholic crisis) Drop attacks, known as Tumarkin’s otolithic crisis, are when a person falls to the ground with no warning. [menieres.org.uk]

A drop attack feels as if you are being pushed violently and suddenly, causing you to fall. [menieres.org.uk]

Hearing loss Tinnitus Fullness of the ear Sensitivity to noise Headaches Eye symptoms Drop attacks (Tumarkin’s otholic crisis) Hearing loss Some vestibular disorders have [menieres.org.uk]

Cardiac Arrhythmia

When you have this kind of arrhythmia, your ventricles can’t pump blood into your body, and your heart rate drops quickly. [healthline.com]

These erratic electrical impulses, sometimes triggered by a heart attack, cause your heart’s ventricles to quiver (fibrillate). [healthline.com]

Shy-Drager Syndrome

However, close to one-third of patients (often elderly) experience little, if any, prodrome and report a sudden loss of consciousness (drop attack). [thoracickey.com]

attacks” that occur with little warning. [ahajournals.org]

In dysautonomic syncope, the decrease in blood pressure tends to be slow and may not be perceived, resulting in a “drop attack” with little or no warning, particularly in [thoracickey.com]

Autonomic Dysreflexia

Contenuti: Diagnosis of neurological disease -- Episodic impairment of consciousness -- Falls and drop attacks -- Delirium -- Stupor and coma -- Brain death, vegetative state [worldcat.org]

If blood pressure falls precipitously, syncope may occur rapidly, as in a drop attack. This may result in injury. [jnnp.bmj.com]

Third Degree Atrioventricular Block

There is a low risk of a Mobitz I AV block leading to heart attack and complete heart block.[5] Mobitz II[edit] Mobitz II is caused by a sudden, unexpected failure of the [wikipredia.net]

On ECG, this is defined by progressive prolongation of the PR interval, with a resulting dropped beat (the PR interval gets longer and longer until a beat is finally dropped [wikipredia.net]

Cerebral Arteriosclerosis

seizure (drop attack) generalized seizure characterized by sudden loss of muscle tone and strength; may cause the head to drop suddenly, objects to fall from the hands, or [strokecenter.org]

[…] reaction) ataxia incoordination of movement usually due to disease of cerebellar or sensory pathways athetosis involuntary, slow, writhing movements atonia loss of muscle tone atonic [strokecenter.org]

Seizure

seizures (also called drop attacks) Absence Seizures (Petit Mal Seizures) brief, short duration staring spells with no motor movements are key feature usually shorter than [barrowneuro.org]

(also known as drop attacks) clonic seizures tonic seizures myoclonic seizures Additional Seizure TypesExpand Additional Seizure Types Section Infantile Spasms Infantile [epilepsyontario.org]

Febrile Seizures

They may include febrile seizures (febrile convulsions); febrile seizures plus; tonic-clonic seizures; absence seizures; myoclonic seizures; atonic seizures (drop attacks) [epilepsy.org.uk]

Aortic Valve Stenosis

Aortic stenosis is a progressive valvular disease, resulting in obstruction of blood flow through the aortic valve. One of the most prevalent heart diseases in the Western world, aortic stenosis is attributed to degenerative calcification of the valvular leaflets in senior patients. However, in the younger population,[…] [symptoma.com]

Epilepsy with Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures

(also known as drop attacks) clonic seizures tonic seizures myoclonic seizures Additional Seizure TypesExpand Additional Seizure Types Section Infantile Spasms Infantile [epilepsyontario.org]

Behaviors that may be telling you about seizures include: Abnormal movements Drop attacks--sudden weakness, falling, head suddenly drops Making faces, laughing, shouting Eyes [uichildrens.org]

Atonic seizures are also known as drop attacks where the body suddenly loses tone, goes limp and falls to the ground. [epilepsy.ie]

Aortic Valve Insufficiency

Image : “Myxomatous aortic valve” by Nephron, MD. License: CC BY-SA 3.0 Definition of Aortic Insufficiency A frequent cause of aortic valve insufficiency is bacterial endocarditis but even congenital diseases or congenital defects can cause this disorder, which can remain asymptomatic in its chronic course and have,[…] [lecturio.com]

Lermoyez Syndrome

RISK OF STROKE OR DEATH IN PERSONS WITH DROP ATTACKS The stroke rate in persons with drop attacks is 0.5%/year. [dizziness-and-balance.com]

The type of vertigo was usually rotating, often with unsteadiness and in 3 patients dropping attacks were sometimes observed. [unboundmedicine.com]

CAUSES OF DROP ATTACKS In most instances (64%), the cause of the drop attack is never definitively established (Meissner et al, 1986). [dizziness-and-balance.com]