Vertigo Cures

Being dizzy is something that occurs to everyone at some point in life, in fact with some folks it happens way too much. Whether it is after a sick spell or maybe just due to high blood pressure being lightheaded and feeling like you are going to fall can have serious consequences. But with some people the dizzy spell is more of a spinning sensation like you are on an amusement ride that isn’t particularly fun and falling is a definite possibility. Then you may have the disease known as vertigo.

Surprisingly enough there are still some folks that aren’t quite sure what vertigo is. They remember a movie long ago and think that it may be about a fear of heights, it isn’t. Vertigo is an inner ear disorder which causes a sensation of spinning. The spinning can be so intense that it usually brings on nausea and vomiting.

What causes vertigo?

The majority of cases of vertigo are caused by BPPV or benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, a vestibular disorder. Particles in the inner ear are loosened causing incorrect signals to the brain about the state of your balance. Vertigo is sometimes brought on by fever, infections, illness or trauma to the head. It is also more common in older folks. Luckily there are things that can be done to treat this illness.

One corrective measure is with physical therapy. A technique called the canalith repositioning procedure is where the doctor or therapist moves the patient’s head dislodging the loose particles that are in the inner ear. This stops the erroneous balance signals to the brain.

There are other vestibular disorders that are similar to vertigo. One in particular has been getting more and more attention in the last few years and that is Meniere’s disease. One of the main symptoms of Meniere’s disease is vertigo which causes the person who has it to spin uncontrollably for varying lengths of time. Nausea and sweating also usually occur. Another similar aspect of meniere’s compared to vertigo is that the attacks come without any notice, which can be very dangerous.

But there are differences between Meniere’s and vertigo the biggest one being that vertigo can be cured with therapy whereas there is no cure for Meniere’s disease. Tinnitus, which is a ringing sound in the ear and hearing loss are also symptoms of meniere’s. There is a great deal of research going on to find a cure for this disorder. Right now the best defense against it is diet and avoiding alcohol and nicotine.

Medication can also be used in the treatment of vertigo such as meclizine and diazepam. (valium).

David Stillwagon writes about balance issues like vertigo disease

Learning More About Meniere’s Disease

Meniere’s disease refers to an endolymphatic hydrops or an inner ear problem that can impact one’s hearing and trigger vertigo. Named after the French physician Prosper Meniere (who was the first one to put forth the notion that vertigo is caused by ear problems), this illness is something that can be relative. Meaning, the severity of the disease varies a lot from person to person. Often times, though, the range of the disease is between the mildly irritating to the seriously debilitating.

Symptoms

Symptoms cover the following: rotary dizziness or vertigo – one that continues for quite a period of time and crops up every now and then, hearing loss – which can either happen in only one ear (unilateral) or in both ears (bilateral) and can also be either fluctuating or continuous, and tinnitus – the presence of sound in the air without an external source. Again, the symptoms of Meniere’s disease may differ according to every person, but nevertheless, their presence means that a trip to the otolaryngologist.

Treatment

Treatment for the disease primarily focuses on addressing the severity of the symptoms. However, when even that fails, permanent surgery is considered. That does not mean a lot of better things, though. The impossibility of hearing loss is never guaranteed when surgery is performed.

Prevention

However, prevention of the disease may be possible. To lessen your chances of acquiring the disease, a more careful attention to diet is recommended. A low-sodium diet is deemed the most effective in the prevention of the disease. Also, the consumption of substances like alcohol, caffeine and and tobacco is discouraged. To lessen the severity of the symptoms, drugs that target the pressure of the inner ear like steroids, diuretics and antihistamines are used.

Understanding How Meniere’s Syndrome Differs

Meniere’s syndrome, on the other hand, is basically the disease, with a slight difference. It also points to the development of endolymphatic hydrops. And, the same symptoms that present themselves to a person in the case of Meniere’s disease also manifest in a Meniere’s syndrome. In addition to that, the same preventive measures are undertaken in Meniere’s syndrome. The two seem too similar that a lot of people even interchange them. But, Meniere’s disease is actually not Meniere’s syndrome.

An inner ear problem that manifests itself in a vertigo, a tinnitus or in other inner ear issues relies a lot on whether the cause of the vertigo depends on a source that can be pinpointed. That means a lot, especially when one has to differentiate between the Meniere’s disease from the Meniere’s syndrome. And, the difference between Meniere’s disease from Meniere’s syndrome actually lies on the source of the vertigo associated with the disease. Meniere’s disease is idiopathic, while Meniere’s syndrome is not. In other words, the vertigo that comes from the former, is unknown while the vertigo that results from the Meniere’s syndrome, though, can be explained. And, more often than not, it is due to inner ear inflammation caused by syphilis, or a thyroid hormone disease.

Meniere’s disease is a condition characterized by sudden, sometimes severe attacks of vertigo, which is the sudden and unsteady sensation that you or your surroundings are moving or spinning. A Ménière’s episode generally involves severe vertigo (spinning), imbalance, nausea and vomiting. Following a severe attack, most people find that they are exhausted and must sleep for several hours. Some people experience brief “shocks”, and others have constant unsteadiness. These are attributed to sudden mechanical deformation of the otolith organs (utricle and saccule), causing a sudden activation of vestibular reflexes.

This is a very disabling symptom as it occurs without warning and can result in severe injury. Often destructive treatment (e.g. labyrinthectomy or vestibular nerve section ) is the only way to manage this problem. Ménière’s episodes may occur in clusters; that is, several attacks may occur within a short period of time. Between the acute attacks, most people are free of symptoms or note mild imbalance and tinnitus . In most cases, a progressive hearing loss occurs in the affected ear(s). Although an acute attack can be incapacitating, the disease itself is not fatal.

Causes of Meniere’s Disease

The common Causes of Meniere’s Disease:

The exact cause of Ménière syndrome is unknown. The current theory is that it is the response of the inner ear to injury.

A variety of disease processes can affect the vestibular and cochlear systems.

Part of the labyrinth ruptures, allowing fluid in different compartments to mix

Scar tissue causes a blockage in the labyrinth

Viral infection

Blood vessel problems

Medications, such as antibiotics and chemotheraypy agents

High cholesterol or other fats in the blood

Symptoms of Meniere’s Disease

Some of Meniere’s Disease:

Buzzing, ringing or roaring sound in the affected ear (tinnitus).

Noises or ringing in one ear (tinnitus)

Nausea, vomiting.

Sweating (may be profuse).

Uncontrollable eye movements.

Dizziness.

Hearing loss in one ear.

Treatment of Meniere’s Disease

Anti-vertigo medications, such as meclizine (Antivert), may combat the spinning sensation.

Drugs such as prochlorperazine (Compazine) can control nausea and vomiting.

Anti-anxiety medications, such as alprazolam (Xanax), may help relieve anxiety that can accompany a serious attack.

Avoid foods that are high in salt and high in sugar

Chocolate restriction.

Avoid medications that seem to bring on or worsen symptoms.

Bed rest during acute attacks of vertigo.

Consider getting exercise therapy to rehabilitate the inner ear.

Consider a hearing aid, if necessary.

Juliet Cohen writes articles on diseases and conditions and skin disorders. She also writes articles on herbal home remedies.