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Diseases
and disorders of the ears, nose, throat,
head, and neck negatively impact the lives
of millions around the world. Our health
information, created by our member
physicians, provides a basic overview of
diagnoses and treatment for many of these
conditions. |
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Vertigo/Dizziness
Feeling unsteady or dizzy can be
caused by many factors such as
poor circulation, inner ear
disease, medication usage,
injury, infection, allergies,
and/or neurological disease.
Dizziness is treatable, but it
is important for your doctor to
help you determine the cause so
that the correct treatment is
implemented.
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01. What is
Vertigo/Dizziness?
02. What is Meniere's Disease?
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01.
What is
Vertigo/Dizziness?
Vertigo occurs when there is conflict
between the signals sent to the brain by
various balance and position-sensing systems
of the body. Your brain uses input
from four sensory systems to maintain your
sense of balance and orientation to your
surroundings.
Vision
gives you information about your position
and motion in relationship to the rest of
the world. This is an important part
of the balance mechanism and often overrides
information from the other balance-sensing
systems.
Sensory
nerves in your joins allow your brain to
keep track of the position of your legs,
arms, and torso. Your body is then
automatically able to make tiny changes in
posture that help you maintain your balance
(proprioception)
Skin
pressure sensation gives you information
about your body's position and motion in
relationship to gravity.
A portion
of the inner ear, called the labyrinth,
which includes the semicircular canals,
contains specialized cells that detect
motion and changes in position, Injury to or
diseases of the inner ear can send false
signals to the brain indicating that the
balance mechanism of the inner ear
(labyrinth) detects motion, If these
false signals conflict from the other
balance and positioning centers of the body,
vertigo may occur.
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Common causes of
vertigo include: |
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Inner ear disorders,
such as benign
paroxysmal
positional vertigo
(BPPV), |
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Meniere's disease,
vestibular
neurities, or
labyrinthitis.
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Injury to the ear or
head. |
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Migraine headaches,
which are painful,
debilitating
headaches that often
occur |
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with vertigo,
nausea, vomiting,
and sensitivity to
light, noise, and
smell. |
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Decreased blood flow
through the arteries
that supply blood to
the base of the
brain
(vertebrobasilar
insufficiency) |
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Less common causes
of vertigo include: |
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A noncancerous
growth in the space
behind the eardrum
(cholesteatoma) |
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Brain tumors and
cancer that has
traveled from
another part of the
body (metastatic) |
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Immediate medical
attention is needed
if vertigo occurs
suddenly with loss
of function. Vertigo
that occurs with the
loss of function in
one area of the body
can mean a problem
in the brain, such
as a stoke or
transient ischemic
attack (TIA)
Alcohol and many
prescription and
nonprescription
medicines can cause
lightheadedness or
vertigo. These
problems may develop
from: |
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Taking to much of a
medicine
(overmedicating) |
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Alcohol and medicine
interactions. This
is a problem,
especially for older
adults, who may take
many medicines at
the same time.
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Misusing or abusing
a medicine or
alcohol |
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Drug intoxication or
the effects of
withdrawal. |
02. What is Meniere's
Disease?
Meniere's
disease, also called idiopathic
endolymphatic hydrops, is a disorder of the
inner ear. Although the cause is unknown, it
probably results from an abnormality in the
fluids of the inner ear. Meniere's disease
is one of the most common causes of
dizziness originating in the inner ear. In
most cases only one ear is involved, but
both ears may be affected in about 15% of
patients. Meniere's disease typically starts
between the ages of 20 and 50 years. Men and
women are affected in equal numbers.
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CapeCod-ent.com
Cape Cod Ear, Nose, & Throat Specialists. Head & Neck
Surgery, P.C.
65 Cedar Street, Hyannis, MA 02601
(508) 790-0611 |
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