Positional vertigo
It is the most frequent cause of vertigo caused by inner ear. It is believed to be a result of calcium and inner ear cells precipitation. The precipitates move with head movements and cause vertigo. It could be occured by itself or triggering events.
Vertigo is observed by head movements in this disease mostly related with nause with or without vomitting. There is no fullness and tinnitus in the ear. No hearing loss is observed.
To treat this problem we perform some maneuvers, drugs are not efficient.
Meniere’s disease
The problem of inner ear fluid pressure. The exact reason is not known.
Inner ear is related with hearing and balance. It is a capsule filled with liquid. Pressure of this liquid increases in Meniere’s disease. This pressure causes hearing loss, vertigo, tinnitus, fullness in the ear.
It is characterised with vertigo, changing in hearing, tinnitus. Nausea, vomitting, dizziness, sweating and diarrhea may accompany.
Attacks are mostly sudden onset and may continue from 20 minutes to 24 hours. The frequency of attacks differ.
Rarely vertigo can be seen alone. Also sometimes hearing loss, fullness and tinnitus can be seen without vertigo.
Meniere’s disease mostly effect one ear, 15 % both ears are effected.
Vestibular neuronitis
Balance part of nerves in the inner ear are swelled in this disease. Mostly they have an upper respiratoıry infection before onset of symptoms.
Sudden onset of vertigo, dizziness, nausea and vomitting is seen. Hearing is normal. Symptoms are intense at the beginnig, they become less time by time. This annoying feeling may continue as long as even one year.
Mostly drugs are used in teartment, by time as the disease gets better drugs are stopped.
Perilymph fistula
This disease occur because of sudden pressure changes like quick landing, diving, head trauma. Because of sudden pressure change, membrane between middle and inner ear ruptures and inner ear fluid comes out to middle ear.
Vertigo and dizziness occur with head movements. Hearing loss, fullness in the ear or tinnitus may accompany to the symptoms.
This perforation heals itself without any teratment. Rarely operation is needed.
Acoustic neuroma
It is a benign tumor of vestibular nerve. It grows very slowly therefore without any symptom it can stay silent many years.
We do not see vertigo because compensatory mechanims of the brain and the other ear. Dizziness is common. Tinnitus may be the other first symptom. If the tumor grows more, hearing part of the nerve can be effected so hearing difficulties may occur.
Diagnois is mostly with MR (magnetic resonance imaging).
Treatment is to take out the tumor.
Vertigo due to aging
With aging sudden movements cannot be compensated by ears, therefore dizziness and vertigo are common in old people.
Visual problems are added. Eye problems should be treated in aged people also.
Muscular reflexes are other causes of dizziness in old people. Diabetes, rheumatoid problems, nerve aging add extra problems.
Symptoms of vertigo related to aging:
- Dizziness and vertigo in sudden movements.
- Like a drunk while walking
How to decrease the symptoms?
No drugs but some advices.
- In the morning instead of getting up from the bed suddenly, sit a few minutes first.
- Move more slowly while turning, sometimes carry something that helps your balance.
- Hold something while looking up and down.
- Never walk in the dark, try to walk in well enlighted places.
- You may use cane.
- Take care of diabetes, hypertension, rheumatic diseases if present.