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Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common form of vertigo.
The condition is characterized by brief episodes of intense dizziness associated with a change in the position of your head. It may occur when you move your head in a certain direction, lie down from an upright position, turn over in bed or sit up in the morning. Moving your head to look up also can bring about an episode of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.
The signs and symptoms of BPPV can come and go, with episodes commonly lasting less than one minute.
To help relieve BPPV, your doctor may treat you with a series of movements known as the canalith repositioning procedure. It may be necessary to repeat the procedure several times. Your doctor also may show you some therapeutic exercises that you can perform at home.
Ringing ears (Tinnitus)
Tinnitus means that someones feels sound in his or her ears without any real sound around.
Most tinnitus comes from damage to the microscopic endings of the hearing nerve in the inner ear. If you are older, advancing age is generally accompanied by a certain amount of hearing nerve impairment and tinnitus. If you are younger, exposure to loud noise is probably the leading cause of tinnitus, and often damages hearing as well.
A small plug of wax in the ear canal might cause temporary tinnitus. Tinnitus can also be one of the symptoms of stiffening of the middle ear bones (otosclerosis). Other causes are allergy, high or low blood pressure, a tumor, diabetes, thyroid problems, injury to the head or neck, and medications such as anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, sedatives, antidepressants, and aspirin.
Your doctor may obtain X-rays, hearing loss, balance tests, and laboratory work to evaluate your tinnitus. However, most causes cannot be identified. Occasionally, medicine may help the noise.
Concentration and relaxation exercises can help to control muscle groups and circulation throughout the body. The increased relaxation and circulation achieved by these exercises can reduce the intensity of tinnitus in some patients.
Tinnitus is usually more bothersome in quiet surroundings. A competing sound at a constant low level, such as a ticking clock or radio static (white noise), may mask the tinnitus and make it less noticeable.
If you have a hearing loss, a hearing aid(s) may reduce head noise while your are wearing it and sometimes cause it to go away temporarily. |
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