Essay On Vertigo

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The most common vertigo condition is Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) (Dispenza & De Stefano 2013, p. 134; Liu 2012, p. 803; Mayo Clinic 2012a), sometimes referred to as benign postural vertigo, positional vertigo, or top shelf vertigo, as the patient will often experience dizziness when looking up (Better Health Channel 2011; The Royal Victorian Eye & Ear Hospital 2011). As the disease is benign, often with spontaneous recovery, doctors will often withhold referring patients to an otologist (Dispenza & De Stefano 2013, p. 134).
BPPV causes brief, but often intense, periods of dizziness when the patient moves their head (Better Health Channel 2011; Dispenza & De Stefano 2013, p. 134; Mayo Clinic 2012b; The Royal Victorian Eye & Ear Hospital 2011), with attacks usually lasting up to thirty seconds (Better Health Channel 2011; Liu 2012, p. 803). Other symptoms may include nausea and vomiting, blurred vision and uncontrollable eye movements or flickering, known as nystagmus (Better Health Channel 2011; Mayo Clinic 2012b; The Royal Victorian Eye & Ear Hospital 2011).
BPPV affects the vestibular apparatus, or inner ear; specifically the hair cells responsible for the detection of head movement. The cause of these symptoms is due to otoconia dislodging, moving into one or more of the semicircular canals within the inner ear (Liu 2012, p. 803; The Royal Victorian Eye & Ear Hospital 2011). Otoconia refers to calcium carbonate crystals that are normally in the saccule and utricle of the ear, and are responsible for stimulating the hair cells during head movements (Miriam-Webster Incorporated 2014). When these crystals move into the semicircular canals, a false sense of motion occurs due to the disruption of fl...

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... with the high success rate of clinical treatment for BPPV, there is still a 15% chance of the condition recurring especially if associated to trauma. Ongoing counselling to prepare patients will reduce anxiety, and help them to adjust their lifestyle accordingly (Bhattacharyya et al. 2008, p. 74).
For patients with no musculoskeletal contraindications, vestibular rehabilitation therapy may be prescribed. This will include a series of head movement exercises to address the dizziness; these help the patient adapt through continued exposure to the stimulus. Physical therapists may also prescribe balance retraining exercises to restore balance, strength and coordination. Therapy usually continues for up to six weeks and includes exercises for the patient to complete at home to aid rehabilitation (Vestibular Disorders Association 2013, p. 5).

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