December 27, 2017

Labyrinthitis ~ a dizzy proposition

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I have been diagnosed with a condition called labyrinthitis! What is that? Well, to start, it involves neither a Minotaur nor David Bowie.    


vinyl LP album cover
photo by Styrous®


Labyrinthitis is an inner ear disorder. The two vestibular nerves in the inner ear send information to the brain about spatial navigation and balance control. When one of these nerves becomes inflamed, it creates a condition known as labyrinthitis.    




Otitis media and interna are Latin names for inflammation of the ear chambers located behind the tympanic membrane (ear drum) and involve about 50% of all cases of acute vestibular disease. The middle ear is the region located directly behind the tympanic membrane (eardrum). It is made of the different bones and nerves responsible for the diffusion of the sound coming from the outer ear to the brain. The middle ear is connected to the nasal cavity by the Eustachian tube, an opening that enables the adjustment of the air pressure inside the middle ear. It is responsible for balance.  




Symptoms include dizziness, nausea, and loss of hearing. Vertigo, another symptom, is a type of dizziness marked by the sensation of moving, even though there's no motion. It can interfere with driving, working, and other activities. Medications and self-help techniques can lessen the severity of  vertigo.

The vestibulo-ocular reflex is a reflex, where activation of the vestibular system causes eye movement. This reflex functions to stabilize images on the retinas (in yoked vision) during head movement by producing eye movements in the direction opposite to head movement, thus preserving the image on the center of the visual field(s).     




Push-pull system of the semicircular canals: for a horizontal head movement to the right, the result is a compensatory movement of the eyes.      

Several factors can cause this condition, including infections and viruses. Prompt treatment should be received for any ear infections, but there’s no known way to prevent labyrinthitis.     

The treatment for labyrinthitis usually involves using medications to control symptoms. Most people find relief from symptoms within one to three weeks and achieve full recovery in one to six months.



As long as the world is turning and spinning, 
we're gonna be dizzy and we're gonna make mistakes.
                        ~ Mel Brooks



Styrous® ~ Wednesday, December 27, 2017          



















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