One of the common causes of blocked ears is associated with the formation of wax plugs. In this case, you need to rinse the ear canals with powerful pressure of a 0.9% salt solution or clean water. If congestion is accompanied by other symptoms (pain, discharge), you will need to consult a doctor.
In the maze
The vestibular apparatus is an organ of balance that determines the position of our body in space. It is located in the inner ear and has a rather complex structure, similar to a labyrinth, filled with liquid and lined with special cells - vestibular receptors, which are covered with a membrane. Otoliths, small calcium crystals, form on the surface of the membrane. Under certain circumstances, otoliths can “jump” over the natural protection and begin to move freely in the fluid of the inner ear. And then dizziness occurs.
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There is another theory according to which hormonal imbalances cause calcium metabolism disorders, and calcium carbonate crystals float freely in the fluid of the inner ear, causing anxiety to patients.
Experts call this type of vertigo “benign paroxysmal positional vertigo” (BPPV). The term BPPV ideally characterizes the disease itself: “benign” indicates the absence of health consequences and possible self-healing (over time, calcium particles can dissolve in the fluid of the inner ear or move into place - and the dizziness will disappear on its own), “paroxysmal” means that the symptoms are paroxysmal in nature, “positional” refers to the occurrence of dizziness when the position of the body or head, or more precisely, the vestibular apparatus in space, changes, and the word “dizziness” characterizes the main symptom of the disease.
What is the noise in your ears and why do you feel dizzy? More details
Why ears are blocked: reasons
Ears get clogged for a variety of reasons. Such a violation does not always indicate a disease, although sometimes it occurs due to inflammatory processes. Main reasons:
- Sulfur plug - tissues produce a special secretion that serves as a barrier to dust and water, preventing them from entering the internal channels. Gradually, the sulfur becomes denser, and if it is not removed in a timely manner, a traffic jam will occur. This will lead to temporary decrease or even loss of hearing.
- Hearing loss is a decrease in hearing (especially with age), which can lead to a false sensation of congestion.
- Entry of a foreign body into the ear canal.
- Tubootitis (eustachitis) is an inflammatory process that occurs in the Eustachian tube (the canal that connects the nasopharynx and middle ear). Often the disease develops against the background of improper treatment of a runny nose or nasal rinsing.
- Allergic reactions, especially during the season.
- Otitis – along with congestion, the disease is accompanied by acute pain.
- Other pathologies.
Like on a carousel
The most important symptom of BPPV is short (usually within 1 minute) rotational dizziness. It seems to a person that surrounding objects are spinning around him, sometimes nausea and vomiting occur.
Typically, dizziness with BPPV occurs when the position of the head in space changes (rising from a lying position, bending forward, turning in bed, throwing back the head).
The attack begins suddenly and has no warning signs. Therefore, it is impossible to prevent the first attack. However, if an episode of BPPV occurs, try to remember what preceded it. In the future, try to avoid movements that cause dizziness.
During an attack of BPPV, it is advisable to behave calmly, not lie down, but take an upright position. The attack will stop on its own: usually within a few seconds - 1 minute. After this, you need to consult a doctor to clarify the diagnosis.
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What folk remedies will help with dizziness?
Other reasons for this condition
There are times when a person does not have a serious illness, but the above-mentioned symptoms appear. The cause of dizziness and tinnitus can be pregnancy, the consequences of regular lack of sleep, stress, fear, as a result of which the blood vessels instantly and sharply narrow. Such unpleasant sensations are experienced by girls who adhere to grueling diets and practically do not eat carbohydrates and protein. If during pregnancy you experience temporary nausea, ear congestion or dizziness, this indicates vascular disorders in the body.
It is very important to promptly tell your doctor about all the sensations and symptoms, who will prescribe medications for pregnant women or medications necessary to restore the body after suffering stress and strain.
Dizziness that is actually caused by stressful situations should gradually go away, but if symptoms return when unpleasant stories are mentioned, then you need to consult a neurologist or psychotherapist. In this situation, you may need sedatives or tranquilizers. With a constant lack of sleep, the symptoms of dizziness are quite understandable. Patients complain of constant headaches and attribute their condition to pressure surges. In fact, you just need to have a good rest, sleep and normalize your daily routine. In such situations, you should not make excuses for constant work or household responsibilities, since it is very easy to bring the body to the point of exhaustion, but it is extremely difficult to bring it out of this state.
How will we treat?
If you suspect BPPV, it is best to consult an otoneurologist. These doctors have special techniques for identifying the disease and can conduct a competent examination by doing provocative tests for BPPV. During them, the doctor changes the position of the patient’s body in a special way to understand whether any movements cause an attack of dizziness.
In some cases, if the doctor has the appropriate skills, such tests can be performed by an ENT specialist, neurologist, general practitioner or therapist.
Treatment for BPPV consists of so-called therapeutic and rehabilitation maneuvers. As with provocative tests, the doctor moves the patient’s head, but at the same time has a different goal - not to provoke an attack, but to return the calcium crystals to their place.
Subsequently, such exercises can be performed by the patient himself, but this can only be done after consultation with a specialist, because the technique and frequency of repetitions is determined based on the situation of this particular patient.
But drug support for BPPV, as a rule, is not required. In extremely severe situations, surgical treatment is possible, but this is extremely rarely required!
Vestibular gymnastics. How to cope with dizziness Read more
Treatment of dizziness and noise in the head
The main principle of treatment for dizziness and noise in the head is its cause and mechanism of development. Therapy should be aimed at relieving the patient of the symptoms of the disease.
Drug therapy
If the patient has dyscirculatory encephalopathy, drugs are prescribed that normalize cerebral perfusion through an effect on the cardiovascular system. These are diuretics, beta blockers and vascular agents, as well as neurometabolites.
If symptoms occur due to high blood pressure, the doctor will prescribe antihypertensive drugs that control blood pressure levels and keep them within normal ranges. In this case, beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, calcium channel antagonists and diuretics help well.
For cerebrovascular disorders, nootropics, vasodilators, antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants are prescribed.
Kazieva Aminat Ziyavovna
Neurologist
Rostov State Medical University
Experience since 2012
After suffering injuries, to alleviate the condition, patients are recommended to limit physical activity and emotional stress, as well as symptomatic therapy to alleviate the patient’s condition. For this purpose, painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs from the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed during periods of deterioration in health.
If the disorder occurs due to a functional cause, such as a tumor, then prompt surgical intervention is necessary.
If a patient has a migraine, the doctor should prescribe preventative treatment to prevent relapses of attacks, as well as medications to stop new episodes of migraine.
To correct anemia and its consequences, a specialist prescribes iron-based antianemic drugs, which can quickly increase the level of hemoglobin in the blood and relieve the symptoms that arise.
During menopause in women, the symptoms of menopause are corrected by menopausal hormone therapy.
Before a long trip in transport, you need to take special anti-motion sickness medications.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapeutic procedures help, in addition to drug treatment, to get rid of the disease. The most common in treatment:
- Magnetotherapy.
- Laser therapy.
- Massage and physical therapy.
- Healthy swimming.
- Acupuncture.
With systematic, course use of these therapeutic methods, there is a decrease in the symptoms of the disease and their complete disappearance.
Nutrition
An important aspect in monitoring your health and well-being is your diet. A balanced diet rich in vitamins, micro and macroelements allows you to maintain normal blood counts, weight and nutrient levels in the body. Excluding easily digestible carbohydrates, sugar, fatty and fried foods from your daily diet will help avoid cardiovascular diseases, which lead to a systematic increase in blood pressure, as well as type II diabetes and surges in sugar levels.
Kazieva Aminat Ziyavovna
Neurologist
Rostov State Medical University
Experience since 2012
It is equally important to comply with the daily calorie intake, as well as proteins, fats and carbohydrates in the diet. Daily caloric intake is calculated based on a person’s weight and energy expenditure. With a calorie deficit and abuse of fasting and diets, the body experiences stress, which is accompanied by poor health.
Usual life
Having once experienced an attack of BPPV, many patients are afraid that it will happen again and create a whole series of artificial restrictions for themselves.
This is absolutely not required. After getting rid of BPPV, you can fly on an airplane, dive, drive, and go to work. By the way, the influence of occupational hazards on the occurrence of BPPV has not been established.
Some patients, on the contrary, try to train the vestibular apparatus with exercises such as bending and rotating the head (on the Internet such gymnastics are often recommended for the prevention of seasickness). But, unfortunately, no training can prevent the occurrence of BPPV, and the tendency to motion sickness in transport is in no way related to this disease. BPPV is a rare case where there are no specific preventive measures. Unless you're spinning around in your office chair!
