What is otolith syndrome? Is there a stone in your ear? What abnormal manifestations will there be? Let's learn about this disease together.
What is otolith syndrome?
Otolith syndrome, also known as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), is the most common peripheral vestibular disorder. Manifested as a brief sensation of spinning and spinning induced by a specific head position change relative to the direction of gravity, which may be accompanied by autonomic symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, palpitations, and sweating. During the intermission period, there may be dizziness, head heaviness, floating sensation, and unstable balance.
How can otoliths cause dizziness?
First of all, let's understand what otoliths are. Otoliths are very small calcium carbonate crystals that adhere to the glial membrane on the surface of otoliths (elliptical and balloon sacs). They are completely different from "earwax" and cannot be seen or touched from outside the ear. They cannot be removed or dropped out. Otoliths can sense changes in gravity and acceleration, and are important organs in the human body that maintain balance, helping us stand, walk, run, and jump normally. Our ears have three semicircular canals filled with fluid. When some pathogenic factors cause the otolith to fall off, the otolith particles that originally adhered to the utricle fall into the semicircular canals. The fallen otolith moves in the canal with the change of head position, driving the fluid flow in the semicircular canals and causing dizziness. When the otolith reaches its lowest point under the action of gravity and stops moving, dizziness will quickly stop.
The mechanism and triggering factors of otolith detachment
1. Psychological factors such as fatigue, staying up late, high stress, mental tension, anxiety, etc.
2. The obstruction of peripheral blood circulation caused by hypertension and diabetes causes otolith ischemia.
During menopause, estrogen levels decrease, leading to calcium deficiency.
4. Aging of otoliths leads to degenerative changes in oval or balloon lesions.
5. Low serum vitamin D levels, osteoporosis, etc.
6. Secondary factors such as head trauma, severe head vibration, surgery, ear diseases (such as sudden deafness, vestibular neuritis, mastoiditis, otitis media, labyrinthitis, Meniere's disease, etc.) may cause secondary otolith detachment.
The clinical characteristics of otolith syndrome
1. Short term spinning dizziness, with a short onset time, generally not exceeding 5 minutes, and most cases lasting less than 1 minute. Repeatedly occurring several times a day, it can last for several days to weeks.
2、 Dizziness occurs when the head position changes, such as when lying down, getting up, turning over, or squatting with the head down. It does not occur when lying flat or sitting upright.
3、 Most patients experience dizziness related to their bed, occurring when they wake up, lie down, turn left or right while lying down.
Diagnosis and treatment of otolith syndrome
Once a patient turns over, lies down, wakes up, lowers their head, or looks up in bed and experiences dizziness, they need to go to the hospital for clinical diagnosis. Most otolith patients may slowly heal after onset. But if you want to achieve significant therapeutic effects in a short period of time, you need to undergo repositioning treatment. According to the type of otolith syndrome, corresponding reset operations are used to return the otolith to its original position, thereby improving or even eliminating the patient's dizziness symptoms. Reduction therapy can also be combined with medication, vestibular rehabilitation, and other methods to reduce dizziness and improve the patient's quality of life.
Otolith itself is not life-threatening. If vertigo suspects otolith, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible, complete relevant examinations to rule out other diseases, and receive professional treatment promptly after a clear diagnosis.