What You Need to Know About Otosclerosis
There is much more to see inside your ears than what appears only on the outside of the head. Normally, we only see the outer ear which basically comprises only of some skin and muscle structure. What we don’t notice is the complex yet sensitive entities that comprise our middle and inner ear. The middle ear in particular is primarily responsible for transferring sound from air waves to fluid–membrane waves within the cochlea or the sensory organ for hearing. But just like the inner which is vulnerable to Tinnitus and other ear disease, the middle ear is also susceptible to an ear-related disorder that produces abnormal growth of bone structure within the middle ear. Otosclerosis is widely considered a genetically-triggered bone disease that surprisingly affects only the middle part of the ear. Because of the abnormal presence of bone structures within the ear passageways, an individual may suffer from hearing problems or worst, may permanently lose their sense of hearing.
The Cause
Despite efforts by the medical community to obtain helpful and useful data to fight the disease, the real cause remains a mystery. However, there are a number of risk factors that are taught to influence the propagation of this disease. According to experts, Otoscleroris is a hereditary disease and can be passed on from one family member to the other. In order to determine who’s at risk from a particular family, experts turn to the family’s genes to get some answers. Some other factors taught to trigger the disorder are gender and pregnancy. Based on a worldwide research conducted by medical experts, they were able to conclude that middle-aged women were the most vulnerable to the disease. They explained that certain hormones that are active during pregnancy may trigger a chain reaction that will ultimately lead to the disease.
The Common Symptoms
The disease affects both ears but initially starts at either one. The most common symptom is the depreciation of the sense of hearing. The hearing loss may start gradually but will eventually worsen as days pass by. The patient will instantly notice that he/she is not anymore able to hear low-pitched sounds and even direct whispers to the ear. One determining factor also is by placing the patient at a loud and noisy environment. The patient’s hearing condition will significantly improve with the presence of external noise. In some rare cases, the patient may also hear some wild ringing in his/her ears. This is caused by Tinnitus which synergizes with the disease and become more of a hindrance to the patient. Duration the duration of the sickness, the patient may encounter some recurring periods of mild dizziness and nausea.
Diagnosis
It is good to know that doctors are now better equipped in diagnosing this disease. Traditionally, the illness was only diagnosed through clinical findings and identifying its symptoms. Today, with the rapid advancements in technology, specialized medical machines can now easily detect the presence of the abnormal bone structure within the middle ear. A patient can undergo a high resolution CT scan in order to determine the extent of damage that was incurred by the cochlear nerve. A grading system is then used measure the damage and come up with an effective cure. An audiologist can also be hired to check the degree of hearing sensitivity of the patient. An audiogram and a tympanogram are effective tools to conduct hearing tests.
Treatment
Treating the disease may vary from one patient to the other. In mild cases, hearing aids can be used to help improve the patient’s sense of hearing. Medications and supplements that contain fluoride, calcium and vitamin D are also believed to effectively stop the disease from worsening. However, you still need to consult with your doctor to avoid any side effects. In serious cases, the doctor may recommend surgery. The procedure will involve removing the affected stapes and replacing them with artificial ones. Because surgery is a delicate and risky process, patients should make it a point to consult with a certified otolaryngologist. Getting second opinion from other medical practitioners can also help you getting other options. After a successful surgery, it is very important to protect the ears from strong winds and loud noises.
If you think you have the disease, consult with your doctor immediately. Because the progression of sickness is very much unpredictable, it may take only before your middle ear suffers from severe damage brought by the disease. As time passes, more damage is also being dealt into your ears. In seeking help, try and find the one that specializes in ear, nose and throat diseases. They are more capable of providing a more accurate and informative diagnosis of your condition. Otoscleroris is not just a simple ear problem that will immediately go away. Through early detection and prognosis, you can prevent the worst from ever happening.
Identify the Causes of Ringing in Ears
Tinnitus is not a rare ear condition. As a matter of fact, in America alone, there are 50 million documented cases of tinnitus. It is actually characterized by a nonstop noise in one or both ears that may sound like a ringing, clicking, buzzing, chirping, hissing, thumping, whooshing or roaring. It is important to take note that although tinnitus does not exactly have a cure, there are several things that you can do to avoid what can cause it. Knowing what causes tinnitus will give you a much better idea of how you can protect yourself from it. Below are some of the diseases that can trigger or cause tinnitus:
1. Hearing loss – it is dubbed as a condition for the older people but it can affect even the younger persons. The common cause for this ear condition is the overexposure and sudden exposure to loud or high levels of noises.
2. Stress – this is basically a normal reaction towards the different things that happen to our daily lives. What is not normal is when we become too stressed and when this feeling goes on for a much longer period of time. Remember that stress can bring about various kinds of diseases including tinnitus.
3. Meniere’s Disease – this is an inner ear condition that usually affects our hearing and balance. Aside from tinnitus, it can also cause hearing loss, headaches and vertigo.
4. Ear infection – this basically happens when bacteria enters our ears. One of the causes of ear infections is when water gets lodged in the ears.
These are just some of the diseases that can result to tinnitus. You can always try a new tinnitus treatment but you have to keep in mind that prevention is always better than cure.
Some Tips on Taking Care of your Inner Ear
When it comes to taking care of our bodies, most of us focus more on eating nutritional food, brushing our teeth after every meal, doing some exercise during our free time, taking a bath each day and maintaining a good hygiene. And while all these habits are very beneficial to one’s physical health and well-being, we sometimes overlook and forget an important bodily organ that enables us to hear all the different sounds within our surroundings. The inner ear is one of the most neglected organs of our body and is often given less importance. It is only when a person contracts ear-related diseases or has completely lost his/her sense of hearing that he/she will finally realize the true value of this bodily entity. Not known by many individuals, there are quite a number of ways to help preserve your sense of hearing and ultimately protect your ears from any form of sickness.
1 – Avoid Loud Noise
Maintaining your ear’s health is just a matter of tweaking your daily habits. And one of the things that you should really put importance on is avoiding loud and intolerable noises anywhere you go. The inner part of our ears is filled with tiny hair cells called Cochlea that capture sound waves and pass them to the brain for interpretation. When loud noise enters the ear canal, it can cause significant damage to these hair cells which then results to hearing problems. If you love to listen to music through the radio or your mp3 player, try to regulate the volume to a more comfortable level or lower it if it’s too loud. For professionals who ply the streets each day to go to work and are exposed different levels of noise pollution brought mostly by cars, it might be suitable to wear specialized ear protectors and ear plugs.
2 – Always Clean your Ears
Just like any other part of your body, ours ears can also accumulate dirt over time and should be immediately cleaned to avoid any forms of infection. While most people use cotton buds or cotton swabs to clean their ears, it is highly discouraged to insert any foreign objects into the inner ear as it may cause some accidental scratches in its walls. It too may push ear wax further inside your ears creating an obstruction that blocks sound from passing normally. When this happens, you can expect to suffer from hearing problems. To safely clean the ear, use a damp cloth to clean only your outer ear. You can also use warm water to remove excessive ear wax buildup. In certain circumstances, trained doctors can also administer professional ear cleaning services though they might cost more than the usual methods.
3 – Strengthen your Immune System
Did you know that your immune system is your primary defense against the different viruses and bacteria’s that threaten your very existence? As much as possible, try to include vegetables and fruits in your diet as they contain all the vitamins and minerals needed to boost your immune system. Garlic, ginger and raw pineapples are rich in essential minerals that help empower the body to combat various diseases. Protein-rich foods such as eggs, chicken and fish are also a big help to the overall protection of the body. Having a strong immune system will significantly lessen the chance of you getting ear problems and diseases. It can also lessen the impact of hearing loss due to aging.
4 – Rest your Ears
Our ears are one of the most utilized parts of our body. Whatever we do and wherever we go, we always use our ears in almost every situation we are in. It also helps to give our ears a break by simply going to places where noise is minimal or almost non-existent such as in parks and private resorts. By doing so, you give your ears a chance to recover from the different stresses caused by a loud and noisy environment. You can also pamper yourself by receiving a nice and relaxing body massage. Sleeping during your free time is also a good option.
5 – Be Aware of Certain Medicinal Side Effects
When a doctor prescribes you a certain medication, always make it a point to ask about its side effects. There are certain medicines that may trigger allergic reactions which could ultimately lead to different illnesses of the ears. If you encounter some abnormal behavior in your ears such as hearing some wild ringing sounds after you have taken a medicinal drug, consult with your doctor immediately. While allergic reactions are only temporary, they too can cause significant damage to your ears if not attended in the earliest time.
You should really consider yourself lucky for having a pair of healthy ears that enable you to hear and appreciate the enchanting beauty of sound. By following some simple yet helpful tips, you can effectively protect your inner ear from harm brought by different diseases and illnesses. And while hearing problems can’t really be fully avoided, you can at least significantly minimize its effects.
Getting To Know Menieres Disease
When it comes to taking care of our body, we should always make it a point to put importance into our ears. Otherwise, we won’t be able to hear and interpret sound the way it normally should be. Keeping our ears healthy is also the same as preserving our sense of hearing and maintaining the body’s equilibrium to efficiently function as a whole. Just like our other body parts, our ears are also vulnerable to different diseases that may put our sense of hearing at a greater risk. These diseases are usually not life threatening though they still bring symptoms that can greatly affect your day to day life. Tinnitus is one condition wherein our ears continuously receive phantom sounds that usually depict an underlying problem. But aside from Tinnitus, there is another disease that brings far severe consequences to the sufferer. The medical condition is called “Menieres Disease” and is considered a primary culprit for many hearing loss cases.
The Background
The Menieres Disease was first discovered in the year 1861 by a French physician named Prosper Ménière. In an article he published during that year, he first mentioned that the medical condition termed “vertigo” was primarily caused by problems of the inner ear. The disease is generally recognized by the occurrence of both vertigo and tinnitus. The sufferer will also encounter progressive hearing loss in one ear but may also occur in both ears. In addition to hearing loss, the sufferer may also hear various sounds in a distorted and abnormal manner. It is helpful to know that this disorder affects people differently depending on the severity of the symptoms. One may develop mild or partial hearing problems while others can suffer from permanent hearing impairment. Regardless of your case, it is important to find solution in the least time possible.
The Symptoms
Because there are quite a number of symptoms that are directly associated with the sickness, a person’s case may be different from the other. The most common symptoms associated with the disease are periodic headaches, nausea, and dizziness, a fullness sensation in one of the ears, continuous ringing inside the ears and various hearing problems. One of the most destructive consequences of having to suffer the disease is the occurrence of vertigo. It is characterized by a form of dizziness wherein a person who is in a stationary position is feeling constant motion. It is as if their surroundings are continuously spinning even if they are not moving. As an effect, the sufferer will experience difficulties in standing or walking and may ultimately result to severe motion sickness. The sufferer may also develop another abnormal medical condition called “nystagmus” wherein the eyes rapidly point to one side and then go back to their original position after.
The Causes
Although the disease has existed for several centuries and has already infected countless individuals all throughout the world, it still remains a complex puzzle for the medical community to ultimately solve. Just as its symptoms, the disease has also numerous probable causes that make it hard for doctors to consider a general diagnosis. A lot of medical practitioners accept the idea that certain abnormalities in the flow of fluids inside the inner ear are the main cause of the disease. When a certain enzyme is lacking from a particular ear due to an illness or disease, certain abnormalities will suddenly surface triggering a new disease. But aside from that, they also do not discount the possibility of various viral and respiratory illnesses as the culprit for such an abnormal condition. The usage of non-prescription drugs is also seen as a culprit.
The Cure
One of the most effective ways in treating the disease is by regulating the different fluids within the body. This is done by implementing dietary changes to the patient. A salt-free diet may help in reducing unnecessary fluids from entering the body. Depending on circumstances, medicine and supplements may also help in reducing the effects of the symptoms. Protein supplements can empower the body to fight off the disease and speed up recovery. If a patient suffers from continuous vomiting, rehydration methods should be administered immediately. In recent time, homeopathic remedies are also seen as an effective cure to the disease. Unlike modern medicine which are backed by scientific findings, homeopathic medicines are only composed of natural ingredients such as herbs and are based on local medical beliefs that are handed down from generation to generation.
Menieres Disease is considered a chronic disease and its effects can last a lifetime. If you continue to ignore its symptoms today, it might just be little time before you completely lose your sense of hearing. Worst, you might also develop more severe problems that will put your whole life at risk. Reducing the destructive effects of the disease involves lifestyle changes and dietary regulation. In the event of an attack, there are various exercises that can be done to minimize its effects. But above all, the best way to fight the disease is to consult with your doctor and seek for effective remedies.
Facts About the Meniere Disease That You Should Know
Our ears are not exempted from the various kinds of diseases that can affect our body. As a matter of fact, there are many kinds of ear conditions that can affect our hearing. What we should bear in mind is that our ears do not only function as an organ for hearing but it is also responsible for our body’s balance. There is one condition that can actually bring about hearing loss and vertigo at the same time and this ear condition is called the Meniere Disease. Acquiring this ear condition may be the nightmare that you don’t want to have because it can certainly create an unimaginable ordeal in your life. Listed below are some of the useful information about the Meniere’s disease treatments, symptoms and causes that can help you learn more about this condition.
• The causes of Meniere’s Disease – despite of how advanced our technology is, medical professionals have not yet found the real cause of this condition. All we have right now is that is it caused by an increase in pressure in the inner ear. This abnormality in the inner ear has been alleged to be caused by the exposure to loud noises, viral infections, allergies or it could be a hereditary condition.
• The symptoms it manifests – those who have this ear problem normally experience hearing loss, tinnitus or ringing in the ears, bouts of vertigo and headaches. Remember that it affect both our hearing and our balance. Some people may experience severe cases of vertigo that it may be impossible for them to accomplish their normal tasks and go through their normal routines.
• What can cure it – at this point in time, there is no proven treatment for Meniere’s Disease. If you have this condition, what you can do is relieve its symptoms. There are medications which can be taken to shorten the periods or lessen the attacks of vertigo. When it comes to hearing loss, you can use devices which can make the sounds more audible and you can also find a medical treatment for tinnitus.
Having Meniere’s Disease is not an easy experience but don’t ever let this stand in your way. Always think positively and try to focus on finding the remedies which can help you make your condition better.
