Guide to Managing Inner Ear Infections in Adults

August 28, 2022

inner ear, chiropractor for vertigo

Inner ear infections is caused by infections, bacteria, or fungi that enter your body through your eardrums or through the nose or mouth. In some cases, it is due to an inflammation inside your ears that is affecting the function of the major nerves in the system. It can have some very incapacitating symptoms, such as hearing loss or vertigo, so it will be beneficial to know more about this part of your body and how you can protect yourself from infections.

 

Inner Ear Anatomy and Function

The inner ear is a balance system, hearing system, and vestibular system all in one. It includes the cochlea, which translates sound into electrical signals; the semicircular canals, which are responsible for moving your eyes; and the labyrinth parts of the brain that tell you where your head is pointing.

While most people know what these parts are supposed to do—and can even remember them from school—they may not fully understand how they work together when it comes to balance or hearing.

 

The Inner Ear’s Role in Maintaining Balance

The inner ear is an important part of your ear, which is also called a balance organ. It's responsible for hearing, balance, and equilibrium. The inner ear is part of our vestibular system—a group of organs that help you maintain your body position in space by detecting gravity.

The central nervous system (CNS) is made up of several components: the brain, spinal cord, and nerves running through it, as well as sensory organs called receptors or afferents, which send signals to the CNS. These sensory organs can sense pressure changes in joints or muscles, temperature changes, light intensity, and sound intensity – all of which are necessary for the whole body system to remain upright and in control of its movements in its surroundings.

 

Common Inner Ear Infections in Adults

Labyrinthitis

This condition is an inflammation in the inner ear. It's a common condition and one that can be treated with medication, but it's also pretty serious if left untreated. Symptoms of labyrinthitis include:

  • dizziness
  • vertigo
  • hearing loss
  • tinnitus (ringing in the ears).

The first step to addressing your symptoms is getting yourself to see a doctor or chiropractor for vertigo for diagnosis and treatment options. You should also see your general physician if you have any signs or symptoms suggestive of meningitis, Eustachian tube dysfunction, or other ear problems.

Vestibular Neuritis

A condition due to the inflammation of the vestibular nerve, which runs from your inner ear to parts of the brain. It is caused by many things, including viral infections such as meningitis and viral encephalitis (the infection that causes epilepsy). It may also occur after head trauma or after long periods without sleep. The symptoms vary depending on where along this nerve pathway they're located, but it’s a common cause of vertigo or feeling dizzy for patients.

Meniere's disease

Meniere's disease is also known as endolymphatic hydrops. It's a condition of the inner ear that causes symptoms like:

  • episodes of vertigo
  • tinnitus
  • hearing loss

The accumulation of fluid in your inner ear can cause pressure changes on your eardrum (the hard bone that separates your outer ear from your middle ear), which may result in dizziness or hearing loss if it lasts too long, neglected.

Meniere's disease isn't caused by a virus but by an autoimmune response called anti-iNOS antibodies (IgG). These antibodies attack cells called LPS-expressing macrophages within the vestibular bulbs around your brainstem’s nucleus tractus solitarius region (NTS) area. This disruption causes fluid buildup near these areas causing vertigo episodes when you move quickly or stand up quickly after sitting still for long periods of time.

inner ear, chiropractor for vertigo

 

 

 

 

 

Vestibular conditions connection to vertigo

You might be wondering how and why on earth vertigo is being mentioned so much in a discussion about the inner ear. Well, that is because vertigo is a prevalent symptom and concern for many patients with inner ear conditions. As the vestibular system is the organ that senses and regulates the body’s movements and balance, an inner ear infection may cause inflammation in the parts responsible for processing this information. This can then lead to confusion for the brain, which manifests via loss of vision control or problems discerning up from down or left from right.

 

Inner Ear Care Tips

When it comes to inner ear health, there are a variety of things you can do to prevent an infection from happening. The most valuable thing to remember is to keep your ears clean! If you have any kind of discharge or wax in your ear, do not touch it. This will help prevent any kind of infection from occurring.

Also, if you notice that your ears are hurting or hurting more than usual, don't ignore it! This is a sign of infection and if left unaddressed, could lead to permanent damage to your hearing ability. To care for your inner ear, you will want to follow the guidelines:

#1. Eat a healthy diet.

This means avoiding dairy products and red meat if they cause you to have more frequent or severe infections. If you eat these foods, make sure that they are organic or grass-fed when possible.

#2. Exercise regularly

Active time of at least 30 minutes per day on most days of the week (though even 10 minutes is better than none!). This can help reduce stress levels in your body and give it an energy boost that helps keep it healthy overall. Additionally, some forms of exercise like yoga have been shown to have positive effects on vertigo symptoms, including dizziness and balance issues related to inner ear problems!

#3. Work with a chiropractor for vertigo

Inner ear infections is the most common type of ear disorder in adults. While they can result in a full-blown hearing loss, inner ear infections are usually not life-threatening. They can be treated with meds like antibiotics, but in some cases, the infection may cause permanent damage to your hearing ability. Therefore, it is important to visit a doctor for regular checkups and to keep an eye on your hearing ability as you age and better avoid its debilitating symptoms like vertigo.

If you experience vertigo, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, hearing loss, and ringing in the ears as symptoms of an ear ache or infection – especially if it happens frequently or lasts for more than one day — it's important to see a doctor or a trusted chiropractor for vertigo in order to properly address your condition, whatever ear infection or condition it may be that is ailing you. Vertigo is a symptom of many inner ear infections that can be caused by viruses or bacteria.

If you have noticed your symptoms are worsening over time or started resorting to using antibiotics, visit your doctor immediately! While feeling dizzy is not serious on its own, it should be treated as soon as possible so you don't develop permanent damage to your inner ear structures, which could lead to permanent hearing loss.

 

Chiropractic Care for Inner Ear Problems and Vertigo

Chiropractic care can help with inner ear infections, vertigo symptoms, and balance issues.

Chiropractors for vertigo have the ability to realign your spine by adjusting the joints of your body. This allows for a better movement range which helps with balance issues and dizziness. If you have an inner ear infection or vertigo symptom triggered by it, chiropractic care will help relieve some of those symptoms and pains by removing pressure from nerves that are related to those conditions.

You can learn more about inner ear conditions, vertigo, and chiropractic care from the Upper Cervical Awareness page. If you are still on the lookout for a trusted and credible chiropractor for vertigo near you, you can check out the UCA Doctors Directory for their extensive list of accredited chiropractors in the United States.

 

Find An Upper Cervical Doctor in Your Areato schedule a consultation today.

Search

Featured Articles

Videos

Montel Williams
Montel Williams

TV show host Montel Williams describes how specific chiropractic care has helped his body.

NBC's The Doctors

The TV show "The Doctors" showcased Upper Cervical Care.

CBS News/Migraine Relief

CBS News highlighted the alleviation of Migraines and Headaches.

The content and materials provided in this web site are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to supplement or comprise a medical diagnosis or other professional opinion, or to be used in lieu of a consultation with a physician or competent health care professional for medical diagnosis and/or treatment. All content and materials including research papers, case studies and testimonials summarizing patients' responses to care are intended for educational purposes only and do not imply a guarantee of benefit. Individual results may vary, depending upon several factors including age of the patient, severity of the condition, severity of the spinal injury, and duration of time the condition has been present.

©2015–2023 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.