Vertigo Goggles: The Future of Vertigo Diagnosis

September 25, 2022

vertigo goggles, vertigo relief

The latest technological advancements have paved the way for better diagnosing debilitating symptoms like vertigo. In the past, medical professionals only relied on narrowing down the most likely trigger of an attack to help patients achieve vertigo relief. But, nowadays, several healthcare practitioners also take advantage of infrared vertigo goggles to understand cases better. This simple diagnostic tool allows them to check abnormal eye movements, an accompanying symptom of mild to severe vertigo episodes.

 

Infrared Vertigo Googles and How They Work

Because vertigo attacks are widespread and can indicate various health concerns, doctors and other healthcare professionals exhaust multiple ways to provide an accurate diagnosis. Thankfully, technological advancements have made it possible to use infrared vertigo goggles. 

Infrared goggles or video oculography help detect nystagmus or abnormal eye jerking, which allows doctors to diagnose inner ear problems. Studies found that nystagmus often occurs hand in hand with vertigo attacks because of the miscommunication between the brain and vestibular organs. 

Here's a list of facts that will explain the connection between your eye movements and your inner ear's ability to maintain equilibrium and detect changes in acceleration or your body's orientation:

  • The vestibular system (the group of organs inside the inner ears) keeps the vision stable with the help of the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR)
  • VOR causes you to move your eyes in the opposite direction of your head's position, allowing you to maintain your gaze while you run or walk.
  • Unfortunately, if something goes awry inside your vestibular system, your eyes get confused, causing you to experience nystagmus. 
  • Doctors and physiotherapists analyze the specific characteristics of your eye movements to determine if your attacks stem from peripheral or central vertigo. 

 

Other Ways to Diagnose the Root Cause of Vertigo

In addition to using infrared video oculography, healthcare professionals also use other diagnostic techniques and tools to help patients overcome or manage their symptoms. Some examples of these include: 

  • Medical history assessment
  • Physical examination of the ears
  • Fukuda-Unterberger's test 
  • Head impulse test
  • Romberg's test 
  • Hearing test
  • Videonystagmography testing
  • Rotational chair testing
  • MRI and CT scans
  • Neurological tests

Finding the culprit behind your disorienting symptoms could take a few days or weeks. So, it would help to be extra patient and provide as much information as possible to your physician or ear doctor. 

However, if you suspect that your vertigo attacks stem from emergency concerns like stroke and atrial fibrillation, we strongly suggest going to the emergency care unit of your local hospital.

vertigo goggles, vertigo relief

 

 

 

 

 

Doctor-Recommended Ways to Achieve Lasting Vertigo Relief

Seeking lasting vertigo relief can be a long process, especially if you don't know why you experience dizzying spells or spinning sensations in the first place. So, we strongly suggest getting diagnosed by your primary doctor first. Ruling out serious health problems like heart disease and stroke should be your priority to avoid fatal complications. 

Then, once you have a more accurate overview of why you have balance problems, you can tap into proven sources of vertigo relief, including: 

Canalith repositioning exercises

A significant fraction of reported vertigo cases stem from BPPV or displaced inner ear crystals. If you have this debilitating condition, you might find it helpful to seek a therapist who can help you perform canalith repositioning maneuvers like the Epley, Semont, and Brandt-Daroff techniques.  

Diet modifications

Some food products and beverages aggravate vertigo-causing diseases or disorders. That's why you might find it extra helpful to make a few adjustments to your diet or meal plan. Here are some of the products that patients with frequent vertigo episodes often exclude (or limit) from their grocery lists: 

  • Food allergens (peanuts, gluten, soy, soy-based products, egg, dairy, etc.)
  • Alcohol and caffeinated drinks 
  • Aged cheese
  • Deli meat or cold cuts
  • Food with a high amount of additives, artificial sweeteners, or flavoring

Diuretics

Some patients with frequent vertigo episodes cope with water pills or diuretics. This medication helps expel excess water in the body, releasing pressure on the vestibular system (a common issue among people with Meniere's disease). However, if you use diuretics, follow your physician's directions to avoid dehydration – another equally problematic vertigo risk factor. 

Ear injections

Vertigo relief might also be possible after receiving inner ear injections. Injectable antibiotics like gentamicin disable the balance organs in one of your ears, letting the other ear take over and reducing the overall impact of a vertigo episode. 

Ear surgery

Severe cases of vertigo attacks can sometimes require surgical intervention. Doctors recommend procedures like labyrinthectomy to eliminate vertigo episodes. However, assessing for risks like permanent hearing loss is crucial before you decide or schedule your surgery. Additionally, it would help to know about the different surgical procedures that may apply to your case to find one that would best suit your situation.

Upper cervical chiropractic

Neckbone misalignments are among the top reasons some people fail to experience vertigo relief. Changes in the uppermost neckbones often impact your gait, sense of balance and proprioception, and brainstem function. Naturally, if you can address the imbalances in your neck bone structure, you can negate the adverse effects and help the body recover or heal from vertigo-causing problems. In addition, upper cervical care offers additional benefits such as:

  • Decompression of affected nerves and blood vessels
  • Improved blood and cerebrospinal fluid flow
  • Properly aligned head, shoulders, hips, and legs
  • Lesser brain signal transmission interruptions

Doctors of Chiropractic strongly recommend exploring this vertigo remedy or using it to complement other efforts to manage your spinning sensations. You should check if you have a misalignment in your cervical spine by scheduling an appointment with a Doctor of Chiropractic. Contact a nearby upper cervical doctor to learn more about the different Upper Cervical Chiropractic techniques, including Blair, NUCCA, Knee Chest, and Atlas Orthogonal.

 

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

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