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Guideline:
Vertigo can be treated easily and quickly
Newswise — A new guideline developed by the
American Academy of Neurology found that the
best treatment for vertigo is the easiest
and quickest one.
The guideline on benign paroxysmal
positional vertigo (BPPV), an inner ear
disorder that is a common cause of
dizziness, is published in the May 27, 2008,
issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of
the American Academy of Neurology.
The disorder causes a feeling of spinning or
whirling when the head is moved in certain
ways, such as looking up or bending. The
feeling lasts a short time but can be
severe.
The guideline determined that in many cases
the vertigo can be treated with simple
maneuvers—a series of head and body
movements performed by a doctor or therapist
while the patient sits on a bed or table.
“The good news is that this type of vertigo
is easily treated,” said guideline author
Terry D. Fife, MD, of the University of
Arizona College of Medicine and Barrow
Neurological Institute. Fife is also a
Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology.
“Instead of telling patients to ‘wait it
out’ or having them take drugs, we can
perform a safe and quick treatment that is
immediate and effective.”
Several maneuvers are in use for vertigo.
The guideline found that canalith
repositioning procedure, also called the
Epley maneuver, is safe and effective for
people of all ages.
The Semont maneuver is possibly an effective
treatment. To develop the guideline, the
authors analyzed all available scientific
studies on the topic.
The disorder is believed to be caused by
loose calcium carbonate crystals that move
in the sensing tubes of the inner ear.
The maneuvers move the calcium crystals out
of the sensing tube and into another inner
chamber of the ear, from which they can be
absorbed.
The guideline also evaluated whether
restrictions on activity are needed after
the maneuvers are performed.
“There is no clear evidence to support these
restrictions, which include sleeping upright
and wearing a cervical collar,” Fife said.
The guideline also reviewed whether patients
can perform the maneuvers safely and
effectively at home. “Having patients treat
themselves using home exercises seems to
pose little risk, but there is not
sufficient evidence that this is as
effective as maneuvers done by a doctor or
therapist,” Fife said.
The American Academy of Neurology, an
association of more than 21,000 neurologists
and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated
to improving patient care through education
and research.
A neurologist is a doctor with specialized
training in diagnosing, treating and
managing disorders of the brain and nervous
system such as epilepsy, dystonia, migraine,
Huntington’s disease, and dementia. For more
information about the American Academy of
Neurology, visit
http://www.aan.com.
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