Alternative Ways to Gently Treat PPPD and Vestibular Issues

When a person suffers from problems with balance, it drastically impacts life. Issues like difficulty focusing and sleeping and the constant worry of falling can greatly disrupt somebody’s way of living. Often, it takes a toll on the mind and body, and a person can respond emotionally to this health issue. Emotional responses to the condition include fear, panic, stress, and anxiety.

Vestibular Disorders

These are connected or attributed to the changes in the position of the fluid inside your ear canals. A sensor in the ear sends information to the brain that contributes to an individual’s sense of balance. Some things can affect the signals in the vestibular system, and these cause symptoms.

Dizziness and vertigo are the most typical signs of a vestibular balance disorder. Tinnitus, a constant ringing or swishing in the ear, is likewise a symptom. Underlying factors are usually the culprit, and the disorder might only be secondary. It can affect anybody but is more typical in adults. Why not visit this page to learn more about vertigo?

Persistent Postural Perceptual Dizziness

What is PPPD? How does it severely affect one person? This chronic condition is normally described as a constant sensation of floating or rocking without nausea. PPPD is triggered by complex visual environments, panic attacks, or standing up. It is challenging because PPPD can even last for months.

With PPPD, the brain’s ability to analyze space or motion following an alarming event like the ones mentioned above is jeopardized. Instead of calming down, the brain fails to reset, maintaining the abnormal perception, triggering the dizziness or rocking to continue.

Gentle Treatment Options

Many patients go to vestibular audiologists for help. A battery of tests, including hearing, visual, and positional testing, may be performed to determine if the issues are linked to the vestibular system. Patients are referred to other specialists if all tests are normal and non-vestibular. Abnormal results would lead to additional vestibular testing to determine the needed treatment.

Some audiologists would prescribe the usual medications for vertigo. Prochlorperazine, like Stemetil, or antihistamines, is the most common prescription medication. However, more people are increasingly opting for other treatment forms to manage their condition. 

Physical Therapy

A milder method to cope is through physical therapy. Therapists give patients walking and balancing workouts and closely supervise each session. Aside from exercises, therapists might provide videos that stimulate real-life activities. Ultimately, therapy will include normal daily activities that are planned to prevent unnecessary triggers. PT is usually done under medication if the case is more severe.

Diet Change

Modifications in a patient’s diet plan often help manage a vestibular disorder. A thoughtful diet can give an individual the correct nutrition that benefits cells, including those within the brain, inner ear, and muscles. If a vestibular diet is introduced, even metabolism can be enhanced to provide additional energy.

Neuroplasticity

As the name suggests, neuroplasticity is a process that involves changes in the brain’s structure and function. The body’s nervous system is trained to respond to stimuli with adaptation, habituation, and substitution. This treatment permits the brain to relearn to accept outside factors, even though distorted, and get used to them. The brain compensates and modifies function and receives the stimuli as correct. If you want to learn more, why not do a quick online search for “neuroplasticity tinnitus” or “neuroplasticity vertigo” to find help near you?

Success Stories

Studies and personal testimonies of PPPD success stories from patients that opted for gentle treatments show improvement in a patient’s way of life. These interventions are becoming popular with word of mouth, and a growing number of health specialists are more open to these healing solutions.