Navigating Vertigo, POTS, and Medical Conditions: Understanding Symptoms, Treatments, and Scientific Updates
Apr 4, 2025
auto_awesome
Explore the differences between vertigo and dizziness, including how inner ear crystals cause positional vertigo and treatment options like the Epley maneuver. Learn about managing POTS linked to long COVID with supplements and advanced diagnostics. Discover challenges faced by patients with Dupuytren's contracture regarding Medicare and the impacts of treatment choices on quality of life. Also, uncover how misleading research has skewed Alzheimer's studies for years, shifting the focus to tau proteins as more reliable markers.
Understanding the distinction between vertigo and dizziness, along with effective treatment maneuvers, is essential for accurate diagnosis and symptom management.
Effective management of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) includes diagnostic testing, dietary adjustments, and exploring potential underlying conditions like long COVID.
Deep dives
Understanding Dizziness and Nystagmus
Dizziness encompasses a range of sensations, with vertigo being a specific type that involves a false sense of motion. Nystagmus, characterized by uncontrollable eye movements, is often seen in vertigo cases and indicates a mismatch between the vestibular system and visual input. This misalignment can result from various factors, including inner ear issues or neurological conditions. Recognizing these symptoms is crucial for accurately diagnosing the underlying causes of dizziness.
Maneuvers for Managing Vertigo
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) is a common condition that results from displaced crystals in the inner ear and can be effectively addressed using specific head movements. The Epley Maneuver is one of the most utilized techniques to reposition these crystals, aiming to eliminate the sensations of vertigo. Alternative maneuvers, such as the Foster Maneuver and the Brandt-Daroff exercises, are also effective and help in retraining the brain to adapt to these spatial disruptions. While these maneuvers often require repetition, they are important tools for managing vertigo.
Exploring Treatment Options for Tinnitus and Vertigo
Individuals experiencing both tinnitus and vertigo may find relief through a combination of acupuncture and specific medical evaluations. The suggestion of exploring additional vestibular studies can be worthwhile to uncover underlying issues, especially if previous treatments have not been effective. Certain chiropractic adjustments have been noted to provide improvement for tinnitus, alongside exploring electroacupuncture treatments as a promising option. Trying alternative methods may yield better management of symptoms when conventional treatments fall short.
Challenges and Strategies for Managing POTS
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) often manifests as extreme fatigue, dizziness, and other symptoms that can significantly impact daily life and well-being. It's essential to identify whether POTS is associated with other conditions, such as long COVID, and to explore various diagnostic options for a proper assessment. Effective management strategies may include adjusting dietary practices, integrating physical therapy, and considering medication adjustments to tackle specific symptoms. Continued investigation into potential underlying causes, such as mitochondrial dysfunction, can also be beneficial in improving quality of life.
Dr. Dawn provides a comprehensive explanation of vertigo versus dizziness, describing inner ear anatomy, how displaced crystals cause positional vertigo, and various treatment maneuvers including the Epley, Sarmont, and Foster techniques.
Responding to an email from a listener suffering from both vertigo and tinnitus, she recommends exploring chiropractic adjustment for the tinnitus and special electroacupuncture treatments while suggesting additional vestibular testing might be beneficial.
Dr. Dawn addresses an email about POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) likely caused by long COVID, recommending diagnostic tests, mitochondrial support supplements, low-dose naltrexone, and investigating possible heavy metal release due to significant weight loss.
A caller with Dupuytren's contracture describes frustrations with Medicare Advantage limitations and surgical options, with Dr. Dawn discussing quality of life impacts, the differences between open and minimally invasive procedures, and possible workarounds including voice-to-text technology.
The show concludes with Dr. Dawn discussing how a falsified 2006 research paper led Alzheimer's research astray for decades by incorrectly focusing on amyloid beta protein removal, resulting in questionable drug approvals despite expert objections, while better evidence points to tau protein as a more reliable disease marker.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode