Feeling dizzy? It turns out it's this thing that's causing all the trouble...

"A few days ago, my mother suffered from severe dizziness and vomiting . We sought medical help from many doctors but to no avail. The vestibular function test showed that it might be otolithiasis , but the diagnosis could not be confirmed. The doctor told me that 'there might be something wrong with the anterior horizontal canal, and even if it is confirmed, it would be difficult to reposition it'. However, my mother was in great pain and in a very bad condition. I told my friend about it and she said that I could find Ms. Wang Fang from the Otolaryngology Department of Beichen Hospital. Many patients with complex otolithiasis in the city and other districts came to see her. I took my mother to find Ms. Wang. After a careful examination, Ms. Wang said that 'there is indeed insufficient evidence for diagnosis. I can only try repositioning treatment based on my clinical experience'. After patient repositioning treatment , my mother's condition improved significantly and she was basically cured during the follow-up visit."

【Popular Science Time】

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), commonly known as " otolith disease ", is one of the common diseases that cause vertigo. Mild cases can cause transient vertigo, while severe symptoms can affect normal life and even cause falls, leading to various serious accidents.

Otolith manipulation is an important treatment for otolithiasis. Its principle is to use gravity to move otolith particles out of the semicircular canals through precise head position changes and guide them back to the utricle or saccule, thereby restoring the normal function of the inner ear. Beichen Hospital's Otolaryngology Department routinely performs otolith manipulation, and is equipped with advanced vestibular function testing equipment and vertigo treatment chairs, which can accurately determine the site of vertigo in patients and provide a clear diagnosis. More than 3,000 patients are relieved of vertigo each year.

(Animation showing the manual repositioning of otolithiasis. Please receive treatment under the guidance of a doctor)

Advantages of manual reduction:

1. Quick and convenient: By changing the specific position of the head, the detached otoliths are relocated to the normal position, thus quickly relieving the symptoms of vertigo.

2. Non-invasive and safe: It is a non-invasive treatment method that does not require drugs or surgery, has relatively low risks, and is highly accepted by patients.

3. Personalized treatment: Choose different repositioning methods according to the specific location and situation of otolith detachment to achieve personalized treatment.

(Otorhinolaryngology Vertigo Treatment Chair)

How to identify otolithiasis?

1. The vertigo caused by otolithiasis is characterized by a distinct sense of rotation.

2. “Bed-related.” Most patients experience vertigo when they get out of bed or turn over in bed.

3. Dizziness occurs a few seconds after the body position is changed, and usually lasts for a short time, from a few seconds to tens of seconds. If you keep the same posture, the dizziness will disappear quickly.

4. Returning the head to its original position can induce vertigo again.

5. After multiple changes in head position, the symptoms of vertigo gradually eased.

If you experience dizziness , please go to a regular medical institution to consult a doctor for a differential diagnosis.