What Is Vestibular Papillomatosis?
Vestibulopathy is a condition characterized by abnormal development of the vestibule, which includes the opening of the eye sockets (the ophthalmoscope) and the inner ear. The term “vestibulum” refers to the bone structure around the openings of both eyes. These structures are called ocular muscles because they control movement within these openings. When the muscles become weak or fail, the opening of one’s eyes becomes smaller than that of another person.
The vestibular system consists of two parts: The central part is located in your brain stem and controls balance and coordination. The peripheral part is found in your ears, nose, throat, sinuses and other organs such as the heart and lungs.
A small area of tissue called the vestibuloocular muscle surrounds each eye socket. This muscle acts like a spring to keep the eyeball from falling forward when looking at something distant.
In most cases, vestibular dysfunction occurs due to a combination of genetic factors and environmental factors. Some people have inherited mutations in genes that affect how the body produces hormones or regulates blood pressure.
Other causes include head trauma, infections, tumors and certain medications. Certain drugs may cause changes in the fluid surrounding the eyes causing them to bulge outwards making them appear larger than usual.
The most common symptoms of vestibular weakness are:
You feel dizzy when standing and walking or when changing position suddenly.
Sensations of movement such as the ground moving beneath you, the room spinning or your head rocking.
A tendency to fall over or stumble when you try to walk. You may also lean on nearby furniture for support when trying to stand.
A tendency to tilt your head when trying to look up or down.
A tendency to hold your head at an unusual angle because it feels heavy.
How Is It Treated?
The treatment of vestibular dysfunction is largely determined by its underlying cause. For example, if a medication is causing the problem, then your doctor may recommend that you stop taking it. If there is an infection in the inner ear, then it may be treated with certain medications or antibiotics. Certain tumors of the brain may be treated with radiation therapy or surgery. In some cases, the underlying cause is unknown and the symptoms may go away on their own.
There are also a number of non-medical measures that can be taken to decrease the severity of the symptoms:
Limit your intake of foods that contain caffeine as well as alcohol and other drugs since these may worsen vestibular dysfunction.
Try to maintain a healthy weight since extra weight puts more stress on the body.
Sources & references used in this article:
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