DIZZINESS AND RINGING IN THE EARS
A damaged inner ear can cause problems in balance and lead to dizziness. You may recall attacks of dizziness in your younger years resulting from an inflammation of the balance mechanism within the ear. The dizziness that you now experience may be a consequence of that damage. In this instance dizziness and loss of balance usually occur when you change position. It may be momentary, as when you stand up from a bed or chair. You should remember to stand up slowly and wait for the dizzy spell to pass before you start walking. This problem is difficult to treat, and most medications have little positive effect. You should learn to anticipate what actions cause your dizziness so that you can avoid them or do them slowly while holding onto something for support.
Ringing in the ears may be the result of a simple problem, such as wax in your ears or inflammation, or the ringing may be a more serious consequence of an inner ear disease for which there is no treatment. If you take large doses of aspirin for arthritis, you may suffer from ringing in your ears and a decrease in hearing.
You may also experience a “whooshing” sound in your ears, which can interfere with your sleep and be very upsetting. The cause of this problem is not clear. Sometimes it is the result of blood flowing through a partially narrowed artery in the skull. In most instances it cannot be satisfactorily treated, although small doses of tranquilizers at night may be helpful.
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