alternobaric vertigo

{{short description|Dizziness resulting from unequal pressures in the middle ears }}

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In aviation and underwater diving, alternobaric vertigo is dizziness resulting from unequal pressures being exerted between the inner ears, commonly due to one Eustachian tube being less patent than the other.

Signs and symptoms

Causes

This might have occurred due to barotrauma of descent, and/or the effects of nasal decongestants. It is due to unequal increase in middle ear pressures on ascent, is usually mild, and most often cleared by further ascent. When the pressures in both ears reach ambient levels, the stimulus for the dizziness stops. Although most often mild, the vertigo can persist until the diver reaches the surface continuing the unequal pressures, which can damage the inner ear or ear drum.

Alternobaric vertigo is most pronounced when the diver is in the vertical position; the spinning is towards the ear with the higher pressure and tends to develop when the pressures differ by 60 cm of water or more. Ear clearing may be a remedy. A similar vertigo can also occur as a result of unequal heating stimulation of one inner ear labyrinth over the other due to diving in a prone position in cold water - the undermost ear being stimulated.{{cn|date=April 2025}}

Diagnosis

In terms of diagnosis for alternobaric vertigo the medical history and physical examination, are important. Furthermore, Eustachian tube function testing is also performed{{cite web |last1=Francescon |first1=Daniel |last2=Cooper |first2=Jeffrey S. |title=Diving, Alternobaric Vertigo |url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482211/ |website=StatPearls |publisher=StatPearls Publishing |access-date=8 December 2018 |date=2018}}

Management

References

{{Reflist|30em|refs=

{{cite journal |last=Edmonds |first=C. |title=Vertigo In Diving |journal=Royal Australian Navy, School of Underwater Medicine. |volume=RANSUM-1-71 |date=1971 |url=http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/4962 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100709042059/http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/4962 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=July 9, 2010 |access-date=2008-04-25 }}

{{cite journal |author =Tjernström O |title=Function of the eustachian tubes in divers with a history of alternobaric vertigo |journal=Undersea Biomed Res |volume=1 |issue=4 |pages=343–51 |date=December 1974 |pmid=4469100 |url=http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/2679 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130415222507/http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/2679 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=April 15, 2013 |access-date=2008-07-04}}

{{cite journal |vauthors =Lundgren CE, Tjernström O, Ornhagen H |title=Alternobaric vertigo and hearing disturbances in connection with diving: an epidemiologic study |journal=Undersea Biomed Res |volume=1 |issue=3 |pages=251–8 |date=September 1974 |pmid=4469094 |url=http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/2667 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100708020401/http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/2667 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=July 8, 2010 |access-date=2008-07-04}}

{{cite journal |author =Ross HE |title=The direction of apparent movement during transient pressure vertigo |journal=Undersea Biomed Res |volume=3 |issue=4 |pages=403–10 |date=December 1976 |pmid=10897867 |url=http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/2442 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707172844/http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/2442 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=July 7, 2012 |access-date=2008-07-04}}

{{cite journal |author =Wicks RE |title=Alternobaric vertigo: an aeromedical review |journal=Aviat Space Environ Med |volume=60 |issue=1 |pages=67–72 |date=January 1989 |pmid=2647073 }}

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Category:Aviation medicine

Category:Underwater diving disorders