Volume 6: February 2014

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This newsletter does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and is intended for informational purposes only. Although it cites government recommendations on a variety of health topics, this information is not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or issue.

What’s Really Behind that Spinning Feeling

If you feel like you’re spinning even if Ménière’s disease. Symptoms include you’re standing still, something is likely intense vertigo, hearing loss, nausea, amiss. More than four in 10 people ear ringing or buzzing, and a feeling of experience an episode of dizziness or fullness or pressure in the ear. vertigo that’s severe enough to send Ménière’s can result from a change in them to a doctor. fluid volume in the inner ear. Six in 10 What’s really happening when you feel people with Ménière’s get better on like you’re being tossed in a clothes their own. The others try to control dryer? The sensation of vertigo can be vertigo with diet, drugs or surgery. caused by a disruption in the signals between your brain and your body’s Vestibular neuritis, an infection of the balance systems. Your inner ear inner ear, is another cause of balance contains special cells that help detect disorder. motion and when your body changes Vertigo and dizziness can also position. This information reinforces accompany conditions such as multiple visual cues regarding your body’s sclerosis. If you experience a balance position and movement. issue, it’s a good idea to see your When there is an injury or disease to family doctor right away. the inner ear, it can result in false Want to know more? Click here. signals to the brain. As your gray matter tries to process these confusing Sources: www.vertigo.org; www.vestibular.org; signals, vertigo can occur. disorders. The most common type— National Institutes of Health; National Multiple benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, Sclerosis Society. Because balance is so complex, it can or BPPV—sometimes happens when be difficult to figure out the cause tiny calcium crystals in the inner ear when it doesn’t work properly. are in the wrong position. There are more than a dozen balance Another common balance disorder is The difference between being lightheaded and having vertigo. Hint: they’re not the same. The word dizziness can be divided into two categories: lightheadedness or vertigo. Lightheadedness is a feeling that you might faint. Vertigo is described as a spinning sensation with a loss of balance, like after twirling in circles when you were a kid. Treatment is typically different for both conditions. A doctor may investigate your inner ear or look for a neurological problem to When Dizziness diagnose the cause of vertigo. For lightheadedness, a physician may check to see if you have decreased oxygen to the brain due Means Trouble to a heart rhythm disturbance or a stroke. It’s smart to visit your Lightheadedness can doctor to find out what’s causing these symptoms, because signal something serious dizziness and vertigo are definitely not child’s play. Now you know that dizziness is different from vertigo. It can be caused from transient low blood pressure, the kind that happens when you stand up suddenly and feel woozy for a few seconds. Most people have it occasionally and don’t worry about it. But dizziness or lightheadedness may also signal a heart or vascular problem. While stroke is a rare cause of dizziness, more than 50% of patients diagnosed with stroke report dizziness. Early diagnosis of stroke is very important to minimize or prevent permanent damage to speech and motor functioning. In addition to lightheadedness, other stroke red flags include: 69  Trouble with speaking or 4 million understanding million Americans  Numbness or weakness on one side of your body or face Adults age 40 and report recurring older have problems  Blurred or double vision experienced balance with balance. Knowing the difference between issues. true vertigo and other forms of lightheadedness is important. Sudden or even chronic attacks of vertigo are more commonly 80% caused by disorders of the inner Of people The Take-Away: ear. With vertigo, you feel the Balance disorders are world whirling around you, often age 65 and older with nausea and vomiting. It have experienced a common issue really gets your attention. among middle-aged vertigo and dizziness. Although less common, vertigo and older people. can result from a brain tumor or multiple sclerosis. Migraine sufferers can also experience vertigo attacks.

Sources: www.vertigo.org, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Sources: www.vertigo.org; American Heart Disorders; National Institutes of Health. Association How Much Do You Know Balance Function? Go to the bottom of the newsletter to check your answers.

1. No pun intended, but the dizziness you’re 3. Sudden dizziness can be a danger sign. feeling is all in your head.  TRUE  FALSE  TRUE  FALSE 4. Lightheadedness can happen when the brain 2. It’s common for anyone to feel dizzy doesn’t get enough blood or oxygen. sometimes.  TRUE  FALSE  TRUE  FALSE

Budget-friendly Chicken and Mushrooms Chicken thighs are cheaper than breasts and just as delicious. See for yourself.

INGREDIENTS set aside.  1 tbsp. olive oil 3. Melt margarine in the pan. Add onion  1 pound boneless, skinless chicken and sauté for 2 minutes. Add NUTRITION thighs mushrooms and sauté for 3-5 minutes,  1 tsp. trans-fat free margarine stirring frequently. Serves: 4  ½ onion, finely diced 4. Add balsamic vinegar to pan and cook with mushrooms for 1 minute. Add Per serving: 1 chicken thigh  8 ounce package sliced mushrooms with mushrooms chicken thighs back to pan and place  3 tbsp. balsamic vinegar mushrooms on top of chicken. Pour Calories: 205  1-½ cup low sodium, fat free chicken chicken broth into pan. Fat: 11g broth 5. Bring the chicken broth to a boil. Carbohydrate: 6g Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover Sodium: 115g DIRECTIONS the pan with a heavy, tight-fitting lid, and simmer for 25 minutes. Cholesterol: 105mg Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over 1. medium-high heat. Protein: 21g Approximate cost for this dish: $7.82. 2. Add chicken thighs and sauté for 3 minutes per side. Remove from pan and Recipe: www.diabetes.org

Answers to the Health Test!

1. False. It may be difficult to describe how you feel to your family, friends and doctor, but dizziness and vertigo are not imaginary symptoms. They warrant a closer look by your physician. 2. True. Vertigo or its cousin, dizziness, is the No. 2 reason for visits to healthcare providers. The first is back pain. 3. True. Sudden dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, and trouble walking are all warning signs of a stroke. If you have these symptoms or know someone who does, seek immediate medical treatment. 4. True. Light-headedness can occur when your brain does not get enough blood. This may happen if you have a sudden drop in blood pressure, you are dehydrated because of vomiting, diarrhea, fever, exercise, etc., or you get up too quickly after sitting or lying down (more common in older people). It can also occur from heart attack, stroke, and bleeding inside the body.

Sources: National Institutes of Health; www.resourcesonbalance.com; American Heart Association