KLINIK PANTAI MEDIC

Balance Disorders Pictures Slideshow: Vertigo, Migraines, Motion Sickness and More

2012-03-30T21:13:00.000-07:00

What Is a Balance Disorder?

A balance disorder is a condition that makes you feel unsteady or dizzy, as if you are moving, spinning, or floating, even though you are standing still or lying down. Balance disorders can be caused by certain health conditions, medications, or a problem in the inner ear or the brain.

What Is the Vestibular System, and How Does it Work?

The medical term for all of the parts of the inner ear involved with balance is referred to as the vestibular system. It controls our sense of balance, posture, the body’s orientation in space, locomotion, and other movements; and keeps objects in visual focus as the body moves. The vestibular system works with other sensory systems in the body, for example, the eyes, bones, and joints, to check and maintain the positioning of the body at rest and in motion.

What Is the Labyrinth?

Our sense of balance is primarily controlled by a maze-like structure in the inner ear called the labyrinth, which is made of bone and soft tissue. The semicircular canals and otolithic organs within the labyrinth help maintain our balance. The cochlea within the labyrinth enables us to hear.

What Are the Symptoms of a Balance Disorder?

Some of the common symptoms of a balance disorder include:

Dizziness or vertigo
Falling or a feeling as if you are going to fall
Lightheadedness, fainting, or a floating sensation
Blurred vision
Confusion or disorientation
Nausea and vomiting
Diarrhea
Changes in blood pressure and heart rate
Fear
Anxiety
Panic

What Causes a Balance Disorder?

A balance disorder may be caused by viral or bacterial infections in the ear, head injuries, or blood circulation disorders that affect the inner ear or brain. Many people experience problems with their sense of balance as they age. Balance problems and dizziness also can result from taking certain medications. Problems in the nervous and circulatory systems can be the source of some posture and balance problems. Problems in the skeletal or visual systems, such as arthritis or eye muscle imbalance, also may cause balance problems. However, many balance disorders can begin very suddenly with no obvious cause.

What Are the Types of Balance Disorders?

There are more than a dozen types of balance disorders. Some of the most common include:

Vertigo
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
Labyrinthitis
Meniere’s disease
Vestibular neronitis
Perilymph fistula
Mal de debarquement syndrome (MdDS)

Vertigo

Vertigo is an abnormal sensation that is described by a person as a feeling that they are spinning, or that the world is spinning around them; and may be accompanied by intense nausea and vomiting. This feeling may be associated with loss of balance to the point that the person walks unsteadily or falls. Vertigo itself is a symptom or indicator of an underlying balance problem, either involving the labyrinth of the inner ear, or the cerebellum of the brain.

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) or positional vertigo is a brief, intense episode of vertigo that occurs because of a specific change in the position of the head. A person also may experience BPPV when he or she rolls over in bed. BPPV sometimes may result from a head injury or aging.

Labyrinthitis

Labyrinthitis is an infection or inflammation of the inner ear that causes dizziness and loss of balance. It frequently is associated with an upper respiratory infection such as the flu.

Ménière's Disease

Ménière's disease is associated with a change in fluid volume within parts of the labyrinth, one of the structures of the inner ear. Ménière's disease causes episodes of vertigo, irregular hearing loss, tinnitus (a ringing or buzzing in the ear), and a feeling of fullness in the ear. The cause of Ménèire's disease is unknown.

Vestibular Neuronitis

Vestibular neuronitis is an inflammation of the vestibular nerve and may be caused by a virus. Vestibular neuronitis is a paroxysmal attack of severe vertigo. It affects young to middle-aged adults, and often follows a nonspecific upper respiratory infection.

Perilymph Fistula

Perilymph fistula is a leakage of inner ear fluid into the middle ear. It can occur after a head injury, drastic changes in atmospheric pressure (such as when scuba diving), physical exertion, ear surgery, or chronic ear infections. Its most notable symptom, besides dizziness and nausea, is unsteadiness when walking or standing that increases with activity and decreases with rest. Some babies may be born with perilymph fistula, usually in association with hearing loss that is present at birth.

Motion Sickness

Motion sickness, sometimes referred to as sea sickness or car sickness, is a very common disturbance of the inner ear that is caused by repeated motion such as from the swell of the sea, movement of a car, or the motion of turbulent air on a plane. The symptoms of motion sickness are nausea, vomiting, dizziness, sweating, and a sense of feeling unwell. These symptoms arise from the inner ear (labyrinth) due to changes in one's sense of balance and equilibrium.

Mal de Debarquement Syndrome (MdDS)

Mal de debarquement syndrome (MdDS) is a balance disorder in which a person feels as if he or she is continuously rocking or bobbing. It generally occurs after an ocean cruise or other sea travel. Usually, the symptoms will resolve in a matter of hours or days after the person reaches land. However, severe cases can last months or even years.

How is a Balance Disorder Diagnosed?

Diagnosis of a balance disorder is difficult. There are many potential causes - including medical conditions and medications. To help evaluate a balance problem, a doctor may suggest the patient visit an otolaryngologist (a physician and surgeon who specializes in the ear, nose, and throat). The otolaryngologist may order a hearing examination, blood tests, an electronystagmogram (which measures eye movements and the muscles that control them), or imaging studies of the head and brain. Another possible test is called posturography. For this test, the patient stands on a special movable platform in front of a patterned screen. The doctor measures how the patient’s body moves in response to movement of the platform, the patterned screen, or both.

How Is a Balance Disorder Treated?

The first thing a doctor will do to treat a balance disorder is determine if the patient’s dizziness is caused by a medical condition or medication. If it is, the doctor will treat the condition or suggest a different medication for the patient.
The treatment for the different types of balance disorders described previously will depend on the specific balance disorder. Some treatment options include medication, vestibular rehabilitation therapy, head; body; and eye exercises, and modifications to home fixtures to make them safer (for example, handrails in the home).

How Do I Know if I Have a Balance Disorder?

Everyone has a dizzy spell now and then, but the term “dizziness” may mean something different to different people. For some people, dizziness might be a fleeting sensation of spinning, while for others it's intense and lasts a long time. Experts believe that more than four out of 10 Americans will experience an episode of dizziness significant enough to seek medical care.
To help you decide whether or not you should seek medical help for a dizzy spell, ask yourself the following questions. If you answer “yes” to any of these questions, talk to your doctor.

How Can I Help My Doctor Make a Diagnosis?

You can help your doctor make a diagnosis and determine a treatment plan by answering these questions. Be prepared to discuss this information during your appointment.
At your appointment, take a minute to write down any instructions your doctor has given you. Be sure to ask any questions you have before you leave the office.

Autism Hits 1 in 88 U.S. Kids, 1 in 54 Boys

2012-03-30T19:41:00.000-07:00

March 29, 2012 -- One in every 88 U.S. children -- and one in 54 boys -- has autism, the CDC now estimates.
The latest analysis, from a 2008 survey, shows autism is up 23% since 2006 and 78% since 2002.
"This is a large number of children and families affected by autism," study leader Marshalyn Yeargin-Allsopp, MD, chief of the CDC's developmental disabilities branch, tells WebMD.
Why the increase? That isn't clear. A number of factors likely contribute to the increase, says Coleen A. Boyle, PhD, director of the CDC National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities.
"We know that some of it is due to how children with autism are identified and served in their local communities," Boyle tells WebMD. "We do feel doctors are getting better at diagnosing autism. ... But we don't know how much is due to better identification and diagnosis, how much is due to availability of services, and how much is a true rise in prevalence."
One hint comes from data showing that autism prevalence is higher in areas where doctors are better at diagnosing autism in children with relatively high intellectual ability.
The CDC study -- the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) study -- is based on data from more than 337,000 8-year-olds in 14 states. That's 8.4% of all U.S. 8-year-olds. The study first used health and education records to identify children who may have autism. Then all of the records were analyzed by autism professionals to identify kids who fit the current autism diagnosis.
Autism rates varied widely across states. Autism prevalence was one in 47 kids in Utah, but only one in 210 children in Alabama. Study sites that relied only on health records to identify children with autism had significantly lower autism rates than sites that had both health and education records.
In Colorado, for example, there was a single county with access to both education and health records. The autism rate there was twice as high as the rate in six Colorado counties with health records only.
Despite the different autism rates across sites, the overall autism prevalence detected is similar to that estimated by other national health surveys.
"This method is really the gold standard for tracking autism," Boyle says. "One thing we do know is we don't overestimate autism prevalence."
Another study, the CDC's huge multi-year Study to Explore Early Development (SEED), exploring various autism risk factors, began in 2008. The very first results should start coming out later this year. But since SEED follows kids from the time of their mother's pregnancy, it will take time for the study to mature.
It's known that autism results from a complex interaction between genetic and environmental influences. But it's not known which types of autism are most closely linked to which factors.

CLINIC PHOTOS

2012-03-29T22:49:00.000-07:00

RAWATAN KECANTIKAN...

2012-03-29T22:41:00.000-07:00

RAWATAN KECANTIKAN TERSEDIA DI KLINIK INI!!!

RAWATAN YANG DIBERIKAN ADALAH SEPERTI BERIKUT:

1. RAWATAN PENCERAHAN DAN PEMUTIHAN KULIT / MENGURANGKAN PIGMENTASI DI WAJAH

2. RAWATAN MENGURANGKAN CELLULITE

3. RAWATAN KEGEMUKAN

4. RAWATAN MENGURANGKAN PARUT DAN JERAWAT

5. RAWATAN MENGURANGKAN GARIS/KEDUT DI WAJAH

UNTUK KETERANGAN LANJUT SILA BERJUMPA DENGAN DOKTOR!!!

THE RENOVATIONS

2010-12-28T21:41:00.000-08:00

HI everyone!

This is my first blog post.... so i will tell you guys whats going on with my new clinic.

After waiting so long, the developer guys final gave green lights for renting the place...the offer was a bit expensive but i have to take as this is a strategic place in Pantai Remis. After signing the agreement, i contacted the renovation guys to start the renovation. After so much of delays finally my dream is in verge becoming reality. the renovations started and still going on...after almost three weeks, the partition n electrical works are going on...the contractor has promised to finish the renovations in two weeks time.. im keeping my fingers crossed and hoping that can do the opening ceremony on ponggal day!