Question 1

Since my jaw pain started I hear ringing in my ear (tinnitus).

Accepted Answer

The TMJ and ear are immediate neighbors. Inflammation or disc displacement in the TMJ can irritate nearby nerves or blood vessels, causing tinnitus. There are many dramatic cases where treating the jaw makes the tinnitus disappear.

Question 2

My ear feels full, I hear ringing, and I get dizzy (Meniere's disease).

Accepted Answer

Too much lymph fluid builds up inside the ear, raising pressure (endolymphatic hydrops). Vertigo strikes like a burst dam and hearing drops. Herbal formulas like Oryeongsan that regulate fluid metabolism are used to reduce swelling in the ear.

Question 3

Tests show nothing abnormal but I always feel like I am floating (psychogenic dizziness).

Accepted Answer

This is not a vestibular organ problem but a sensory processing error in the brain — psychogenic dizziness. Anxiety, depression, and stress are the causes. It gets worse in crowded places. Psychological stabilization treatment is needed.

Question 4

One ear suddenly feels full and I cannot hear (sudden sensorineural hearing loss).

Accepted Answer

This is a medical emergency. Cochlear nerve damage can cause permanent hearing loss if not treated within 3 days to 2 weeks. Steroid therapy, hyperbaric oxygen treatment, and acupuncture must be used in combination.

Question 5

Can a cervical disc cause dizziness?

Accepted Answer

Yes, this is cervicogenic dizziness. Many balance receptors surround the cervical vertebrae, and when the neck is misaligned it sends incorrect balance signals to the brain causing dizziness. If neck pain and dizziness occur together, this should be suspected.

Question 6

Does dizziness always mean anemia? Should I take iron supplements?

Accepted Answer

No. Among actual dizziness patients, anemia accounts for only 5 to 10%. Most cases involve the ear, brain, or autonomic nervous system. Taking iron supplements without a blood test may only cause indigestion.

Question 7

I have no headache but they say I have vestibular migraine.

Accepted Answer

Migraines do not always cause head pain — dizziness alone can be the presentation. If you are sensitive to light or sound, prone to motion sickness, and have a family history, vestibular migraine is likely. Migraine medications and treatments are effective.

Question 8

Are there foods to avoid when dizzy?

Accepted Answer

A low-sodium diet, avoiding alcohol and tobacco, and limiting caffeine are the basics. Sweet foods that rapidly spike blood sugar (chocolate, candy) can also affect insulin metabolism and worsen dizziness.

Question 9

I was hyperventilating and then my hands and feet cramped and I felt dizzy (hyperventilation syndrome).

Accepted Answer

Breathing too fast from extreme stress or fear depletes carbon dioxide in the blood. Breathing into a bag and re-inhaling the exhaled air helps calm it. Psychological treatment is the root solution.

Question 10

When I wake up the ceiling spins (BPPV — benign paroxysmal positional vertigo).

Accepted Answer

Otoliths that regulate balance become dislodged and roll around in the semicircular canals causing vertigo. Canalith repositioning maneuvers combined with vitality restoration treatment to prevent recurrence are needed.

😵Vertigo / Tinnitus