Vertigo! When the World Spins Out of Control

by Linda Howard Zonana

This book is about "vestibular" illnesses - those that arise in the inner ear and precipitate the sickening experiences of vertigo and imbalance, usually without warning. There are not many books on vertigo written for the general public, and the writer saw a need for one that offered not only detailed information concerning these diseases, but an exploration of the vertigo experience itself, and of the problems that can occur in searching for effective therapy and a sense of understanding. The book is unique in that more than fifty people were interviewed in order to provide a good look at a variety of real life experiences. Many of their stories are threaded through the text as examples. Included are chapters on the psychological effects of illness, challenges encountered in seeking help, conventional and unconventional treatments, anatomy and functioning of the ear, as well as a history of the development of a scientific understanding of vertigo. The book does not recommend any specific solutions, but rather seeks to provide some understanding of these illnesses and their ramifications, as well as options for coping with them. The sections of the book devoted to strictly medical information were reviewed by an experienced otolaryngologist. Comments by Madelon Baranoski, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Yale "This is an informative and entirely readable book on vertigo. The author weaves her own experiences, accounts from others who suffer from the disorder, and anatomy, physiology, and treatment information into a coherent discourse on the human experience of 'the world spinning out of control.' Personally, the book has helped me understand my mother's bouts of benign positional vertigo. Reading it with me, Mom felt less isolated in her struggle with the unpredictable enveloping dizziness and I felt a new connection with her. We both felt less helpless. There is nothing like this book in the medical or popular press; I

224 pages, Paperback

First published November 27, 2013

Reviews

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vertigo! When the World Spins Out of Control: Meniére's Disease, Benign Positional Vertigo and Other Vestibular Illnesses is about inner ear imbalances, sudden onsets of vertigo, conditions that can thwart medical diagnosis and treatment, and is recommended for any who have struggled with regular, ongoing or undiagnosed vertigo.

Sometimes vertigo is temporary and other times it evolves into a chronic condition, but repeated bouts can alter lives - and it's a more common condition than one might think; not limited to the elderly or hearing-impaired.

The author's sudden and prolonged struggle with vertigo led to her diagnosis of Meniére's Disease even though her symptoms didn't fully match the disorder. Her decision to conduct her own research into Meniére's and her findings, which appear here, blend personal experience with her encounters with the medical community.

It should be noted that this focus is only on vertigo caused by inner ear problems. Interviews with some fifty people who suffered with vertigo provides in-depth discussions and research that has been reviewed by health professionals, and it considers alternative therapies (such as yoga), which may not be prescribed by a doctor, but which can help. Any who suffer from ongoing vertigo will find Vertigo, which includes many case histories, offers hope and understanding.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compassionate and medical information together with lots of examples from real people.