Although it can occur at any age, vertigo usually develops after the age of sixty-five. Vertigo itself is considered a symptom, but it can also cause other symptoms, such as a feeling of fullness in the ear, nausea and vomiting, problems with balance, lightheadedness, rotational dizziness, and motion sickness even when not moving. Given that a lot of old slot machines are hand built, it isn’t surprising that coins can get jammed on their way through the mechanism. Big warning: If your machine jams, don’t force the arm or you can break, twist or damage a part inside. Different models and makes tend to have common jam points. Causes of dizziness and vertigo. A wide range of conditions and diseases can cause dizziness, including: inner ear problems – disorders of the inner ear account for about half of all cases of persistent (ongoing) dizziness. Such disorders include Meniere’s disease, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and vestibular neuritis.
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Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Nov 16, 2020.
- Care Notes
- Overview
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
What is vertigo?
Vertigo is a condition that causes you to feel dizzy. You may feel that you or everything around you is moving or spinning. You may also feel like you are being pulled down or toward your side.
What causes vertigo?
The inner ear is filled with fluid, a nerve, and small organs. These structures help you maintain your balance. Vertigo may be caused by diseases or conditions that affect your inner ear or the part of your brain that controls balance. Any of the following can cause vertigo:
- Small particles that float in the inner ear fluid move out of place and cause irritation
- Ménière disease
- Ear trauma
- An inner ear infection
- A neurologic condition such as multiple sclerosis, migraine, tumor, or stroke
- Panic and anxiety disorders
- Drinking a large amount of alcohol
What signs and symptoms may happen with vertigo?
- Nausea or vomiting
- Trouble with your balance
- Sensitivity to light or sound
- Weakness, slurred speech, problems seeing or moving, or increased sleepiness
- Facial weakness and headache
- Hearing loss, ear fullness or pain, or hearing ringing sounds
- Fast, uncontrolled movement of your eyes
How is vertigo diagnosed?
Your healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms. Tell your healthcare provider about past diseases, travels, activities, trauma, and medicines. Your healthcare provider may move your head in different directions. This will check to see if a problem in the inner ear is causing your vertigo. You may be asked to do some exercises that could make you dizzy. You may also need one or more of the following to find the cause of vertigo:
- An electronystagmography (ENG) is done to test for problems you may have with balance or dizziness. Sticky pads with wires are placed on the skin around your eyes. The wires are connected to a machine that records information during your ENG. Warm and cool air or water is put into your ears while your eye movements are recorded. Do not drink alcohol or eat a heavy meal before this test. You may feel dizzy or nauseated after the test.
- An auditory brainstem response (ABR) test is used to play a series of clicks through headsets on your ears. A machine measures how your cochlea and nerves react to the clicks.
- An MRI of the brain may be used to check for problems that can cause vertigo. Do not enter the MRI room with anything metal. Metal can cause serious damage. Tell the healthcare provider if you have any metal in or on your body.
How is vertigo treated?
Treatment will depend on the condition causing the vertigo. Your healthcare provider may suggest that you rest in bed or avoid certain activities for a time. You may need to decrease or stop taking medicines that are causing your vertigo. Medicines may also be prescribed to help relieve your symptoms.
How can I manage my symptoms?
- Do not drive , walk without help, or operate heavy machinery when you are dizzy.
- Move slowly when you move from one position to another position. Get up slowly from sitting or lying down. Sit or lie down right away if you feel dizzy.
- Drink plenty of liquids. Liquids help prevent dehydration. Ask how much liquid to drink each day and which liquids are best for you.
- Vestibular and balance rehabilitation therapy (VBRT) is used to teach you exercises to improve your balance and strength. These exercises may help decrease your vertigo and improve your balance. Ask for more information about this therapy.
When should I seek immediate care?
- You have a headache and a stiff neck.
- You have shaking chills and a fever.
- You vomit over and over with no relief.
- You have blood, pus, or fluid coming out of your ears.
- You are confused.
When should I contact my healthcare provider?
- Your symptoms do not get better with treatment.
- You have questions about your condition or care.
Care Agreement
You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your healthcare providers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment. The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.© Copyright IBM Corporation 2020 Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes. All illustrations and images included in CareNotes® are the copyrighted property of A.D.A.M., Inc. or IBM Watson Health
Further information
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Learn more about Vertigo
Associated drugs
IBM Watson Micromedex
Symptoms and treatments
Mayo Clinic Reference
ICD-10 CM Clinical Codes (External)
Owning a vintage slot machine is one of those fun yet daunting ideas. Many old school one-armed bandits are beautifully designed and instant conversation pieces. Plus slot fans who own a machine don’t ever have to worry about losing money to the house.
Charles August Fey, a Bavaria-born inventor, was living in San Francisco when he invented his first gambling machine in 1984. His games grew to be so popular at local bars, he quit his day job and opened a factory to start mass producing them, most notably the Liberty Bell machines in 1899. A lot of the functionality from that early game remained in place through much of the 20th century. Watch this video to see the seven mechanical actions set into motion when you pull back the bandit’s arm. The inner workings are probably a little more complex than you expect.
Given that a lot of old slot machines are hand built, it isn’t surprising that coins can get jammed on their way through the mechanism. Big warning: If your machine jams, don’t force the arm or you can break, twist or damage a part inside. Different models and makes tend to have common jam points. The Mills model shown in the above video can have coins stuck in the “elevator” section that displays the last five coins dropped into the machine. Getting the slot working again can be as simple as cleaning the gunk off of an old part. You just need to be smart when you’re disassembling and reassembling the machinery.
Vertigo Treatment Machine
Okay, there are plenty of more places where a coin can get stuck and the above video demonstrates how to fix a variety of jams. It also explains how to disassemble the major parts of the machine and where common problem areas are.
Curious how an antique slot machine knows how much money a winner gets? This video shows the punch-card like communication that trips payouts and how. If you ever need to replace the reel symbols or calibrate the machine you’ll need to understand how these work. Even if you don’t ever plan on owning a machine, the metallic “circuitry” is interesting to see.
Want to own a modern slot machine? New ones have plenty more bells, whistles and dings, and also a lot more advanced parts. If you plan on getting one, you may want to have an idea of what’s inside. In addition to the classic reels, there are speakers, motherboards filled with programming chips and plenty of wires. Unless you have a way with a soldering iron you probably won’t try and fix it. But in case you do, here’s a clip from Discovery showing what’s inside.
Can Slot Machines Cause Vertigo Symptoms
Did you know newer slot machines are smart enough to test themselves when a problem happens? This video shows you the procedure for having the machine check its own system. The host’s desert dry delivery is also enough to make this vid worth a watch.