Nearly 40% of people will experience vertigo, dizziness, or balance issues at least once in their life. Often, people report it coming on insidiously and they cannot always pinpoint the why. Other times, it can be a lifelong struggle or associated with a disease, such as Minieres or Benign Positional Vertigo. In conversation with a patient that started seeing us for back pain, it came up that they have had vertigo for years. It had no real rhyme or reason for them, yet it disrupts your normal life and takes time away from family and friends. Good news for them, we were able to help with the back pain...and the vertigo. But, why?

What is Vertigo?

Vertigo is a medical term that depicts a condition where an individual experiences  dizziness and/or a loss of balance. Some describe it as spinning. Other’s describe it as the world turning on it’s side. Dizziness is another term for vertigo.  Some describe it as a startling feeling when you are riding a sea vessel and after you jump ashore, you still feel the movement of the water.

Vertigo normally presents with discomfort, nausea, vomiting, excessive sweating, and sometimes the patient can hardly walk. It can practically disrupt your normal daily activities. Dizziness is something that can affect people of all different backgrounds 

Causes of Vertigo

Vertigo may have varied causes. Some of which may require serious medical attention, as in the case of head trauma.  However, it is generally caused by issues related to the inner ear or cervical spine (your neck!)  The inner ear is considered the body’s vestibular framework that is responsible for the control of balance and spatial direction. Cervicogenic vertigo is triggered from injuries to the neck or even poor posture, such as a Text Neck or sitting too long looking at a computer.

 For those with vertigo caused by an ear issue but it is not known what causes their ear imbalance, they call it ‘benign paroxysmal positional vertigo’. It is generally a result of tiny particles moving around the inner ear when the individual changes position. At this instance, the individual gets the spinning feeling, nausea, and other symptoms.

 In more severe cases, vertigo can be accompanied by ‘Meniere’s disease’ which presents as the ringing of ears and loss of hearing. The individual has a feeling of a blocked or fluid-filled ear canal. Genetics or environmental factors could be attributed as the causes of these though it has not been proven yet.

 Labyrinthitis is an inflammation of the inner ear. This condition can be another major cause of vertigo. Vertigo is the symptom of this ear infection. The good news is, that with vertigo, chiropractic is a great starting spot if you are experiencing the symptoms. If it is an ear infection, chiropractic is known to help alleviate the frequency of ear infections, and we are a place that refers to the right provider. If it is other causes of vertigo, such as neck or inner ear causes, our office is able to help, naturally and without drugs or surgery.

Vertigo and Chiropractic

An individual with vertigo can definitely benefit from chiropractic care. Patients have different ways in which vertigo manifests itself. Various techniques are engaged to support the body so that the patient can recover their balance control and decrease frequency of the vertigo.

 Chiropractic adjustments are done while keeping in mind the improper moving joints. Cervicogenic vertigo is the consequence of faulty motions in the neck which are misinterpreted by the brain. 

 Our sense of balance is being handled by the inner ear which is the ‘vestibulocochlear’ system. This contains fluid-filled tubules with hair linings in them. These hair linings play a vital role since they transmit information to the central nervous system concerning movements and orientations. Some individuals may experience wherein the debris holds sensitive areas in the ear, thus causing vertigo.

The chiropractic adjustment enables the nervous system to function at its optimum level. The nervous system serves as the sensory control between the brain and the body. The spine serves as the sensory pathway of the nervous system. Chiropractic adjustments help regulate sensory transmissions between the brain and the body, as a result communication in the body is greatly improved; including function of the ear, lymph, and the immune system function. The patients at DHCC have seen great improvements and decrease in the frequency of vertigo once they are under regular care.

At DHCC, there are various techniques used to help align the body. The success we found with patients comes from focusing on the top two bones in the body. These bones are associated with jaw, ear, and headache dysfunctions in the body. When they are misaligned, it can cause vertigo, headaches, TMJ, and even sleep issues. By aligning the cervical spine with gentle techniques, patients see a decrease in vertigo and other pain and dis-eases in the body. 

Chiropractic is both non-invasive and does not involve any surgery or medication. It helps align the body and improve the function of the nervous system to help the body to recover/heal by itself. 

 Chiropractic is an excellent choice if you are experiencing vertigo, or anybody you would know, Dover Health Care Center is here to help. The chiropractors at DHCC have the management and expertise to carry you to your best self and empower you to live the life you desire.