Vertigo cases have two categories based on the underlying cause of the condition. The less common causes are due to the problems in the central nervous system. known as central vertigo. However, what we want to take a closer look at today is the far more common category of vestibular problems that cause vertigo. This is peripheral vertigo. Let’s consider 6 conditions that cause peripheral vertigo and a natural therapy that is bringing hope to many long-time vertigo sufferers.
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Since that’s quite a mouthful, most people just say positional vertigo. This condition is due to crystals in the inner ear’s three canals. If one of these crystals moves away from its appropriate canal, even slight movements of the head can result in the onset of vertigo. Positional vertigo can result from numerous conditions, but it often has some relation to head or neck trauma.
This is a surprisingly common cause of vertigo. Vertigo can be a side effect of particular types of medication including but not limited to:
Labyrinthitis involves inflammation of the inner ear that leads to vertigo. Since the inner ear is one of the primary parts of the body that reports the information the brain uses to determine spatial orientation and balance, this can lead to very sudden bouts of vertigo. It commonly occurs during or just following an illness such as an upper respiratory infection, ear infection, a cold, or the flu. Symptoms should start to clear up in the days following the end of the illness.
Many people mistake this as the same condition as labyrinthitis as they both involve inflammation resulting in vertigo. However, instead of the inflammation being in the inner ear, it affects the vestibular nerve that carries signals from the ear to the brain. As a result, vertigo attacks can be severe.
Only about 0.2% of the population suffers from this condition, but many are being diagnosed each year, so this may not remain a rare syndrome for long. Researchers have struggled to lock down the underlying cause of Meniere’s disease since it was first classified over 150 years ago. However, it is generally accepted that it has to do with excess fluid in the inner ear. This causes recurring vertigo as well as tinnitus (ringing in the ear), a feeling of fullness in the affected ear, and hearing loss. Medications and dietary restrictions are the standard treatment options offered to reduce fluid in the inner ear. However, some of these medications (often diuretics) can actually cause vertigo.
Vertigo is frequently found to be a symptom of post-concussion syndrome or other aftereffects of head and neck trauma. Car accidents, sports injuries, and other traumas that result in concussion or whiplash can lead to vertigo. Unfortunately, concussions often go undiagnosed since many people do not realize you can sustain a concussion without being knocked unconscious. Whiplash also goes undiagnosed most of the time since it can occur at speeds as slow as 5 mph. Who goes to the doctor over a fender bender, right? We may also fail to mention the accident from months or years ago when going to the doctor with a new case of vertigo and get the wrong diagnosis as a result.
If you suffer from recurring vertigo, dietary changes and side-effect-ridden medications that just cover up symptoms may provide little solace. However, many are finding genuine hope through upper cervical chiropractic care. How can this help with vertigo and how does it differ from general chiropractors that you may have already been to with disappointing results?
The top two bones in the spine (the C1 and C2 or atlas and axis) protect the sensitive area where the brainstem meets the spinal cord. A misalignment in this area can lead to many of the conditions noted above. How? Even a slight misalignment of these bones can affect the Eustachian tubes that are responsible for draining extra fluid away from the ears. One upper cervical chiropractor noted that this gradual process can take up to 15 years before symptoms surface. By then the accident is a distant memory and rarely connected to symptoms. However, a case study involving 300 Meniere’s patients who had suffered head or neck trauma in the past was a resounding success with 97% of the patients reporting an average of 90% improvement in symptoms.
Chiropractors specialize in aligning the bones of the body, but upper cervical chiropractors are even more specialized. They focus on just the C1 and C2. We use diagnostic imaging to take precise measurements and detect misalignments. We then use extremely gentle adjustments to correct the issue precisely. If you are envisioning someone popping and twisting your spine, those are not present in upper cervical adjustments.
If you experience vertigo, especially if you had a head or neck injury, contact an upper cervical practice. Schedule a consultation and take your first step down the road to natural relief from numerous health concerns.
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TV show host Montel Williams describes how specific chiropractic care has helped his body.
The content and materials provided in this web site are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to supplement or comprise a medical diagnosis or other professional opinion, or to be used in lieu of a consultation with a physician or competent health care professional for medical diagnosis and/or treatment. All content and materials including research papers, case studies and testimonials summarizing patients' responses to care are intended for educational purposes only and do not imply a guarantee of benefit. Individual results may vary, depending upon several factors including age of the patient, severity of the condition, severity of the spinal injury, and duration of time the condition has been present.
