For anyone who is experiencing vertigo on a regular basis, it is important to learn all that you can about it. This can help to quell concerns and may also lead to finding a viable solution to the problem. Let's consider some important vertigo facts and then discuss a form of care that has been providing relief for patients.
People often confuse vertigo with dizziness or a feeling of lightheadedness. Dizziness is actually a false sensation of movement. Many associate vertigo with the room spinning, and that is definitely a way it can manifest itself. However, it may also feel like a rocking sensation. For instance, when a person gets off of a boat after a long day in choppy water. If a vertigo attack is severe, a person may feel like he or she is moving even when lying down. This can lead to nausea and vomiting.
Acrophobia is the fear of heights. For some reason, people often confuse this with vertigo, perhaps because of the classic movie Vertigo in which the lead character has a fear of heights. It is possible to experience vertigo while high up. It may even have to do with being afraid because spiking anxiety levels can trigger a vertigo attack. However, vertigo and a fear of heights are still not the same thing.
Vertigo is not usually life-threatening. In fact, the most common cause of vertigo is BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo). That just means the position of your head triggers the start of an attack. There are some causes of vertigo that are very serious. For example, if you are experiencing other symptoms of a heart attack, you should seek emergency medical attention immediately because vertigo can be a symptom of heart disease. However, the most danger that is usually associated with vertigo is the risk of a fall when an attack comes on suddenly.
After age 40, the risk of experiencing vertigo increases exponentially. It is no wonder that about 1 in 3 seniors fall each year. In order to reduce this fall risk, it is important to avoid activities that trigger an episode. For example, for some with BPPV, bending over to pick something up can quickly result in a spinning sensation that leads to a person ending up on the ground right next to whatever he or she was reaching for.
Sometimes vertigo ends on its own and is an isolated occurrence. For example, if you take a trip on a particularly rocky boat, ride a wild rollercoaster, or spin around in a circle really fast, you may end up with a temporary bout of vertigo. Unless you already have problems with vertigo, this isn’t really a cause for concern because it may go away and never happen again. However, when vertigo is severe or repeated, it is time to find a way to fight it.
Before you try medications with unwanted side effects or invasive surgeries to try and correct the problem, why not give a natural remedy a try? Since vertigo is considered non-life-threatening, you aren’t risking anything by trying a home remedy first. For example:
The onset of vertigo frequently begins following some type of trauma. For example, a car accident may result in a whiplash-type injury or a sporting injury may lead to a concussion. If vertigo follows and becomes chronic, this could be a signal that a misalignment has occurred in the upper cervical spine.
When the C1 (atlas) is out of place, it can affect the vestibular system (how the body balances itself) in several ways.
Any of the above factors can lead to problems with vertigo, migraines, and other conditions. It is no wonder then that in a study involving 139 Meniere’s disease patients, 136 saw significant improvement in vertigo severity and frequency after gentle upper cervical adjustments. To learn more about how upper cervical chiropractic care may benefit you, especially if you have any type of head or neck injury in your history, contact a practitioner near you and schedule a consultation.
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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.
