Are you looking for ways to deal with vertigo that don’t involve popping pills or invasive surgeries? We’re about to take a look at nine smart ways to get some relief from this extremely common complaint. The last tip will point you in the direction of a therapy that is providing hope for many who suffer from recurrent bouts of vertigo.
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Sure, only about 50% of patients ever find out the source of their vertigo, but this is a key element in seeking the right form of care. Whether you experienced a trauma before the onset of your vertigo, are suffering from vestibular migraines, or have BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo), this is the first step in getting relief.
One of the most common triggers for vertigo, especially positional vertigo which is the most common form, is head position. Anytime your head gets below your shoulders, there is a chance that vertigo may begin. That means bending at the knees instead of the waist if you have to get something off the bottom shelf. You should also watch out for your head position while you exercise if you get vertigo.
Many cases of vertigo are related to the neck. As a result, maintaining good posture is an important part of care. Try to keep your head level over your shoulders as a forward head position is one of the worst postures for a condition that may have its genesis in the neck. Every degree your head is forward increases the weight on your entire spine.
Again, head movements are a major culprit when it comes to the onset of vertigo. Unless you are in an emergency situation, whipping your head around is a terrible idea if you suffer from repeat episodes. Also, avoid activities that will whip your head around. Sorry, but that rules out thrill rides like roller coasters as well as high impact sports.
If you don’t smoke, good for you – don’t start. If you are a smoker, now is the time to give it up for good. Smoking is terrible for the health of your neck in general, and it can work against your attempts to relieve vertigo.
A healthcare professional can help you to perform this specific set of maneuvers that are designed to get the crystals inside your inner ear back into the right canal. If this is the cause of your vertigo, you may get instant relief. Since the results don’t always last, you may be able to learn a home version of the exercises to perform if vertigo comes back.
This is specifically for when vertigo is related to Meniere’s disease. Meniere’s is triggered by too much fluid (called endolymph) in the inner ear. This can lead to severe bouts of vertigo as well as tinnitus (ringing in the ear), hearing loss, and a feeling of fullness in the affected ear. The low-salt diet is intended to reduce fluid retention in the body and thereby reduce the amount of fluid in the inner ear.
Another common trigger of vertigo is stress, so these are a few things you can do to manage stress on a daily basis. Instead of clearing your mind when you meditate, try to focus on positive things. Use exercise and stretching to strengthen your core which may also improve your posture (see tip #3).
Before you let a desperate physician talk you into dangerous surgeries that can result in hearing loss, we urge you to try this safe and natural form of care that has helped many patients to get out from under the burden of vertigo. Upper cervical chiropractic is a niche in the chiropractic field that offers precise and gentle care for the top two bones in the spine, the C1 and C2, which are positioned at the base of the skull and in proximity to the ears.
Upper cervical chiropractic involves the use of modern diagnostic technology to precisely measure misalignments in the top two bones of the neck. These measurements are then used to tailor adjustments to each patient’s needs. Gentle adjustments are safe for all ages and hold longer than popping or forcing the spine into place. This also makes upper cervical chiropractic a cost-effective solution. You only need to be adjusted when you are out of alignment, whether that be once a week or once a year.
Neck misalignments can be an underlying cause of both central and peripheral vertigo. For example, a misalignment can put pressure on the brainstem and throw off the signals in the body’s balance system. However, a misalignment can also affect the Eustachian tubes resulting in fluid buildup in the ear. Since this process can take years, the injury that caused the misalignment is rarely connected to the current issue with vertigo unless you see someone who specifically looks for this connection.
In one case study, 80% of patients had vertigo completely resolve after upper cervical care. The other 20% also received benefits with reduced severity and frequency. In the end, while 56 of the patients could remember a past injury to their head or neck, all 60 had misalignments in the upper cervical spine.
To give upper cervical chiropractic a try for yourself, contact a practitioner in your local area today. You may be a gentle adjustment away from starting on the path to better overall health.
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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.
