Cybersickness is a relatively new term. Not everybody knows what it means. Cybersickness is a new kind of dizziness that is becoming a frequent problem today.

When an individual feels dizzy, it can be due to a problem in the nervous system that is in charge of proper oxygen and blood flow to the body and brain. A regular dizzy spell is like the one you feel when you suddenly get up from a sitting position. However, cybersickness is a new version of vertigo and dizziness.

Researchers discovered that computer-generated graphics and videos from smartphones could cause cybersickness among its users. Some people who are resistant to normal motion sickness can experience it as well to a certain degree.

Watching fast-paced films can trigger digital motion sickness or digital vertigo. For example, car racing movies or any action-packed 3D movies can cause cybersickness. Viewers go through dizziness or vertigo after staring at smartphones or playing video games for extended periods. Why is that so? In these scenarios, your eyes are fixed on something moving while your body is entirely at rest. The confusion in sensory inputs causes dizziness or vertigo.

More About Digital Vertigo or Cybersickness

You’re probably familiar with motion sickness. It occurs when the body perceives a movement which the eyes can’t see or vice versa. As a result, it makes the person ill or nauseous. Some people feel motion sickness during a ride to a roller coaster or boat.

Car sickness is an example of regular motion sickness. It happens when your eyes lock on an object at rest, but your body feels movement. The mismatched in sensory input makes you feel sick. 

In digital vertigo or cybersickness, the eyes see the movement through tablets, mobile phones, TVs, or computer monitors. However, the body does not feel any motion. Thus, it creates a similar sensation to motion sickness. 

Experts estimate that around 50 - 80 percent of people experience headaches, nausea, or migraines due to prolonged staring at their computer screens. So, it would probably give you comfort to know that you’re not the only person who needs relief from digital vertigo.

Symptoms of Digital Vertigo

Digital vertigo or cybersickness does not involve the vestibular system. Only visual stimuli trigger it. However, both motion sickness and digital vertigo share many symptoms. Here are some signs of digital vertigo:

• General discomfort
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Sweating
• Fatigue
• Disorientation
• Drowsiness
• Headaches
• Migraines

Pointers to Avoid Cybersickness or Digital Vertigo

• Remember to take a few minutes of rest after every 30 minutes of staring at your tablets, mobile phones, or computers for long periods.
• Individuals with poor psychological stamina are more prone to suffer from digital vertigo. If you are one of these people, minimize gadget use or don’t use any device at all. 
• Some specialists recommend accustoming yourself to watching action films or playing virtual reality games. This would help you get used to watching from these devices, therefore reducing your cybersickness. Start using these gadgets with small time increments, slowly increasing as you get used to them. 
• Follow the movement of your fingers as you swipe on the touch screens.
• Reduce your mouse scroll speed.
• Reduce the contrast on your computer or phone screen while increasing the font size.
• Consider using the arrow keys in your keyboard instead of the mouse. It will allow you to slow down the rate of visual data that enters your vision. 
• Use regular motion sickness medication.

Apple and other technology companies have already come up with ways to combat cybersickness among their consumers. People with iPhones can now adjust and tweak their phone settings to reduce motion, thus, lowering their chances of getting digital vertigo.

Solution for Vertigo or Any Form of Dizziness

Through research and medical application, it has been proven that a misalignment in the bones of the upper neck—the atlas (C1 vertebra)—can trigger vertigo. When a misalignment is present, there is pressure put on the brainstem. As a result, it causes distortion in signals and miscommunication between the brain and body. Vertigo or dizziness is a likely outcome.

There was a study involving 60 vertigo patients who received care from an upper cervical chiropractor. All 60 of them reported a significant reduction in their symptoms, and 48 of these patients experience the elimination of their vertigo altogether. Thus, it provides a piece of evidence that this form of chiropractic care does provide vertigo relief to those who suffer from it.

Upper cervical chiropractic care uses a gentle (low-force) and precise technique that corrects the misalignment of the atlas vertebra. This method does not employ forceful realignment by popping or cracking the neck or spine. Instead, it encourages the bone to realign back into its regular position. Therefore, restoring the proper communication of signals throughout the body. As a result, it alleviates and resolves dizziness or vertigo for good.

If vertigo or dizziness has been a consistent problem of yours, seek an upper cervical doctor near you for help.

References: 

https://thrivechirodr.com/cybersickness-digital-vertigo-helped-naturally/

https://www.techtimes.com/articles/107596/20151117/feeling-dizzy-while-scrolling-your-smartphone-it-could-be-cybersickness.htm

https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/11/14/feeling-woozy-it-may-be-cyber-sickness/

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