Vertigo is one of the most common symptoms that you can experience. It is also a symptom with a lot of common misconceptions about it. With that in mind, you can use this list to combat some of the most common myths out there about vertigo. Plus, at the end of our list, we’re going to introduce you to a natural therapy that is bringing hope to sufferers by offering long-term relief without drugs, shots, or surgery. Read on to get all the details.

Myth 1 – Vertigo Is a Condition on Its Own

You hear a lot of people say “I have vertigo,” as if it is the name of a disease. The problem is that without looking for the underlying cause of it, it can be tough to get any real relief. Understanding that it is just a symptom can be a big first step in working toward finding the right form of care for you.

Myth 2 – Vertigo and Dizziness Are the Same Thing

This gets confusing because vertigo is usually classified as a type of dizziness. So while all vertigo is dizziness, not all dizziness is vertigo. On the other hand, dizziness is a layman’s term and not a real medical term. In other words, vertigo, lightheadedness, disequilibrium, and the many other symptoms that we often call dizziness should really just be called by their medical term so your doctor understands what symptoms you are actually experiencing.

With that in mind, we should define it so you know that you are researching the right topic. Vertigo refers to a false sensation of movement. And to crush another myth: no, it is not always a spinning feeling. It can be a spinning, swaying, tilting, or any other sensation of movement that isn’t really happening.

Myth 3 – Vertigo Happens When You Look Down from a Height

Since anxiety can trigger an attack, it is possible to get vertigo when you look down from a height, but it can strike at any time, even when you just move your head a certain way. For example, sometimes the elderly get it when bending over, and this can lead to a serious fall.

The real misconception here is that people sometimes confuse vertigo for fear of heights, and that may be because of an Alfred Hitchcock film called Vertigo wherein the lead character has a fear of heights. However, it is not linked to being high up, and the fear of heights is acrophobia (one of many phobias that are linked to motion and space).

Myth 4 – Vertigo Won’t Affect Both Ears

Vertigo in both ears is more common than the average person thinks. And when both ears are affected, its attacks can be much more severe. Perhaps this misconception comes from Meniere’s disease, a vestibular condition that causes severe vertigo but that usually only affects one ear. Even in the case of Meniere’s, however, both ears can be affected as the disease progresses. Other symptoms such as hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing in the ears) also tend to get worse in the later stages of Meniere’s.

Myth 5 – Vertigo Is Always Caused by a Problem in the Ear

The ears are the most likely source of the spinning sensation. However, there are also causes in the central nervous system. For example, about 40% of people who get migraines also experience vertigo and other vestibular symptoms. In this case, vertigo is the symptom of a neurological condition rather than a vestibular condition.

Myth 6 – No One Has Ever Died from Vertigo

Okay, so you’re never going to find vertigo as a cause of death on someone’s record. But keep in mind that it can lead to a serious fall. If that fall results in a person’s death, doesn’t the cause ultimately go back to vertigo (or even more specifically, whatever is the underlying cause of the episodes)? So while vertigo isn’t fatal, it is not something you can ignore as harmless. Think of your last attack. What would have been the result if you had experienced that feeling while on a ladder or perhaps while driving a car? Yes, it can be very dangerous depending on the circumstances.

Myth 7 – Vertigo Is a Normal Part of Aging

Is vertigo more common in the elderly? Sure, it is. But that doesn’t mean you should be experiencing it as you age. The older you are, the more likely you are to have an underlying condition that causes vertigo. But you shouldn’t accept this symptom as being part of the aging process and something you just have to live with.

Myth 8 – You Can’t Find Natural Help for Vertigo

Hundreds of patients in case studies have already found this to be false. In fact, upper cervical chiropractic care really makes sense for patients because a misalignment of the top two bones in the neck can create the right conditions in the ears and the central nervous system for vertigo to occur.

Therefore, if you are suffering from it, especially if you have a history of head or neck trauma, it makes sense to see one of these chiropractic subspecialists. You may find that a safe and gentle adjustment based on precise measurements of the C1 and C2 provides the natural relief you crave. To learn more, use the search feature on this site to find a preferred doctor near you and schedule a no-obligation consultation today.

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