Vertigo relief are two words that are foremost in the minds of those who suffer from spinning dizziness. Many have tried different pills and tablets to no avail. Anti-dizziness medications may work for a while, but long-term relief still escapes them.
Due to pre-existing conditions, other people cannot take these medications and want different ways to deal with their difficult health conditions. Maybe the key is to first really understand what causes their dizziness and get to know other options they can consider to address vertigo.
Many people who consult experts are surprised to hear that what they have is a condition called Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo or BPPV. More commonly, people refer to it as positional vertigo. While dizziness is one of vertigo's main symptoms, not many know about its actual cause.
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is the term used to describe a disorder in the inner ear that causes an individual to experience spinning dizziness. The condition is benign since it is non-life threatening, in general. When described as paroxysmal, it denotes the come-and-go nature of the symptoms.
The most oft-used word to describe the condition is positional, which refers to the body or head's sudden change in position, which then triggers the vertigo symptoms.
A person might feel a sudden onset of vertigo symptoms if he or she suddenly rises from the bed. One might feel symptoms of vertigo when the head is tilted downwards. These and other similar changes in head and body position disrupt the functions of the inner ear, which triggers dizziness and other known BPPV symptoms.
At this point, let’s learn more about the causes and other symptoms of BPPV.
The key to lasting vertigo relief is first to understand the roots and nature of the condition. Based on long periods of research, experts believe that BPPV develops due to movements of calcium carbonate crystals inside the recesses of our inner ear.
These crystals are called “otoconia,” and they are embedded in one part of the inner ear called “utricle”. The otoconia helps detect our head and body motions together with a fluid called “endolymph”.
When the crystals become brittle and fall into ear canals, these materials disrupt the flow of endolymph. Any disruption of endolymph flow results in distortion of a person’s sense of balance, in the process, also causing the spinning dizziness.
Aside from dizziness, some of the common BPPV symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and sudden uncontrolled falls to the ground due to instability.
For those who have suffered far too long from dizziness, learning about Epley Maneuver and the vertigo relief that it provides is nothing short of heaven-sent. The set of maneuvers was developed around 1980 by John Epley, a noted otolaryngologist.
The Epley Maneuver is about the use of a set of specific head movements. Maneuvers are done to guide the head for the purpose of moving the dislodged calcium crystals back to their proper location inside the inner ear.
When the maneuvers are done by a skilled and highly trained professional, they help make the symptoms of vertigo reduce in severity over time.
There are at least six positions that can be done to complete the Epley Maneuver. It can be done while sitting on a bench, a couch, or beside a bed. The key movements, of course, involve neck rotation.
After the movements are done, a person with vertigo might be advised to wear a specially designed collar to prevent any sudden movements of the head that might again disrupt the inner ear's workings.
Aside from using the Epley Maneuver, vertigo relief is also possible through other upper cervical spine alignment methods. The upper cervical chiropractor works to restore the proper alignment of the cylindrical bones called the atlas bone (C1 vertebra) and the axis bone (C2 vertebra).
The C1 and C2 vertebrae are crucial to our health because they help protect the brainstem as well as ensure the transmission of brain signals to different parts of the body. Misalignment leads to pain and many kinds and levels of discomfort.
When the upper cervical spine is injured, inflamed, or moved out of its original position, nerves that are connected to the spinal column could get pinched or compressed. Any compression or impingement of a nerve can result in sharp pain, tingling, muscle tension or fatigue, or, in some cases, numbness.
When the upper spine’s bones are misaligned, it also affects oxygen and blood flow to the brain. An insufficient flow of blood and oxygen hampers the brain's full functions, making a person dizzy, confused, and uncoordinated. Deviation or disturbance in the atlas and axis bones also harms the functionality of the inner ear.
A spinal imbalance is behind many symptoms of vertigo, pain, and other health concerns in many cases. Upper cervical chiropractic care, as a relief option, is both safe and natural.
If you wish to know more about upper cervical spinal adjustments, go to this link.
To request information or to book a consultation with a local upper cervical doctor in your area, check our extensive directory of upper cervical chiropractic offices.
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.