Are you among the thousands of patients who experience vertigo attacks and dizzying spells in the country? Chances are, you don’t know why you experience such crippling symptoms. So let’s help you figure things out by discussing some of the commonly reported triggers of vertigo and dizzying spells. Additionally, let’s deep dive into some helpful remedies like getting an atlas bone adjustment and trying aromatherapy. Hopefully, you can better manage your spinning sensations and dizzying spells with the help of our comprehensive discussion and list of tips.
Table of Contents
Head and neck trauma are common in the USA. In fact, about 1.5 million Americans suffer from head trauma, while around 12,000 report cervical spine injuries each year. Unfortunately, some of these individuals develop vertigo-causing problems even after their injuries heal. This primarily happens because the excessive force on the head or neck can lead to the following:
A compromised cervical spine structure can have terrible effects because your cervical bones protect the nerves and blood vessels connecting to the central nervous system. Notably, even the slightest degree of atlas or axis subluxation can impede blood flow and disrupt signal transmissions between your brain and nerves.
Besides protecting several nerve roots and blood vessels, the uppermost neck bones encase the brainstem – the nervous system’s information superhighway. As a result, your neck bones can also affect normal brainstem function. This can lead to a string of problems that can worsen vertigo-causing conditions.
Some studies found that upper cervical bone misalignment can lead to eustachian tube lesion – a risk factor for vestibular diseases like Meniere’s. An impaired eustachian tube will fail to regulate pressure inside the inner ears. It can also affect fluid drainage in the ears and cause additional problems like:
Dizziness and spinning can sometimes stem from dehydration. That’s because the lack of water in your body can affect brain function. Without enough fluids, your blood volume plummets dramatically, causing your brain tissue to receive not enough oxygen and nutrients needed to function correctly.
Abnormal levels of electrolytes in the body can cause various problems ranging from impaired kidney function to vertigo episodes. Certain electrolytes like potassium and sodium are necessary for multiple physiological processes like pumping blood into different organs, balancing water levels in the body, and allowing nerves to transmit signals.
Statistics show that about 3 million Americans have anemia. Most of these individuals complain about dizziness, spinning sensations, and lethargy. Notably, the condition causes blood cells to contain fewer amounts of hemoglobin – a substance that binds with oxygen molecules needed by various organs like the brain, heart, and lungs. Your body needs oxygen to facilitate cellular respiration so your organs can produce enough energy to perform their tasks.
Some medications can set off vertigo attacks and severe bouts of dizziness. Examples include anti-depressants, diuretics, calcium-blockers, and blood pressure medicine. If you experience problems while taking these drugs, you should consult your physician to find suitable alternatives.
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is among the most well-known vestibular disorders. It develops when tiny calcium crystals get stuck in certain parts of your inner ears. Essentially, these calcium crystals disrupt normal vestibular functions. So, each time you move your head, the brain detects exaggerated movements. This leads to severe bouts of vertigo attacks and even lightheadedness.
Stress is a well-known trigger of various health complaints, including dizziness and vertigo attacks. Studies explain that stress stimulates the release of adrenaline or cortisol. Consequently, these hormones can elevate blood pressure and speed up glucose metabolism. Additionally, these hormones can impair vestibular nerve function, causing your brain to receive confusing signals.
Some neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis, brainstem infarction, and brainstem tumor can cause central vertigo attacks. If you have any of these diseases or disorders, we strongly suggest discussing your options with your clinician. This will help you assess your risks and determine the best course of action to manage the symptoms.
Cardiovascular conditions like atherosclerosis, hypertension, mitral valve prolapse, and arrhythmia can sometimes set off dizzying spells and spinning sensations. These conditions require immediate medical attention because they can be life-threatening in most cases. If you suspect having heart conditions and experience lightheadedness or vertigo attacks, we strongly recommend calling 911. The sooner you can get someone to attend to your problem, the better prognosis you can get.
Meniere’s is a rare condition that impacts auditory and vestibular functions. While studies have yet to find the root cause of Meniere’s, some researchers have managed to identify risk factors, such as:
Without a doubt, vertigo attacks and dizzying spells are widespread health complaints in the USA. This happens because they often come hand in hand with different underlying conditions. Hopefully, our list of common vertigo and dizziness triggers can help you figure out how to move forward.
If you need help managing your vertigo episodes and dizziness, we suggest considering getting an atlas bone adjustment. After all, several studies have already established the connection between vertigo attacks, dizziness, and cervical spine misalignments.
Regardless of what vertigo-causing condition you have, an atlas bone adjustment might come in handy because it aims to solve problems like:
Schedule your visit to the nearest upper cervical chiropractic clinic to discover how an atlas bone adjustment can help you achieve renewed health and a vertigo-free life.
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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.
