In order to understand how to relieve pressure in the ears and head naturally, it is vital to understand what causes this pressure to occur. In our article today, we will take a closer look at the results of this unwanted pressure, which many times leads to the symptom of vertigo. Then we will talk about the possible causes of pressure in the head and ears. Finally, we will conclude by introducing you to a natural therapy that offers you the help you have been searching for.
First, we should explain what vertigo is because there are many things that people believe that are simply not true. For example, many people associate vertigo with a fear of heights. However, while anxiety may trigger an episode of vertigo, this false sensation of movement is more than just fear. It involves the feeling the either you or the room around you is spinning, tilting, swaying, or moving in some other way that is not real.
This is where vertigo differs from motion sickness. When a person experiences motion sickness, he or she feels nausea due to motion that is actually occurring. You can get nausea and even vomit due to vertigo, but the movement is not actually happening. Something between the ear and the brain is causing your body to think that there is motion when there is none. Since you feel the movement or may even see it, the mind and body get confused. This can also result in dangerous falls.
Vertigo happens in one of two ways. Either your brain misunderstands the signals coming from the ears or the ears send the wrong messages. When the problem is in the mind, it is called central vertigo. When the problem is in the ears, it is called peripheral vertigo. This second type is more common and is the one we are discussing today. So how does pressure lead to vertigo?
Pressure in the ears and head are often the result of an excess of a fluid called endolymph. Endolymphatic fluid in the inner ear allows you to maintain your sense of balance and to know where your body is in relation to your surroundings. However, when pressure builds up due to too much fluid or for other reasons, vertigo is the result.
Pressure in the ears is regulated means of tiny tubes called the eustachian tubes. These allow excess fluid to drain away from the ears and keep air pressure from being trapped inside the canals of the inner ear. When the eustachian tubes are working correctly, the pressure should never build up to the point of vertigo and other symptoms. So what can block these tubes and increase this pressure?
It could be something temporary. For example, sudden changes in elevation can increase pressure, such as driving up or down a steep hill or when you are ascending or descending in an aircraft. A sinus or respiratory condition can also create the inflammation that blocks this tube from draining the ears properly. After an illness, your inner ear may become swollen, or you may even have swelling in the vestibular nerve that carries information from the ear to the brain.
On the other hand, there may be long term problems that cause this pressure to recur. What could put pressure on the eustachian tubes and cause long-term issues that lead to vertigo happening over and over again? One possibility is an upper cervical misalignment. This can affect the eustachian tubes simply because of the proximity and the changes that take place when the top bones in the neck are misaligned. What changes occur, and why?
The upper cervical spine consists of the C1 and C2 vertebrae located at the base of the skull, almost directly between the ears. These bones both balance the head and provide it with more than half of its range of motion. Therefore, if even the slightest of misalignments occur, the body gets to work correcting the problem. This usually means changes in the surrounding soft tissue that keep the head on straight. Unfortunately, these changes can affect other surrounding soft tissue.
For example, it may affect the tiny tubes that are supposed to be draining fluid away from the ears. As a result, you may become more prone to pressure buildup. That pressure, in turn, causes frequent episodes of vertigo or other problems such as tinnitus (ringing in the ear), hearing loss, or just the feeling that your ear is stopped up. How can you correct the underlying problem and get your ears to release pressure properly again? We want to introduce you to upper cervical chiropractic care.
Upper cervical specific chiropractic involves precise measurements and calculations so as to provide gentle adjustments of the C1 and C2. Once these misalignments are corrected, the surrounding soft tissue can stabilize. This may lead to the removal of the blockage affecting the eustachian tubes. Perhaps this is why so many people who are living with recurring vertigo see improvement after upper cervical chiropractic care.
If you are experiencing recurring bouts of vertigo, especially if you have a history of head or neck trauma, we encourage you to seek this natural alternative. It may be just what you need to get on the path to long-term healing.
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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.
