Vertigo can originate in the central nervous system but is more often an issue of the vestibular system, which is located in the inner ear and helps with balance and spatial orientation. Finding which vestibular disorder you may have can be difficult since there a number of different ones. Here are 8 of these conditions plus a natural treatment option to get relief.
Autoimmune conditions occur when the body attacks itself. When this happens, the immune system becomes so dysfunctional that it can lead to the body mistaking normal systems like the inner ear as intruders. An attack on this part of the body can lead to vertigo and other vestibular symptoms.
An abbreviated version of this title is positional vertigo or BPPV. The curved canals of the inner ear contain small calcium carbonate crystals that aid in the detection of movement and spatial orientation. If any of these dislodge and travel outside of the canal, it can cause vertigo. This is one of the primary causes of vertigo. Patients with vertigo who do not have any other identifiable symptoms often get diagnosed with BPPV. The trigger for vertigo in these patients is a change in head position, like rolling over in bed.
This happens when a patient’s vestibular function decreases in both ears. It is in a category of its own since most vestibular conditions only affect one ear. Vestibular problems with both ears can result in vertigo, balance issues, and even vision problems when the head is moving. These problems are noticeably worse in low-light situations since the body cannot use visual input to help with balance.
CANVAS stands for cerebellar ataxia (CA), peripheral nerve damage (N), and vestibular areflexia (VA). Any of the 3 conditions could cause vertigo and other vestibular problems. Having all 3 issues is rare but can cause some serious balance issues.
Most of the time, doctors do not make the connection between neck pain and vertigo. Vertigo patients often complain of neck pain as well. Existence of neck pain and dizziness are cervicogenic dizziness. This is when vertigo or other vestibular problems resulted from issues of the neck, like an upper cervical misalignment. A misalignment like this can be the underlying cause of many vertigo conditions (like BPPV and Meniere’s disease).
Vertigo is one of the top symptoms following a head injury. It may originate from the central nervous system. Another possibility is that the ear was affected by the injury, either by the impact or swelling resulting from the impact. When a person experiences whiplash with a head trauma, there is also a high probability that the upper vertebrae of the spine have been affected. The vertebrae may be putting pressure on the spinal cord and brainstem, hindering proper communication between the body’s systems that are essential for balance.
This term literally means “disembarkment sickness” and it describes the phenomenon people experience when they still feel the movement of a boat, car, plane, train, or amusement park ride, even after disembarkment. When talking about any kind of false sensation of motion, it is considered a vertigo condition.
Several studies have shown that nearly 25% of migraine sufferers also have vertigo as a symptom. When vestibular symptoms like vertigo are present, it is referred to as a vestibular migraine. Surprisingly, these types of migraines can happen with or without a headache. Migraines are a neurological condition and are not dependent on the presence of head pain.
This is a very uncommon vestibular condition that is actually on the rise, with upwards of 45,000 people diagnosed annually here in the US. The symptoms of this condition include intense vertigo episodes that can last up to 24 hours, severe tinnitus (ringing in the ear), a feeling of fullness in the affected ear, and hearing loss.
It just so happens that many of the conditions previously listed are linked to issues in the neck. Based on a study of 60 vertigo patients, 56 of them could recall a head or neck trauma prior to experiencing vertigo symptoms. Every one of them received care from an upper cervical chiropractor, and 48 walked away completely free from vertigo. The remaining 12 patients experienced a dramatic reduction of intensity and frequency of vertigo attacks.
Vertigo is an extremely common condition, and the likelihood of a person having an episode increases with age. This could be from a long-standing upper cervical misalignment from an injury left untended for 15 years or more. If you are suffering from vertigo and you have had a head or neck injury in your past, upper cervical chiropractic care may be the answer for you.
To get a free consultation and learn more, contact an upper cervical chiropractic near you. You may be one gentle adjustment away from the natural relief you’ve been waiting for.
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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.
