If you have recently been diagnosed with a vertigo, you may have a lot of questions. Unfortunately, many doctors fail to take the necessary time to speak with their patients. Some just write a quick script and move on to the next room. If you feel like you still have a lot to learn about vertigo, this is the article for you. We’ll address some of the frequently asked questions about vertigo, and the answer to the last question will introduce a natural form of care that many are finding effective.
Table of Contents
A: Yes! You are most definitely not alone. It is estimated that about 10% of people get the false spinning sensation. However, this symptom becomes more common as a person ages. Thus, about 40% of people over the age of 40 are expected to experience vertigo at some point.
A: Vertigo is defined by a false sensation of movement. You may experience the illusion that things around you are moving, or you may feel like you are moving despite standing still, sitting, or even lying down. For many people, vertigo is experienced as a spinning sensation.
A: For many people, the underlying cause of vertigo goes undetected. However, since its onset often occurs following some sort of head or neck injury, trauma has to be toward the top of the list of causes. At other times, vertigo is related to an illness such as a cold or flu. These viruses can result in inflammation of the inner ear or the vestibular nerve. Additionally, there are vestibular conditions such as Meniere’s disease that have vertigo as a primary symptom.
A: Unfortunately, yes, so you need to be aware of the accompanying symptoms. For example, vertigo can signal a heart attack or stroke, so if a person is experiencing the other symptoms of these emergency issues, you need to call for help immediately.
There are other debilitating conditions that can cause vertigo, although they do not pose as immediate of a threat. For example, a benign tumor pressing on the vestibular nerve might lead to vertigo. Also, multiple sclerosis (MS) has vertigo as one of its many indicators.
A: Vertigo is very commonly associated with anxiety, but stress itself is not a cause of vertigo. It seems to be a common trigger. So someone who already has issues with vertigo may experience the problem more frequently when a sudden stressor arises. This calls for good stress management techniques because it is impossible to avoid all sources of stress.
A: A common one is diuretics. You may have heard these referred to as a water pill. The idea is that reducing fluids in the body will keep the ear from having too much fluid in it. If endolymphatic hydrops is the cause of your vertigo, this may reduce the frequency of attacks. Anti-nausea medications can benefit a person with bad vertigo. This doesn’t help vertigo itself, but it could keep a person from vomiting during a severe episode.
A: This refers to a series of maneuvers that a healthcare practitioner can help a patient to perform. The idea is that these maneuvers can reset the crystals in the inner ear canals that help to detect movement and maintain balance. You may also be able to learn some techniques to use at home if vertigo returns, which it often does.
A: This, once again, has to do with endolymphatic hydrops. Sodium helps the body to retain water. Reducing sodium intake may prevent the ear from containing excess fluid that can lead to vertigo episodes. Of course, there could also be cardiovascular reasons for such a suggestion, so be sure to talk to your doctor before changing your diet.
A: For many people, there is! It all goes back to how many people experience vertigo following injuries or accidents. One upper cervical chiropractor conducted a study involving 139 Meniere’s patients who all had suffer undiagnosed whiplash through car accidents and other injuries. The result was an upper cervical misalignment. When this misalignment was corrected, 136 of the patients saw significant benefits in the first six weeks of the study and even great benefits by the conclusion of the two-year study. The other three patients dropped out of the study just six weeks in.
A: Upper cervical chiropractic is a niche in the industry that focuses on the top two bones of the neck, located at the base of the skull. It uses diagnostic imaging to take precise measurements so that gentle and long-lasting corrections can be delivered.
Because of the proximity of these bones to both the ears and the brainstem, the effects of a misalignment can lead to vertigo either by reducing the ability of the ears to drain properly or by affecting the signals that are sent to the brain regarding spatial orientation and balance.
Thus, it makes sense to seek out upper cervical chiropractic care if you are experiencing vertigo, especially if you have a head or neck injury in your past. To learn more, schedule a no-obligation consultation with a practitioner in your local area.
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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.
