Thousands of patients come to an upper cervical chiropractor for vertigo each year. That’s because studies prove that upper cervical care can help curb the frequency of vertigo episodes. If you’re someone familiar with the spinning sensations caused by this symptom, then you know how crucial it is to find a reliable remedy. 

So how exactly does upper cervical chiropractic work, and how can it provide you with lasting relief? Let’s tackle these topics as we explore the link between vertigo attacks and the brainstem below.  

Vertigo Episodes and Their Likely Causes

The exact cause of vertigo episodes remains a big mystery. So far, research explains that vertigo episodes can come in two kinds – peripheral or central. The peripheral type affects about 90 percent of the folks who report vertigo symptoms. 

This vertigo type occurs due to a vestibular system defect. As a result, besides false motions, peripheral vertigo can cause other symptoms such as nystagmus, ear congestion, tinnitus, vomiting, and nausea. It often stems from vestibular disorders like Meniere’s, BPPV, and inner ear infection. 

Meanwhile, the rest of the vertigo cases stems from a brainstem lesion. It’s common among aging patients and those with pre-existing central nervous system problems such as trauma, tumors, multiple sclerosis, and infections. It can also affect patients with posterior circulation stroke. 

To know what type of vertigo you experience, you should consult with your primary doctor or a neurologist. This way, you can narrow down the most likely cause of your vertigo attacks. It will also help you understand how specific remedies can help you manage your symptoms. 

Common Remedies Used for Vertigo

Finding relief from vertigo attacks relies a lot on understanding its root cause. That’s because vertigo isn’t a disease or disorder. Instead, it’s only a sign of another health problem. If you want to experience less severe attacks, you can try any of the remedies below:

• Canalith repositioning – If your spinning sensations result from benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, you may find canalith repositioning helpful. It aims to deal with displaced calcium crystals or canaliths in your inner ear. 

•  Aromatherapy – Sometimes, using aromatherapy oils like lemon balm and peppermint helps in managing vertigo. You can these in small amounts during your aromatherapy sessions to relax your nerves and calm your mind. 

• Avoid getting dehydrated – Getting enough hydration is crucial in ensuring the normal function of your brain. Drink an adequate amount of water every day. 

• Acupressure massage – Some studies show that acupressure helps patients cope with vertigo attacks. It works similar to acupuncture but doesn’t use needles. Instead, it only focuses on pressure points to ease stress and muscle stiffness. It also works well in stimulating the body’s natural healing ability.   

Vertigo and Brainstem Link

Vertigo can cause you a lot of problems, especially when you’re frequently on the move. It can result in debilitating effects, or worse, an increased risk for injuries or accidents. 

So, where exactly does the brainstem fit in the picture? What role does it play in perceiving balance and your disrupting vertigo attacks? 

A brief review of basic human anatomy would remind you that balance and motion perception relies on your vestibular system, a group of small organs tucked inside the ears. Other parts such as your eyes and the sensory receptors on your skin and muscles also provide ample information about your body’s orientation and movement. 

Whenever your head changes position, the vestibular system processes that signal and informs your brain. Your eyes, muscles, and skin also contribute information such as your current orientation and the objects that may be standing in your way while you walk or run.

The brainstem, on one hand, acts as the bridge between your central nervous system and the rest of the parts involved in sensing balance and motion. 

In a way, it sorts the information that goes in and out of your central nervous system. If disruptions or problems occur during the sorting process, your brain perceives faulty information, triggering a vertigo attack's disabling symptoms.

That’s why it’s common for people to seek help from a chiropractor for vertigo. Upper cervical chiropractic focuses on correcting possible misalignment of the upper neck bones. Sometimes, due to accidents, poor posture, spinal structure issues, tumor, and physical trauma history, the upper cervical bones or the C1 and C2 shift from their original position. 

This causes them to press on the brainstem. Consequently, the misalignment impedes the flow of signals transmitted to and from the brain and your balance and motion organs. 

Relieving Brainstem Pressure to Improve Vertigo Symptoms

If you have been suffering from frequent and severe vertigo attacks, you likely have a spinal misalignment, especially along your neck. Your upper cervical bones might be putting undue pressure on your brainstem, triggering worse vertigo attacks or exacerbating a pre-existing CNS condition.  

No matter if your vertigo episodes stem from a vestibular disorder or central nervous system dysfunction, you might find relief when you seek the help of a chiropractor for vertigo. 

The approach itself is simple and straightforward. First, you need is to have your neck bone checked for misalignment. As we’ve mentioned above, it can happen because of various reasons, including accidents like car collisions and contact sports injuries. 

Once you get your diagnosis from the imaging results and physical examination, your upper cervical chiropractor can start planning the adjustments needed. The customized approach allows you to enjoy lasting relief from your vertigo episodes. It also ensures that the adjustments hold for as long as possible.

Find a reliable upper cervical care practitioner for your vertigo symptoms today.

to schedule a consultation today.