Damaged Vestibular System and Its Effect On Your Overall Wellbeing

August 7, 2022

vestibular system, vertigo relief

Several people looking for vertigo relief aren’t aware of the common causes of vertigo, such as a damaged or defective vestibular system. Sadly, because of this, many are clueless about how to cope during a vertigo episode. If you are among these individuals, going through our quick discussion on the vestibular organs might help you improve your approach to your disorienting symptom.

 

Sensing Balance is a Crucial Inner Ear Function 

Besides helping you detect the sounds of birds chirping or cars honking near your neighborhood, the ears perform another essential function: perceiving movements and maintaining equilibrium. 

The inner ears comprise tiny organs: the vestibule and semi-circular canal system. These organs work hand in hand to help your brain detect changes in your head’s orientation and send signals to help you stand upright and adjust to the movements of your body and the things around you. 

Unfortunately, these organs can malfunction when you suffer from a traumatic injury to your head or neck or an inner ear infection. Instead of sending the relevant and correct information to your brain, your vestibular system transmits confusing signals causing you to experience spinning sensations.

 

Common Causes of Vestibular System Problems

Studies note three common causes of vestibular system issues: positional vertigo (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo), inner ear infections, and Meniere’s disease. Here’s a brief review of these health complaints: 

Positional Vertigo

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a leading cause of spinning sensations in the country. The latest statistics note that 64 out of 100,000 individuals develop BPPV yearly. It typically causes vertigo attacks that follow abrupt head or body movements, like when you roll over the bed or pick an object from the floor. 

Doctors explain that BPPV typically develops because of loose calcium crystals that migrate to the fluid-filled canal system. Sometimes, the crystals break off from their parent material after a traumatic injury. However, the condition can also develop because of old age. 

Meniere’s Disease

Meniere’s has recently gained significant attention because of celebrities sharing their diagnosis. Essentially, this vestibular disorder develops due to an abnormal fluid build-up in the inner ears, which is fairly common among individuals with the following risk factors: 

  • Poor fluid drainage in the head due to postural misalignments
  • Frequent allergic reactions
  • A family history of Meniere’s
  • Have an impaired immune system
  • Have a viral infection like vestibular neuritis, labyrinthitis, or meningitis

Inner Ear Infection

While inner ear infections like vestibular neuritis and labyrinthitis aren’t as common as middle ear problems, they can cause significant discomfort to an affected individual. Notably, inner ear infections can cause signal interferences that cause your brain to detect false movements. Fortunately, unlike other vertigo-causing inner ear problems, infections can clear after a few days. This provides affected individuals the chance to get rid of their vertigo episodes.

vestibular system, vertigo relief

 

 

 

 

 

Vertigo Relief: Secret Tips You Should Know

Do you have any of the three vestibular problems listed above? If yes, you might find it helpful to consult a physician or an ENT doctor to know what medications or procedures you should try to explore. Additionally, you might find it beneficial to explore natural sources of vertigo relief, such as the following:

Avoiding or managing your triggers

Most vertigo episodes occur after exposure to triggers such as diet changes, dehydration, and sudden head movements. Hence, you might find it helpful to be wary of the things that lead to an attack. Try to keep track of your vertigo triggers and check which ones lead to the worse impacts on your vestibular system.

Minding your diet and fluid intake

Vertigo-causing conditions can sometimes worsen because of diet choices and lack of fluid intake. So, healthcare professionals strongly advise patients with recurring vertigo attacks to make necessary adjustments such as the following: 

  • Bringing a water bottle when going out
  • Avoiding food products that stimulate an allergic reaction
  • Eating food that can combat inflammation
  • Drinking plenty of water to flush our pathogenic organisms that trigger infections

Checking your medications

Although some medications provide significant vertigo relief, some can aggravate the attacks. That’s why it’s essential to work closely with your physician to make necessary adjustments to your dosages or to find better alternatives. 

Working with a therapist and performing canalith repositioning exercises

If your vertigo attacks have something to do with displaced calcium crystals in your inner ear, you might find canalith repositioning maneuvers helpful in coping with your episodes. The Epley Maneuver and Brandt-Daroff exercises are two of the most commonly used vertigo exercises. 

They might help you curb your attacks by helping the dislodged crystal to move away from the fluid-filled sections of the ears. These guided exercises have shown potential as an effective source of vertigo relief. So they may be a worth-it addition to your vertigo care plan. 

Trying Upper Cervical Care 

Postural problems can sometimes lead to vestibular system issues. If you have misaligned neck bones, they can potentially lead to neurovascular compression. It can also cause fluid drainage problems in your ears and signal interferences between your brain and inner ears. 

Thankfully, you can fix your posture and achieve vertigo relief with the help of an upper cervical doctor. Gentle neck bone adjustments from a vertigo chiropractor can help you negate the issues that come with postural imbalances. 

If you would like to explore this natural and holistic option for vertigo relief, we suggest reaching out to a local vertigo chiropractor. This will help you determine if you have a cervical subluxation and learn the necessary steps to restore your posture and improve your overall health.

 

Find An Upper Cervical Doctor in Your Areato schedule a consultation today.

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