Did You Know? Vitamin B12 Deficiency Can Cause Vertigo

February 20, 2022

vertigo relief, Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Vitamin B12 deficiency is one possible cause of vertigo, but not many people are aware of this, and often it is overlooked as a vertigo trigger.

 

How does Vitamin B12 deficiency cause vertigo?

Low vitamin B12 can result in several problems such as neurological system, low blood pressure, dizziness, and feeling off-balance. If this continues, it can alarmingly reduce blood flow that reaches and leaves the brain.

You can keep your vitamin B12 levels healthy by eating food rich in this vitamin, such as meat, poultry, dairy clams, and other food fortified with B12. In addition, if you are practicing a vegetarian or vegan diet, taking vitamin B12 supplements will help fight deficiency.

Your chiropractic doctor may ask for a blood test to check your vitamin B12 level and recommend a series of procedures for total vertigo relief.

 

What is vitamin B12, and why is it essential?

Vitamin B12, also called cobalamin, is an essential vitamin to keep your blood and nerve cells healthy. It also helps produce the genetic material in your body’s cells known as DNA. Besides that, Vitamin B12 helps prevent a specific form of anemia which makes one feel tired and weak.

Your vitamin B12 needs will depend on your age; oftentimes, adults need about 2.4 micrograms of this vitamin daily. This is often found naturally in food derived such as fish, clams, meat, eggs, poultry, milk, and other dairy products. Some manufactured products are fortified with vitamin B12 also, including breakfast cereals and nutritional yeasts.

 

What is vitamin B12 deficiency?

Vitamin B12 deficiency leads to a condition wherein your body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Not getting enough of these vitamins are relatively common and is often due to malabsorption, limited intake from food, other medical conditions, or the use of medications causing B12 depletion. Some symptoms include vertigo, fatigue, headache, difficulty concentrating, vision disturbances, and impaired coordination.

vertigo relief, Vitamin B12 Deficiency

 

 

 

 

 

Other possible causes of vertigo

To help find the best course of action for vertigo relief, identifying other vertigo causes is essential for both you and your doctor.

Medication side effects

Dizziness or vertigo is sometimes a side effect of some prescription drugs. This is common in blood pressure medications and all the more if you're given a high dose.  Older people experience this symptom more than others. If you experience this, try to ask your doctor to start on the lowest dose possible. 

BPPV (Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo)

The number one cause of peripheral vertigo is BPPV, which develops when the calcium and protein-based crystals, called otoconia, in the inner ear move and relocate in the ear canals, where they should not belong. Studies show that BPPV is most common in older adults between the ages of 50 to 70, linking this disorder with inner ear infections, migraines, head trauma, diabetes, and osteoporosis.

Meniere’s disease

According to the American Hearing Research Foundation, Meniere’s is a rare condition affecting only 0.2 percent of Americans. This occurs because of excessive fluid in the inner ear's labyrinth, leading to high ear pressure.  One main symptom of this disease is vertigo, and other signs include hearing problems, the feeling of fullness in the ear, and tinnitus.

Dehydration or diet

Staying well hydrated helps you retain proper blood pressure levels. Even mild dehydration can lead to dizziness or lightheadedness because your blood pressure drops significantly. It is ideal to drink about half of your body weight in ounces per day to stay well-hydrated. 

Migraines

Other patients experience migraine-associated vertigo called vestibular migraine. According to the Vestibular Disorders Association, about 40% of migraineurs experience dizziness or vertigo; they are also likely to experience sensitivity to light, motion, and sound.

Heart disease

Narrowing or leaking heart valves, arrhythmias, and atherosclerosis can lead to vertigo due to reduced blood flow to the brain, causing dizziness.

Anxiety disorders

For some, anxiety disorders involve feeling unsteady or lightheaded. Agoraphobia or the fear of places or situations that can cause you to panic or feel helpless is a good example of a specific anxiety-related disorder. Feeling of dizziness may occur to people when they face their fear of leaving their home or being in huge, open spaces. 

Other reasons

Brain tumors, head or neck injury, labyrinthitis, and stroke can also cause people to feel attacks of dizziness or vertigo. 

 

Finding the best and natural vertigo relief

Upper cervical chiropractic has such a significant effect on vertigo relief. This is because it focuses on caring for the topmost vertebrae of the spine, which house the brainstem and spinal cord. Trauma to the head or neck can make these two bones shift out of position, putting pressure on the nerves, resulting in possible malfunction and sending of incorrect signals to the brain. The brain may then get confused, leading to the sensation of vertigo and the symptoms that go with it.

A minor car crash, a serious sports accident, or even just overextending the neck muscles can result in a misalignment. Find an upper cervical chiropractor near you today; click this link to book your consultation and plan the proper care for your condition.

 

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