There are a bunch of conditions that can cause vertigo by affecting either the ear or the central nervous system. It is no wonder then that vertigo is one of the most common symptoms a person can experience. In fact, as much as 40% of the population over age 40 will experience it. And the likelihood only goes up as you get older.
However, don’t let the fact that increasing age leads to increased risk of vertigo confuse you into thinking that it is a symptom of aging. That can lead a person to stop looking for help, assuming that you just have to accept this health problem as a part of life. Instead, we want to help you find a natural way to get relief for your vertigo. But first, we have to discuss what causes vertigo. This will help us to understand where to look for natural care.
Peripheral vertigo diseases are a category of conditions that affect the ear. Since the ear is responsible for a significant degree of the body’s balance and spatial orientation, a problem here can lead to spinning sensation. So what are some of the primary causes of peripheral vertigo?
This is the common name given to benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). It involves brief bouts of vertigo that flare up when head position is suddenly changed. This is the most common form of vertigo, and it is usually considered harmless. However, try telling that to someone who has fallen as a result of a sudden bout of vertigo, and you will have trouble convincing him or her that this is not a dangerous condition.
The number of people believed to have Meniere’s disease in the US is approximately 615,000. However, this figure is several years old and likely an underestimate. After all, estimates state that 60,000-100,000 people receive a diagnosis of Meniere’s every year. So that figure could easily double in a decade. Meniere’s involves severe bouts of vertigo that last anywhere from 20 minutes up to 24 hours. Other symptoms include hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ear), and a feeling of fullness in the affected ear (which is sometimes both ears).
These two conditions are different, but they have the same cause and resolution. A virus, such as a head cold or flu, leads to inflammation. This inflammation causes vertigo. The vertigo resolves within a couple of weeks after the virus is gone and the swelling has a chance to go away. The difference is that vestibular neuronitis involves inflammation of the vestibular nerve, while labyrinthitis is an inflammation of the labyrinth (inner ear).
The side effects of certain medications can cause peripheral vertigo. It is also typical following head or neck injuries, sometimes emerging as a symptom months or even years after the injury, which may cause a physician to ignore the connection.
The other category of vertigo conditions is related to the central nervous system (CNS). The following are some of the causes of central vertigo:
Other causes of central vertigo can include stroke, vascular disease, tumors, and medication side effects. While some of these are emergencies, most causes of vertigo are considered non-deadly. So does that mean you should stop looking for effective care? Certainly not! Let’s address one more underlying cause of vertigo.
Many of the health conditions and symptoms linked to vertigo can all go back to the same thing – an upper cervical misalignment. How can this be? Consider the effects of a subluxation in the top two bones of the neck.
If you are suffering from vertigo, especially if you have a history of head or neck trauma, this could be the underlying problem your doctor has missed. To learn more, contact an upper cervical practitioner in your area. An examination may reveal a misalignment that can be safely and gentle corrected to provide long-term relief.
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.