What Is Vertigo (and How Can I Get Rid of It)?

May 26, 2019

 

what-is-vertigo-and-how-can-i-get-rid-of-it

What is vertigo? This is an extremely common symptom that affects tens of millions of people every year. We are going to look at some facts regarding vertigo. Then we will consider some self-care that can help you to see fewer bouts at home. Finally, we will discuss a natural therapy that has helped hundreds of patients in cases studies to see vertigo become less frequent and severe or even end completely.

The Facts: What Is Vertigo?

Since there is confusion about what it is, let’s begin with a description of this symptom. It involves a false sensation of movement, whether it is spinning, tilting, or swaying feeling. You may feel like you are moving, even though you are not, or it may seem as though your surroundings are moving. The key takeaway is that vertigo involves sensations of movement that are not taking place and that it doesn’t always mean the room is spinning (although that is a common description).

Here are some additional facts and statistics regarding vertigo:

  • Vertigo is classified as either peripheral or central. Peripheral causes involve the ear. Central causes involve the central nervous system (CNS).
  • About 10% of people experience it.
  • Estimates are that between one-third and 40% of people over 40 experience it.
  • 2.5% of visits to American emergency rooms are due to vertigo.
  • Each year, 1 in 4 people over the age of 65 will have a fall. This is often due to vertigo. Researchers in Sweden revealed that fall risk increases both with age and with how likely a person is to experience dizziness.
  • Peripheral vertigo causes include BPPV (or positional vertigo), side effects of medication, trauma, Meniere’s disease, labyrinthitis, vestibular neuritis, and the like.
  • Central vertigo causes include migraines, medication side effects, vascular disease, tumors, seizures, MS, stroke, and various neurological conditions.

So now that you have a better understanding of what it is, it is time to discuss how to get rid of this pesky symptom.

Home Remedies and Self-Care 

There may be a number of things that you can do to help your vertigo naturally without even leaving your home. Here are a few examples:

Stress management

One of the most common vertigo triggers is stress. Stress hormones can also increase inflammation in the body, another common factor for sufferers. Therefore, one good way to reduce how often you experience attacks is to limit the stress in your life as much as possible and then have healthy ways to cope with the remaining stress. From taking a vacation to taking a 15-minute break during the day for some stretching, there are plenty of ways to keep stress at bay.

Regular exercise

Stretching can help to improve your balance and save you from a fall should vertigo occur suddenly. Regular exercise can also help you to keep your stress hormones in check and improve blood flow. Finally, by focusing on exercises that strengthen your core and your neck muscles, you can have a healthier spine, and this is important for combating vertigo as well. We will discuss the connection between vertigo and the neck further in the next section of our article.

A good sleep schedule

Sleep is important if you get attacks on a recurring basis. Be sure to use the right pillows and sleep position to keep your neck from twisting during the night. Getting sufficient sleep will also help you to have enough energy to exercise during the day.

Drink more water

Water serves a number of purposes when it comes to combating vertigo. First of all, it can occur if you start to become dehydrated, so drinking more water may play a direct role in helping your problem. On the other hand, water also flushes toxins from the body and can help to reduce inflammation, which we already mentioned is related to vertigo.

So there are a number of things that you can do at home to try and reduce the frequency of your vertigo episodes. However, for many patients, the genesis of vertigo is in the neck. In this case, to find long-term relief, you must take care of the underlying problem.

How the Neck Relates to Recurrence

While there are many conditions that cause vertigo, about half of vertigo sufferers never find out what is at the root of the problem. One theory is that misalignment of the upper cervical spine is to blame. This makes sense because hormone balance and the interpretation of body signals regarding spatial orientation are related to the brainstem. If the atlas (C1) is misaligned, it can put pressure on the brainstem.

Another major factor is blood flow. When the upper cervical spine becomes misaligned, the brain doesn’t receive its full supply of oxygen-rich blood. This too may contribute to vertigo causes. So there are a number of ways that the neck can be related to vertigo. It makes sense then that in studies involving upper cervical chiropractic, a safe and gentle way to correct these subluxations, many patients received benefits with some even becoming vertigo-free.

If you are suffering from vertigo on a regular basis, especially if you have a history of head or neck injuries, it makes sense to give upper cervical chiropractic a try. Contact a practitioner in your area and schedule a no-obligation consultation to see if this may be the natural solution that you’ve been searching for.

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

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