Are you having dizzy spells with fatigue, impaired coordination, headaches, or balance issues? You may be experiencing vertigo. Though not all these symptoms may be immediately linked to vertigo, becoming more familiar with your symptoms and their possible triggers is essential. It may be the key to addressing the root cause of your health complaint and even experiencing long-term vertigo relief in Midland.
But, before we move further, let us first define vertigo. What is it essentially? Is it a chronic concern? When should you worry about it?
Doctors and chiropractic physicians alike define vertigo as a false sense of motion that gives the illusion that your surroundings are moving and spinning. While people often mistake it for dizziness, vertigo distinguishes itself with its accompanying symptoms and the swaying or rocking sensation that it causes.
There are many telltale signs of vertigo. Here, we have put together 11 facts to help you familiarize yourself with vertigo, its symptoms, and possible triggers. This can also serve as a guide to help manage the discomfort it brings.
Table of Contents
As we have mentioned earlier, vertigo pertains to the false feeling of movement. It feels like you or the room around you is spinning in most cases. However, even the sensation of tilting or swaying is also vertigo. Some patients describe vertigo as similar to getting on land after traveling in a boat for a long time. You still get that feeling of occasional swaying and rocking even when you’re no longer in the water.
Vertigo is a symptom of an underlying illness and is not an illness per se. More often than not, its cause is usually unclear, leaving many patients confused and sometimes distraught. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo or BPPV is the most common cause of vestibular vertigo that mainly occurs after doing specific head movements.
Peripheral vertigo is more common and caused by an inner ear condition causes this type. Central vertigo is the type caused by a neurological disorder; this is the less common type of vertigo in patients. A consultation with your physician can help you identify which type you have and help you get access to procedures or medications that can provide safe and effective vertigo relief in Midland.
Most vertigo episodes only linger for a few seconds to minutes. But if your symptoms have been around for longer, you may have Meniere’s disease, a rare vestibular disorder. Another possibility is perpetual vertigo; however, this usually does not happen very often.
We strongly suggest getting an official diagnosis from your physician to know things for sure. This way, you can rule out conditions that require urgent medical attention.
Closing your eyes or lying down when you start feeling the false sense of motion does not stop the feeling of movement. However, we still recommend finding a safe place to rest as soon as your vertigo attack starts to help prevent a serious fall or injury.
Your bad habits may be contributing to the vertigo attacks you dread! You might be surprised how letting goes of your bad habits and making positive lifestyle changes can help avoid future vertigo episodes. Little things such as skipping meals or failing to cope with stress can trigger vertigo and its accompanying symptoms.
Lack of sleep, dehydration, and certain foods can also trigger attacks. We highly recommend keeping a strict meal and sleep schedule. It will also help to have a go-to relaxation and stress-relieving routine.
As mentioned in number 4, Meniere’s disease can cause vertigo. This condition falls under the peripheral type, with episodes lasting 20 minutes to a whole day. It can be very severe and hinder your life and plans for the day. Hearing loss, fullness in the affected ear, and tinnitus or ringing in the inner ear are accompanying symptoms.
Another possible reason for your vertigo is migraine which falls under the central type, typically due to its neurological relation. Commonly called vestibular migraine, this form of migraine develops due to a nervous system problem. Besides pulsating headaches, vestibular migraines can also set off repetitive bouts of dizziness.
Studies explain that vestibular migraines are nothing like the usual type of migraines. That’s because, besides affecting the nervous system, it can cause problems to your vestibular system – the group of organs that controls your hearing and balance.
The eustachian tube is a narrow passage responsible for keeping the pressure on each side of the eardrum equal. Once these tubes stop working correctly, too much fluid will remain in the ears, causing hearing loss and affecting balance and coordination. It may also cause pain, tinnitus, or a feeling of fullness in the ear - symptoms related to vertigo.
There are some overlooked causes of vertigo, one of which is related to atlas misalignment. Two things can happen if your atlas or your C1 vertebrae is misaligned: brainstem malfunction and disrupted blood flow.
Your atlas surrounds and protects your brainstem. Naturally, if it becomes misaligned, even just a little bit, it can result in problems in the central nervous system. Case studies explain that cervical subluxation can disrupt the communication between your brain and spine.
Additionally, the postural imbalance can limit blood flow in the brain and ears. Consequently, this impairs the function of both organs, causing you to experience unwanted effects like vertigo attacks.
Thankfully, a licensed chiropractor can address the misalignments of the upper cervical spine and can help you enjoy significant vertigo relief in Midland.
Upper cervical chiropractic is a specialized chiropractic branch focusing on the upper spine. Our doctor, Dr. Kowalczyk uses safe and gentle methods and take precise measurements of your affected vertebrae before making any adjustments.
Our techniques might come in handy in addressing the root cause of your dizzying and disorienting spells and provide long-term vertigo relief in Midland. Our approach to healing can also help you address physical and chemical imbalances that result from atlas bone misalignments.
Invest in your health today. Visit Balanced Living Chiropractic at 4702 James Savage Rd, Midland, MI. Book a consultation with our team of doctors by calling our Midland team at (989) 495-9003 or online through our contact link. We’d love to help you get the best vertigo relief in Midland.
To schedule a consultation with Dr. Kowalczyk, call our Midland office at 989-495-9003. You can also click the button below.
If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
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