Have you ever spun around or played a game of “dizzy bat” as a child? If you have, then you were able to experience what people with vertigo go through regularly. Operating for so many years as a dizziness chiropractic doctor in CA, I have seen countless cases of people complaining of vertigo. Vertigo is a sensation in which you feel as if the room is spinning or that you are spinning when you are just standing still.
How the Balance System Works
The vestibular system is the primary system of the body that maintains our sense of balance. When functioning normally, it serves us with many purposes that we often overlook:
- Determining the position of the body concerning gravity
- Seeing clearly while moving
- Determining the speed and direction of the body
- Maintaining stability by making automatic adjustments to our posture
The vestibular system collaborates with multiple sources to keep our balance. It uses sensory inputs from our senses, such as sight, touch, and even the senses received by the inner ear to send signals to different parts of the brain, such as the brainstem. Vertigo can ensue if any of these parts are disturbed and cannot function properly.
5 Surprising Sources of Dizziness or Vertigo
Problems with the inner ear are the most common causes of vertigo. Certain conditions such as Meniere’s disease, BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo), and labyrinthitis are some of the common conditions that include vertigo as the main symptom. It can also be due to more severe conditions such as stroke or tumor, although they don’t frequently happen. In case you were wondering, there are unexpected and equally debilitating causes of dizziness or vertigo. Some of them are listed below.
1. Taking a cruise
Have you ever experienced a wobbly sensation on your legs the first day you’re back on land from a cruise ship? This is not an uncommon experience, but for some, this feeling can drag on for months or years. This condition is called mal de debarquement syndrome, and it can cause recurring episodes of vertigo.
2. Dehydration
Dizziness can be due to dehydration. Inadequate water intake causes a drop in blood pressure, which can cause dizzy spells. To stay well-hydrated, you should drink half of your body weight in ounces of water per day. So, if you weigh 160 pounds, you should drink 80oz of water per day (that’s eight 10-oz glasses of water).
3. Anxiety
Compared to people who don’t experience it, people with anxiety appear to sway more when exposed to a moving visual environment. This may be because people suffering from anxiety tend to be abnormally sensitive to visual stimulation, and their dizziness increases when watching moving objects or being in a large, bright environment.
4. Vitamin B12 deficiency
Low vitamin B12 can cause several neurological problems, including dizziness, feeling off balance, and low blood pressure, which results in reduced blood flow to the brain. To combat this, you must have good sources of vitamin B12 in your diet, such as meat, dairy, and fortified food like breakfast cereals. Vegetarians, especially strict vegans who consume no animal products, should take vitamin B12 supplements.
5. Migraines
Around 4 out of 10 people with migraines also experience problems with vertigo or dizziness. A specific type of migraine called a vestibular migraine can cause severe vertigo without the accompanying headache associated with a migraine attack. It’s not that surprising when you consider that people who suffer from migraines are susceptible to light, movement, and sound.
Relieving Vertigo Through an Effective, Natural Method
After reading the information above regarding the vestibular system, it is easy to see the importance of the central nervous system (comprised of the brain, brainstem, and spinal cord) in maintaining the body’s balance. Mainly, the brainstem sorts and integrates the information gathered by our senses and sends signals to the other parts of the brain to control eye movements and postural adjustments.
An Upper Cervical Misalignment Can Also Cause Vertigo
The upper cervical spine has the atlas (C1) and axis (C2) vertebrae. They sit at the base of the skull, and they protect the brainstem. These vertebrae are unique among the other vertebrae of the body as they allow the movement of the head in multiple directions. However, along with this ability comes the high risk for misalignment, especially when a person experiences some accident, injury, or repetitive wear and tear.
A misalignment of the upper cervical spine can result in irritation or pressure to the brainstem, which can negatively affect its processing sensory information and relaying the correct response to maintain balance. Thus, it comes as no surprise that a lot of people with vertigo have experienced an injury to their head or neck at some point throughout their lives.
Compelling Reasons to Try Evoke Spinal Care
Through upper cervical chiropractic care, this critical area receives a thorough examination to restore normal alignment and allow the body to heal naturally on its own in the best way possible. Our upper cervical chiropractic adjustments are gentle and precise, with many vertigo patients reporting less frequent and less severe episodes. Some even share a complete resolution of their dizziness, vertigo, or other conditions. It is best to seek help for your vertigo as soon as possible. Visit us here at Evoke Spinal Care in Pleasant Hill, California, and let us help you heal.
References:
https://medlineplus.gov/dizzinessandvertigo.html
https://www.everydayhealth.com/news/10-surprising-facts-about-dizziness-vertigo/
http://vestibular.org/understanding-vestibular-disorder/human-balance-system
