Vertigo is described by the medical community as a sensation in which people feel like they’re moving, swaying, or that the world is moving around them – but they themselves are not actually moving. Common forms of Vertigo feel a lot like dizziness and may cause other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or sweating.
Vertigo is a common complaint for individuals
- Following a car accident
- After sustaining a head or neck injury
- With inner ear issues or conditions
- Who suffer from disturbances in their nervous system
Chiropractic Can Help Reverse Vertigo
If you are currently suffering from episodes of Vertigo, seeking chiropractic treatment may be able to help you start to feel like yourself again. When your spine is misaligned, the vertebrae that are out of position can place pressure on the nerves around it and cause interruptions between the brain and the Central Nervous System. This interruption can cause varying side effects in each individual. Some individuals may experience vertigo while others may feel pain in their extremities. Vertigo caused my misalignments in the spine is called Cervicogenic Vertigo and its effects can be greatly reduced by chiropractic corrections.
Balance, Vertigo, and Chiropractic
In other cases of vertigo, chiropractic corrections can aid balance by improving the vestibulocochlear system. The vestibulocochlear system is the complex system of the inner ear that consists of fluid-filled tubes that are lined with stereocilia, which are hair-like sensors. This system interprets body movements and communicates with the central nervous system on how to react. For example, if walking down hill, the vestibulocochlear system will recognized the forward leaning movement and communicate with the central nervous system to correct the body’s movement to lean back while walking down hill to prevent the individual from tumbling downhill.
Misalignments is the upper neck, or cervical, area can place pressure around the vestibulocochlear system, blocking the tubes and causing the fluid to build up. This can lead to misinterpretations of an individual’s balance which can cause stumbling and vertigo. By correcting the upper cervical misalignments, the pressure around the vestibulocochlear system is released and the system is able to resume proper functioning.
Other Ways A Chiropractor Can Help
Chiropractors do more than just correct misalignments in the spine. They also listen to your symptoms, document your daily habits, and interpret this information just like any other doctor would to provide advice on how to supplement the care they are providing. Your chiropractor may recommend exercises that will aid in improving your body’s core strength which will in turn improve your control over your balance. They may also recommend implementing meditation and breathing techniques to help you regain control after a bout of vertigo.
They may also recommend other lifestyle changes such as a dieting, changing medication routines, or other changes to improve your overall health. Smoking, drinking alcohol, drinking highly caffeinated or sugar beverages can stimulate or depress the central nervous system. Certain over the counter medications, like sleep aids and allergy medications, may contribute to dizziness, so your chiropractor may recommend reducing your daily dose or when you take it.
