We’re known as reliable chiropractors in Cedar Park, Texas, and we’ve studied how vertigo affects people and their quality of life. That uncontrollable spinning sensation may last for hours, leaving the afflicted person almost debilitated for an entire day.
There is a wide range of conditions that may cause vertigo, but in this article, we’re narrowing it down to seven. Toward the end, we’ll also give you a solution that may help provide you with the natural relief you’ve been looking for.
After reading this, we hope you have a better understanding of vertigo and how you can get help for it.
Now, let’s reveal the seven common vertigo causes.
#1 Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo relates to movements of the head. It is the most common cause of vertigo. One part of the inner ear has calcium crystals that sometimes dislodge and travel into the fluid filled canals where they don’t belong. In the fluid-filled canals, the calcium crystals disrupt the body’s perception of gravity and motion, resulting in the brain receiving mixed signals about the body’s position and movement. This causes vertigo.
Vertigo episodes from BPPV usually last for a few seconds to a few minutes. And because the vertigo episode is connected to head movements, the triggers also vary from one person to another. For example, BPPV might occur when picking up something from the floor or when rolling over in bed.
#2 Meniere’s Disease
In the United States, around 0.2 percent of the population suffers from Meniere’s disease. This may seem like a small number, but there are tens of thousands of cases reported each year.
The number Meniere’s disease cases is attributed to several factors, one of them being undiagnosed whiplash injuries or head trauma. But regardless of its initial cause, Meniere’s disease can cause severe vertigo episodes that last from 20 minutes to 24 hours.
The upside is that these attacks become more infrequent as the condition advances. The downside, however, is that other symptoms like hearing loss and tinnitus can increase. Meniere’s usually affects one ear of the afflicted individual, but it can occur in both ears.
To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and vertigo download our complimentary e-book by clicking the image below.
#3 Vestibular Neuritis
The ears send signals to the brain through the vestibular nerve. And whenever illnesses like the flu virus or the typical head cold strike, inflammation of the nerve can happen.
Inflammation usually lasts for several days, even after the person’s recovery. Also, as long as there is inflammation on the vestibular nerve, vertigo may strike at any moment.
#4 Labyrinthitis
Labyrinthitis shares some similarities with vestibular neuritis when it comes to symptoms. The difference is that vestibular neuritis affects the nerve while labyrinthitis is inflammation of the labyrinth in the inner ear.
But just like vestibular neuritis, labyrinthitis develops following illnesses, and usually resolves within a few days of recovering from the cold or flu virus.
#5 Medication Side Effects
Several drugs intended to treat other illnesses may cause spinning attacks. High blood pressure medication, for one, is a common culprit. And because high blood pressure is often more dangerous than vertigo as a potential side effect, doctors will likely encourage its use. The case is similar for antidepressants and antianxiety medication. The key here is getting the correct dosage from your physician. Always consult your physician before you make changes to the amount of medication you are taking.
#6 Migraines
Vestibular migraines, in particular, are the ones that cause vertigo episodes to arise. And since vestibular syndrome accompanies 40 percent of migraine cases, migraines may be one of the primary causes of spinning.
It is also worth noting that only 85 percent of migraine cases have headaches involved, and the other 15 percent of migraine cases show other migraine symptoms without the headache. Migraines without headaches often have vertigo as a symptom.
#7 Head or Neck Trauma
Whether it’s a concussion or a whiplash injury, the onset of vertigo often begins in the wake of a traumatic injury. The symptoms, however, may arise after months, even years from when the injury happened.
Getting the full history of a patient is crucial to determine the cause of their attacks. From there, a proper and more accurate diagnosis can be made.
An Effective Form of Natural Relief for Vertigo Sufferers
For vertigo sufferers with a history of head or neck injury, we recommend that you look into upper cervical chiropractic care. It is a chiropractic subspecialty that focuses on the top two bones of the spine known as the C1 and C2 vertebrae.
These two bones are responsible for protecting the brainstem from significant damage. They are also the most susceptible to misalignments. And once a misalignment occurs, the brainstem endures unnecessary pressure. From there, vertigo attacks may also happen.
But upper cervical chiropractic care involves gentle yet precise methods to bring these bones back into the correct position. Here at our clinic, Symmetry Health Chiropractic Center, we stay away from the cracking and popping methods that traditional chiropractors sometimes use. Our techniques are non-invasive and directed to an individual’s specific needs.
Findings prove the effectiveness of upper cervical chiropractic care, especially for vertigo sufferers. In one study involving 60 patients, 80 percent of them saw their vertigo symptoms stop entirely after receiving upper cervical chiropractic care. Not only does vertigo disappear, because the spinal misalignments are corrected, other related conditions like Meniere’s and migraines also tend to disappear.
If you need help in finding a reliable and capable chiropractor in Cedar Park, Texas, we are here for you. To find out more information, feel free to call us at 512-572-3976 or contact us online.
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If you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.