Vertigo is often described as similar to the sensation one gets after spinning quickly on a tire swing or an amusement park ride. While the body is still orienting itself, you may have a false feeling that the world is spinning around you or even that you are spinning while you are actually still. This is a similar, though temporary, version of what vertigo sufferers experience regularly.
How Vertigo Relates to the Body’s Balance System
The vestibular system is the primary system that is responsible for the sense of balance in our bodies. This system allows many of the normal, day-to-day functions we may take for granted. Here are a few ways that our balance system contributes to our daily functions:
- See clearly while in motion
- Determining orientation that is related to gravity (for example, are we upright, upside-down, or reclined?)
- Determine the speed and direction in which we’re moving
- Make automatic adjustments to our posture to maintain stability through varying conditions
Our vestibular system is constantly at work making micro-adjustments so that we can maintain our balance. It relies on input from multiple sources in order to function properly. It uses our sight and touch, as well as sensors within the inner ear to send signals to the brainstem and parts of the brain. Vertigo can arise when any component of this system is disturbed and not functioning correctly.
5 Interesting Reasons for Vertigo
Many of the causes of vertigo originate from problems with the inner ear. Conditions like BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo), Meniere’s disease, or labyrinthitis are commonly known for inducing vertigo episodes. Though less common, vertigo can be caused by more serious underlying conditions like a stroke or tumor. There are also a few other interesting vertigo and dizziness facts that may surprise you:
- Dizziness can be from a Vitamin B12 deficiency – low Vitamin B12 levels can cause a number of neurological issues that include dizziness, feeling off balance, and low blood pressure (leading to decreased blood flow to the brain). Some excellent sources of dietary B12 are meat, fish and dairy, and fortified foods such as breakfast cereals. For vegetarians, specifically strict vegans who do not consume any animal products whatsoever, it is important to supplement with Vitamin B12 regularly.
- Dehydration can cause dizziness – if you feel light-headed or dizzy, even mild dehydration can worsen your symptoms. Insufficient water intake may cause a drop in blood pressure, leading to dizzy spells. For adequate hydration, it is recommended that you drink half of your body weight in ounces of water per day (i.e. 80 oz. of water for a 160-pound person) as a general rule.
- A cruise or waterbed can make you dizzy – it’s not unusual to have wobbly legs or have the feeling that you’re still on a boat on your first day back on land. In fact, this sensation can last for months for some people and is known as mal de debarquement syndrome. It can cause repeated episodes of vertigo.
- Dizziness and anxiety can be connected – in a comparison between anxiety sufferers and those without anxiety, the people with anxiety disorders seem to sway more when experiencing a moving visual environment. This could be evidence that anxiety sufferers are abnormally sensitive to visual stimulation and that they become dizzier while watching moving objects or when in large, bright environments.
- Migraines can cause vertigo – about 40% of migraine sufferers also have issues with vertigo or dizziness. Specifically, vestibular migraines can cause severe vertigo, even without the usual headache symptoms that commonly come with a migraine attack. This may seem surprising. However, when considering how sensitive migraine sufferers can be to light, movement, and sound, it is easier to understand this connection.
Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care Providing Lasting Relief from Vertigo Episodes
Knowing just a little about the vestibular system can help in understanding the vital role the central nervous system (the brain, brainstem, and spinal cord) plays in the body’s sense of balance. The brainstem interprets the information provided by your senses (sight, touch, etc.) and then sends messages to control eye movements and to adjust posture.
At the very top of spine are the vertebrae in your neck, positioned in such a way that they provide a tough layer of protection for the brainstem where it meets the base of the skull. This area is called the upper cervical spine, and it includes two unique vertebrae – the atlas (C1) and axis (C2). These bones are uniquely designed compared to the rest of the spinal column because of their ability to move the head in all directions. This free movement makes them more susceptible to misaligning, especially when some type of accident, injury, or repetitive use is in play.
When the alignment of the upper cervical spine is compromised, it can cause irritation or stress to the brainstem. This can negatively affect the brainstem’s ability to process information and send appropriate responses to maintain balance. It’s no surprise that many vertigo sufferers have experienced an injury to the head or neck at some point in their lives. Upper cervical chiropractic care provides thorough examinations of this critical area, focusing on restoring proper alignment, thus encouraging the body’s natural healing abilities to happen as effectively as possible. Upper cervical chiropractic adjustments are gentle and precise, and we have many reports from vertigo sufferers of their condition becoming less severe and with fewer episodes. Some people even report a complete resolution of their symptoms.
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
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