Woolgoolga Chiropractic Coffs Harbour

Dizziness is not normal!

 

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Vertigo is a common condition that affects a surprisingly large percentage of adults. Vertigo is often times thought of as another word for dizziness. However, dizziness can mean either vertigo or lightheadedness and it’s important to know the difference.

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Unlike Vertigo, lightheadedness is a feeling that you are about to faint or pass out. With lightheadedness, you do not feel as if the environment around you is moving.  Vertigo is a condition where you feel like you or your surroundings are spinning even though you are in a stationary position.

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What is Vertigo?

 

Vertigo is a result of conflict between signals sent to the brain by various sensory systems

of the body that control balance and position. Your brain relies on the input from 4 Sensory

Systems working in harmony with one another to maintain balance.

 

These Sensory Systems are as follows:

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1. Sensory Nerves: Nerves throughout your body constantly track position and orientation

and communicate with your brain to make adjustments in order to keep balance.

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2. Vision:  Your eyes tell your brain where you are in relationship to your environment and what adjustments need to be made.

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3. Skin Pressure:  This sensation provides information to your brain about your body’s relationship with gravity.

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4. Inner Ear:  Your inner ear plays a vital role in detecting motion, changes in position and communicating that information to your brain to maintain balance.

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Spinal adjustments can go a long way to help alleviate abnormal spinal function which will improve proprioception and neurological input into the brain stem.

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Causes of Vertigo

 

Causes of vertigo typically stem from problems with one of the 4 Sensory Systems.  When one or more of these systems is not working properly, the information being supplied to your brain becomes distorted and vertigo can develop.

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Vertigo may be caused by such things as:

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1. Injuries or trauma to your ears, eyes or head.

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2. Damage to your Central Nervous System.

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3. Inhaling or ingesting chemicals (including medications)

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4. Disorders including:

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Meniere’s Disease (Disorder of the Inner Ear)

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Labyrinthitis (Inflammation of the Inner Ear)

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Migraine Headaches (when associated with Vertigo is termed Vestibular Migraines or Migrainous Vertigo)

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Peripheral Vertigo

 

Vertigo caused by problems with the inner ear is called Peripheral Vertigo.  Any cause of inflammation in the inner ear such as a common cold or bacterial infections may cause Peripheral Vertigo, as may chemicals and physical trauma.

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Central Vertigo

 

Vertigo stemming from the brain is called Central Vertigo. Central Vertigo is typically milder than Peripheral Vertigo but involves neurological problems such as slurred speech and double vision.

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Problems with the central nervous system including migraine headaches and multiple sclerosis may lead to vertigo.
 

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Symptoms of Vertigo

 

Symptoms of Vertigo include spinning and a sensation of motion or disorientation. Symptoms may also include one or all of the following:

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• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Sweating

• Vision problems

• Abnormal eye movements

• Hearing loss

• Ringing in the ears

• Speech problems

• Weakness

 

These symptoms can last from as little as a few minutes to many hours. The symptoms may also be chronic.

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Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)

 

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common form of vertigo. BPPV is usually initiated by moving your head in certain directions or sudden head movements. These may include tipping your head up or down, and by lying down, turning over or sitting up in bed. You may also feel out of balance when standing or walking.

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Clinically we often see a marked improvement with both vertigo and dizziness following chiropractic care.

We always evaluate any spinal problems that contribute to the discomfort and ensure that we personalise treatment based on your needs and the situation.

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Feeling dizzy or losing your sense of balance can seriously impact your lifestyle. By working with our caring and professional chiropractor in Charlestown, we will identify the underlying causes associated with dizziness and vertigo.  We will provide you with the best treatment or if necessary refer you to a GP or other specialist best suited to help you.

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A paper published by the Journal of Upper Cerviacal Chiropractic Research found the following:

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All 300 consecutive patients under the researcher’s care were medically diagnosed with Meniere’s Disease (MD) and had also suffered a whiplash. This lead researcher Dr Michael Burcon, a leading voice on the topic of chiropractic and MD [3], to comment that the connection was unlikely to be coincidental [2].

“Furthermore,” he remarked, “ninety per cent having a listing of posterior and inferior towards the opposite side of the effected ear is significant, as is ninety seven per cent getting their vertigo under control within six weeks [2].”

At the beginning of the process, participants in the study rated their vertigo intensity on a scale of 1 – 10, with 10 being the worse vertigo imaginable. Prior to treatment, the mean score was 8.5. Following the treatment, the averages were as follows:

• After six weeks, 3.0

• After one year, 2.0

• After two years, 1.4

• After three years, 0.9

• At four, five and six years post treatment, 0.8

This amounted to an improvement of more than 90%.  Of the participants in the study, 97% reported a dramatic improvement in vertigo. Just 3% reported a side effect of a headache.

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https://spinalresearch.com.au/research-report-examines-menieres-disease-upper-cervical-subluxation/?utm_source=Spinal+Research+Well%2C+Well%2C+Well&utm_campaign=cd6dfa3ec2-170407+WWW07%2F4%2F17+4%3A15+PM&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_606523d271-cd6dfa3ec2-165634057

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