What is vertigo? This is one of the most searched phrases about spinning sensations. And this is mainly because a lot of people experience vertigo but confuse it for ordinary dizzying spells. Recognizing this problem, we thought of tackling the difference between vertigo and dizziness. Hopefully, this will shed light on your situation and provide insights into the best source of vertigo relief in Morgantown.
Dizziness vs. Vertigo: How to Tell the Difference
Finding a suitable source of vertigo relief in Morgantown depends on how well you can characterize your symptom. You can start by identifying the specific accompanying symptoms of your spinning sensations or vertigo attacks. Do you notice additional problems such as ear congestion, tinnitus, vomiting, nausea, or headaches?
Additionally, you might find it helpful to determine whether you only feel lightheaded or detect a false sense of motion. If you answer the latter, you only likely have dizzying spells. But if it seems like you or your surroundings are swaying, rocking, or spinning, then you likely have vertigo.
Vertigo: A Recurring Vestibular Symptom
Most of the time, vertigo attacks stem from vestibular problems such as inner ear infections (vestibular neuritis and labyrinthitis), Meniere's, BPPV, and acoustic neuroma. There are also instances when the symptom develops because of a vestibular system problem, such as brainstem irritation, strokes, multiple sclerosis, and transient ischemic attacks. To help you understand these conditions, we have rounded them up below:
Inner ear infection
Labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis are inner ear infections that affect vestibular functions. Thankfully, the spinning sensations improve as soon as the infection clears.
Meniere's disease
This vestibular problem afflicts 0.2 percent of the American population. It develops mainly because of abnormal pressure buildup inside the eustachian tubes.
BPPV
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is the leading trigger of vertigo attacks in American adults. It develops because of displaced otoliths (calcium crystals) that interfere with signal transmission between the ears and brain.
To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and vertigo, request our by clicking the image below.
Acoustic neuroma
Benign tumor growth near the vestibulocochlear nerve can mess up communication between the vestibular system and the brain. This leads to a false sense of movement and proprioception issues.
Brainstem irritation
The brainstem can get compressed by displaced or fused C1 and C2 bones. This leads to disruptions in your brain and inner ear's communication pathways.
Strokes
Sometimes, strokes can lead to vestibular system problems. According to several studies, strokes can decrease efficiency in maintaining balance or detecting movements.
Multiple sclerosis
MS is a highly complex condition that primarily stems from brain or spinal cord abnormalities. Some patients with this condition experience dizziness and vertigo attacks during their flare-ups.
Transient ischemic attacks
According to a study, mini-strokes or transient ischemic attacks can sometimes lead to vertigo attacks. This is especially true for cases that affect the brain's fourth ventricle.
Actionable Steps to Achieve Vertigo Relief in Morgantown
Vertigo attacks can heavily impact your life if you fail to trace its triggers or solve its underlying cause. To jumpstart your healing and recovery journey, here are some actionable tips to help you achieve vertigo relief in Morgantown:
- Avoid sudden head movements like tilting your head or rolling to one side of the bed
- Mind the food you eat and avoid products that cause inflammation
- Drink plenty of water to flush out pathogenic viruses and bacteria
- Tap into natural vertigo remedies such as the Epley Maneuver, especially if you have BPPV
- Avoid exposure to vertigo triggers such as stress, anxiety, and confusing visual signals
- Get in touch with Dr. Watterson for a quick upper cervical chiropractic consultation
Atlas Bone Adjustments: Your Key to Eliminating Vertigo from Your Life
Many patients overlook postural imbalances as a cause of vertigo. That's because many people don't know that they have cervical subluxation until they learn from a neck chiropractor such as Dr. Lucas or Amy Watterson. But, how exactly can postural problems in the cervical spine set off spinning sensations?
The answer lies in the function of the atlas and axis bones. Notably, these neckbones play an active role in proprioception (the body's ability to detect movements) and maintaining balance.
As we always tell our patients, the neck doesn't just hold the head upright. Instead, it also carries out additional functionalities such as encasing the brainstem and influencing the overall alignment of the spine. Because of this, even the smallest shift in the neck's curvature can lead to a laundry list of issues, including loss of balance and spinning sensations.
The topmost neck bones can also impede vestibular function when they compress the brainstem or prevent natural drainage of fluids from the eustachian tubes. Naturally, you can negate these problems and lead a vertigo-free life by seeking remedies designed to correct postural imbalances.
One example of such a remedy is upper cervical care. It's a chiropractic technique focused on the atlas and axis bones. Doctors trained in providing upper cervical chiropractic apply just enough pressure on the neck to correct the postural issue and restore the head's natural alignment.
If you are looking for a holistic way to eliminate your spinning sensations, we strongly suggest consulting with a neck chiropractor. This way, Dr. Lucas and Amy Watterson can run a thorough diagnosis of your neck bone misalignments and check your medical history to provide precise chiropractic adjustments.
Contact us through our online form or telephone number (304) 292-7740 for more information about our approach to providing vertigo relief in Morgantown.
To schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Lucas Watterson or Dr. Amy Watterson call our Morgantown office at 304-244-1817 You can also click the button below.
if you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
