Vertigo

Vertigo is dizziness that feels as though your surroundings are spinning around you. You can feel dizzy, unbalanced (like you are tilting), spinning or swaying. Other symptoms you may experience include ringing in the ears, sweating, headaches, or migraines.

What are the common causes of vertigo?

There are many causes of vertigo, including:

Inner ear conditions
Toxic conditions (for example, alcohol or food poisoning)
Blood pressure problems
Illness
Neck problems
Psychological factors

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)

One of the most common reasons people seek vertigo treatment is BPPV. BPPV is caused by small particles inside the inner ear, which creates problems in the way the body balances. Often, BPPV is caused by trauma or aging. Common features include:

The higher prevalence in females
Recurring brief episodes (can last from a few seconds to a couple of minutes)
No hearing loss
May be followed by nausea or vomiting
Can be associated with head positioning

Is Vertigo dangerous?

Usually, vertigo is not dangerous unless you are experiencing frequent falls or experience symptoms while driving. However, older patients and patients with a high risk of vascular disease must take extra caution with vertigo.

There is a higher prevalence in people over the age of 60. The presence of dizziness and vertigo is a strong predictor of falls, which is the leading cause of accidental death in people over 60 years old. Therefore, it’s important to diagnose and manage balance disorders due to dizziness or vertigo early.

What is cervicogenic vertigo?

Cervicogenic vertigo is vertigo that is caused by neck dysfunction. History of head or neck trauma (such as whiplash, disc problems, or arthritis in the neck) may cause vertigo. The dizziness can come and go, lasting from minutes to hours. Cervicogenic vertigo can be brought on with certain head movements, therefore dizziness can be made worse with neck movement. This means that treatments that relieve neck pain, like Chiropractic care, may help.

Common presentations of cervicogenic vertigo include:

Tilting to one side
Feeling unbalanced
Unsteady walking
Postural problems that may be related to neck pain
Stiffness
Headaches

How can Chiropractic care help with vertigo?

Chiropractors use a variety of techniques to help with vertigo. The team at Total Health Chiropractic go through your medical history and exams, making sure they are being thorough. During your first visit, your chiropractor will perform a range of tests, including balance, hearing, head, and eye movement tests. This is all completed to determine what treatment is best suited to your needs. Chiropractic techniques that can be used to help vertigo include –

Epley’s Manoeuvre
Spinal manipulation
Spinal mobilization
Rehabilitation training
Correcting posture

If we are unable to provide you with care, we will refer you to the right health care specialist.