Dizziness accounts for approximately 5-6% of all trips to the doctor. It affects about 40% of all adults over the age of 40, and becomes more common as people age.1 People may experience only temporary episodes of dizziness, or it may become a more chronic, serious condition.
Dizziness is an umbrella term that describes a variety of sensations a person may experience. These include:
- Light-headedness or feeling faint
- A feeling of unsteadiness or loss of balance
- Feeling “Out of it”
Vertigo itself is a false sensation of movement. People with vertigo usually feel as if either they or the environment around them is spinning. Often associated with a vertigo attack are feelings of nausea and/or vomiting, balance problems, and a rhythmic movement of the eyes known as nystagmus.
The exact cause of dizziness and vertigo remain a bit of a mystery, but are usually attributed to disorders of parts of the ear and brain that are responsible for maintaining a sense of balance1. These areas, the inner ear, brain stem, cerebellum, and nerve tracts within the brainstem or connecting the brain stem to the cerebellum, are closely related to the position of the upper two bones in the neck. The C1 (Atlas) and C2 (Axis) vertebrae encircle the brain stem and have the extremely important job of protecting this critical area of our nervous system.
Vertigo expert and upper cervical chiropractor Dr. Terry Crowder is able to help vertigo patients naturally by ensuring that those bones tasked with protecting the brain stem are in proper alignment. Accidents and injuries throughout a person’s lifetime, no matter how small they may seem at the time, can cause a misalignment in the upper cervical spine. This misalignment can place undue stress on the brain stem, the nerves at that level, and the vessels responsible for blood supply into the head and neck. Dr. Crowder gently adjusts the vertebrae back into normal alignment to allow the body to heal naturally. In a study of 60 vertigo patients undergoing upper cervical chiropractic care, many saw great improvements in their symptoms.2
REFERENCES:
- Tucci DL. Dizziness and vertigo – Ear nose and throat disorders. Merck Manual [homepage on the Internet]. 2015 [cited 2015 Jul 3]. Available from: https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/ear-nose-and-throat-disorders/symptoms-of-ear-disorders/dizziness-and-vertigo
- Elster E, Sixty patients with chronic vertigo undergoing upper cervical chiropractic care to correct vertebral subluxation: A retrospective analysis. J Vert Sublux Res 2006; Nov:1-9.
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