We have been operating our vertigo treatment clinic near Williamsburg, VA for years now, and one thing we often see is the devastating effects of vertigo on people’s lives. When you have vertigo, you feel the sensation of being off-balanced come on suddenly without warning. The feeling like you or your surroundings are spinning can become a normal occurrence.

On average, 40% of people over the age of 40 experience vertigo at least once in their lifetime. Many people think vertigo and dizziness are just two names for one condition, but they are actually two different things. What sets vertigo apart from dizziness is that vertigo often comes with nausea and vomiting because of the false feeling of movement, while dizziness is more of a temporary unbalanced feeling.

POSSIBLE REASONS BEHIND YOUR VERTIGO in Williamsburg

• THE INNER EAR’S BALANCE SYSTEM
  Our inner ear has a balance system that helps control blood flow and detect the position of the body. Therefore, quickly changing positions from lying down to standing up causes the two fluid-filled structures of the inner ear – the utricle and saccule – to detect the change. The body adapts to the new position once the cardiovascular system sends signals to direct the blood flow. Vertigo occurs when the communication between these body systems does not work properly.
• DEHYDRATION
  Even mild dehydration can cause lightheadedness due to low blood pressure. There are also certain diets that make a person more prone to dehydration.
• MIGRAINES
  Some of the symptoms of migraine-related vertigo include sensitivity to light, sound, and motion. It may or may not have a headache. About 40% of people who have migraines also suffer from vertigo.
• LOW VITAMIN B12 LEVELS
  While Vitamin B12 deficiency is easy to treat, most people overlook it as a cause of vertigo. Having low levels of Vitamin B12 can cause neurological issues that restrict blood flow to the brain. Some good sources of vitamin B12 are dairy products, fortified breakfast cereals, and meat.
• BENIGN PAROXYSMAL POSITIONAL VERTIGO (BPPV)
  A person may experience vertigo when the calcium and protein-based crystals in the inner ear called otoconia move out of place and float into the inner ear canals. BPPV affects only 0.1% of the population each year, with most of them being older adults. BPPV is linked to other several conditions such as migraines, head trauma, inner ear infections, osteoporosis, and diabetes. Even after treatment, BPPV may recur to those with history of the condition, especially if it resulted from trauma.
• MENIERE’S DISEASE
  Meniere’s disease is a rare condition that affects only 0.2% of the population and is mostly seen in adults between the ages of 40 to 60 years. Vertigo that comes with ear problems such as tinnitus and congestion of the ears might be an indicator of Meniere’s disease.
• MEDICATION SIDE EFFECTS
  There are plenty of medications that include dizziness or vertigo as adverse effects. For instance, dizziness and vertigo are common side effects of blood pressure medications, especially when started with a high dosage. Make sure to ask your doctor to gradually wean you on these medications, starting from a lower dose to minimize their unpleasant effects. Medications often come with leaflets, so make sure to take note if any medication you are taking can bring on dizziness or vertigo.
• HEART DISEASE
  Heart diseases such as defects of the heart valves, atherosclerosis, and arrhythmias may cause vertigo due to the reduced blood flow to the brain, which causes dizziness.
• OTHER CONDITIONS
  Some other possible causes of vertigo are stroke, brain tumor, labyrinthitis, or head or neck injury.

A NATURAL, PROVEN-EFFECTIVE SOLUTION FOR VERTIGO

There’s a fascinating study involving 60 patients diagnosed with vertigo. Out of the patients, 58 reported a history of head or neck trauma prior to the onset of their vertigo. All participants had an upper cervical misalignment and received upper cervical adjustments as a treatment. For six months, an upper cervical chiropractor observed the patients’ conditions and gave adjustments. After the period, patients reported positive feedback. More than 80% of them shared remission of their vertigo, while the remaining 20% reported a decrease in frequency and severity of their vertigo attacks. This study demonstrates the correlation between head and neck trauma and vertigo, and how upper cervical chiropractic can help treat it.

Doctors have established the theory that vertigo has something to do with a misalignment in the C1 and C2 vertebrae, the uppermost bones of the upper cervical spine. These bones are designed to protect the spinal cord and brainstem. Due to their flexibility and location, any form of head or neck trauma can easily cause these bones to misalign. When it happens, undue pressure is put in the brainstem, which causes sending of faulty signals to the brain about the body’s location. The end result can be vertigo.

Here at Via Vitae Chiropractic in Williamsburg, Virginia, we employ a gentle but effective technique to realign the bones in the neck. This technique includes the latest imaging, precise measurements, and gentle adjustments to specific parts of the neck to guide the bones to return to correct alignment naturally. We do not perform cracking of the spine or the neck. If you aim for the same results as the study we mentioned, call us at (757) 208-7108 or visit our Williamsburg, VA vertigo clinic to start your upper cervical chiropractic treatment.