Vertigo and Chiropractic

You probably know that vertigo is when you feel like the room is spinning, but did you know that there are several different types? Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) is the most common and occurs because crystals in the utricle of the inner ear move out of position and into the semicircular canals, causing the equilibrium to be off balance. This causes a false sense that the room is spinning. BPPV occurs in adults and most commonly the elderly. Typically with this type of vertigo, people respond well to exercises and physical therapy to help re-position the crystals. Many times people may have BPPV symptoms return again at a later time after having symptoms resolve.

Another form of vertigo is Cervicogenic. This condition occurs because of malpositions of the cervical spine (neck) causing the nerve signals from the spine to the brain to become distorted. This can occur due to lack of blood flow to the area, changes in receptors of the joints of the neck, or nerve irritation. Many times Cervicogenic Vertigo can be associated with neck trauma, such as whiplash injury. Chiropractic care can be extremely effective in reducing nerve irritation and thus relieving Cervicogenic Vertigo symptoms.

Meniere's Disease is a chronic condition with symptoms of hearing loss, vertigo, and tinnitus (ringing in the ear). This condition occurs due to over abundance of endolymph (fluid in the inner ear). This condition occurs most commonly in "people ages 40-60 years old" and "attacks can last 20 minutes to 24 hours". Treatment includes: medication, low sodium diet,vestibular rehabilitation therapy, and surgery. Chiropractic care may also be helpful in reducing symptoms.

If you are experiencing vertigo symptoms, it is important to be properly evaluated to rule out hypotension (low blood pressure) or hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), as well as other more life threatening heart or brain conditions. Chiropractors are trained to do neurologic evaluation to rule out a more serious condition and see whether chiropractic care may be an effective treatment option for people. Reducing nerve irritation, helping to facilitate the connection between the eyes, inner ears, and nervous system can be a great start in reducing symptoms of vertigo.