Do you often experience vertigo or unsteadiness in your feet as if you're going to fall? Do you ever get dizzy or lightheaded when you get up from sitting or lying down? Do you know what's causing this symptom? Are you a smoker? Do you ever have to hold onto something to steady yourself after your cigarette break? Are you looking for ways to manage your dizzy spells and improve your balance so that you can live a more normal life? 

Many patients who seek vertigo relief in Vancouver, WA are surprised to know that their bad smoking habits are linked to the unsteadiness and dizzy spells they feel. Smoking damages the delicate structures in your inner ear, which are responsible for maintaining balance. As a result, you may experience dizziness, nausea, and lightheadedness.

How Smoking Affects Your Balance

Smoking can damage the vestibular system, a group of structures in the inner ear that help you maintain balance. These structures include:

1. The semicircular canals: These are fluid-filled tubes that detect motion and rotation.
2. The utricle and saccule: These are sacs that detect gravity and acceleration.
3. The vestibular nerve: This nerve sends signals from the vestibular system to the brain.

Smoking can damage these delicate structures, increasing risk for problems, including:

1. Peripheral vestibular disorder - This condition affects your inner ear and causes dizziness, vertigo, and imbalance.
2. Meniere's disease - This condition usually affects the inner ear and triggers vertigo, hearing loss, and tinnitus (ringing in the ears).
3. Vestibular neuritis - This condition is due to an inflammation of your vestibular nerve that can cause vertigo, nausea, and vomiting.

The Impact of Smoking on Balance and Coordination

Smoking can have a significant impact on balance and coordination. If you smoke, you may find it difficult to walk, stand up straight, or perform other activities that require balance and coordination. In addition to the damage it does to the vestibular system, smoking can also lead to other conditions that can affect balance and coordination, such as:

1. Atherosclerosis: This is a narrowing of the arteries that can reduce your blood flow to the brain, leading to dizziness and vertigo.
2.  Diabetes: This condition can damage nerves, leading to balance problems.
3. Spinal problems: Smoking can weaken the bones and muscles in your spine, which can lead to misalignment and pain. These misalignments can affect balance and coordination.

Finding Lasting Vertigo Relief in Vancouver, WA

Finding the cause of your vertigo can lead you to get proper care and finally relief. Besides curbing your smoking habits and opting for a healthier lifestyle, one of the most sought after ways patients explore is Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care. This refers to chiropractic adjustments on the upper cervical area that realign the spine and improve nerve function, which can help reduce dizziness and vertigo. If you are still experiencing vertigo even after numerous attempts to find relief, there might be a misalignment in your upper cervical area that needs to be corrected. These are usually a result of accidents, injuries, or repetitive stress. Book a visit to our office to get your upper cervical spine checked.

To schedule a consultation with Dr. Joe Perin, call our Vancouver office at 360-569-1740. 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.