Vertigo is a feeling that you or the things around you are spinning about. It is one of the most common reasons for people to seek care from their family physician. Many people try to cope with it for weeks or even months before looking for help, hoping it will eventually go away. However, in a recent 10-year span, two-and-a-half percent of visits to the emergency department were for vertigo, making it clear that this is a common condition.
When you are experiencing dizziness or vertigo, your risk of falling increases 13 times, according to the medical director at the Balance Center in Seattle, WA. One of the patients there said that she fell while taking a shower due to a sudden onset of vertigo. This can be dangerous if you are in a position where you are driving a car or climbing a tall ladder. The woman had another episode at work and had to call for a ride home as she was too dizzy to drive.
NUCCA doctors help patients by focusing on making sure the bones of the upper neck are in proper alignment. A misalignment here can often be to blame for vertigo. In particular, the C1 (or atlas vertebra) can wreak havoc on the body if it moves out of place as this causes it to put undue pressure on the brainstem. Communication between the brain and body can become distorted. If the body cannot send proper signals to the brain about its location, vertigo can ensue.
We employ a gentle technique that encourages the bones to move back into place without popping or cracking the spine. This allows the body to begin to heal from the damage done and restore communication. Often, this is all that is needed to see an improvement in or an elimination of vertigo.
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.
