A vertigo episode can be extremely disconcerting; suddenly the room can feel as if it is spinning or whirling around you.  Particularly bad vertigo episodes can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and a loss of balance.  To understand vertigo, it is important to understand the way our body normally maintains its sense of balance.  There are three main ways that the body stays balanced:

1. The vestibular system, which consists of the inner ear, the vestibulocochlear nerve, and parts of the brainstem and cerebellum
2. Input from what our eyes see
3. Proprioceptive information from peripheral nerves in our arms and legs

Using these three pathways combined, the brain can understand the body's position in space and maintain its sense of balance.  When there is a disturbance in the way the brain receives this information over the nerves, a vertigo episode may arise.

Reducing Vertigo with Normal Neck Alignment

Knowing that the brain relies on receiving proper information from the vestibular system, as well as from our eyes and limbs, about balance encourages one to make sure those signals are properly sent and received as this is critical for those experiencing vertigo.  As an upper cervical chiropractic practice, that is exactly what our goals are for our patients.  The topmost vertebrae in the spine, the atlas (C1) and axis (C2), are responsible for protecting the brainstem.  Since the brainstem plays an important role in the body's sense of balance, a misalignment of one of these vertebrae can interfere with this balance system.

At Balanced Living, we look for atlas misalignments that can be the underlying cause of your vertigo symptoms.  If we find that an atlas misalignment is causing an interruption in normal brain-body communication, then we work toward achieving normal alignment with gentle, specific adjustments.  Sometimes that's all it takes to start seeing a reduction in the frequency or severity of your vertigo episodes.

References:

https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/ear,-nose,-and-throat-disorders/approach-to-the-patient-with-ear-problems/dizziness-and-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.