Vertigo is one of the main reasons for a person to visit his family doctor. It has been described as a feeling of spinning. You may feel as if you are spinning, or it may seem that the things around you are spinning. Vertigo is seen in 10% of people under the age of 40. Over 40, that number jumps to 40%. Some even have vertigo so severe that they make a visit to their local emergency room. From 1995 to 2004, vertigo made up 2.5% of all visits to the ER.

What causes an attack of vertigo? Sometimes it is due to:

  • Standing up too quickly
  • An inner ear problem
  • Turning around too fast
  • A car accident or other blow to the head or neck
  • Meniere’s disease
  • Multiple sclerosis

All of the above come about due to an interference in the vestibular system, which is part of the central nervous system. This system has the responsibility of coordinating balance within the body. So, what is a recommended course of care for vertigo?

Helping Vertigo

No exact cause of vertigo has been pinpointed, making it difficult for family doctors to recommend a specific course of action. Some things they may suggest are:

  • Over-the-counter and prescription meds
  • Exercises to retrain the brain to cope with the spinning
  • Dietary changes

While these may help, unless the root cause is addressed, vertigo will continue to occur.

Proper Spinal Alignment Helps Vertigo

As noted above, if you have had a blow to the head or neck, vertigo may be the end result. Often the origin of vertigo has to do with a misaligned vertebra near the top of the neck. The C1 and C2 vertebrae are more susceptible to misaligning than other bones of the spine because of their location and mobility. This type of misalignment causes the brainstem to be under stress as it is located in the same general area. The brainstem, also part of the central nervous system, can cause improper signals to be sent to the brain about the location of the body, causing the sensation of vertigo.

Upper cervical chiropractors understand this delicate relationship of bones in the upper neck and are trained to guide them back into place using a gentle method. This is often all that is needed to see vertigo improve or even go away completely.

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Dr. Armen Manoucherian of Health Edge Family Spinal Care in Glendale, California is a Glendale Chiropractor and Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). He has helped many children and adults find natural relief in Glendale, California. His upper cervical clinic also serves the communities of Pasadena, Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Burbank. He is uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems. More information can be found on his website at https://www.healthedgela.com