DIZZINESS
Introduction
Everyone has experienced dizziness. Sometimes children seek it out by spinning rapidly or jumping onto a merry-go-round. For adults, however, the experience can be disorienting and distressing.
What Is Dizziness?
Dizziness can refer to two different experiences. It can mean feeling faint, woozy, weak, or unsteady, or it can refer to a false sense that you or the world is spinning, called vertigo.
The Causes of Dizziness
There are many causes of dizziness. Some of them come from a disruption in your balance system. Your sense of balance derives from sensory input from your eyes, your sensory nerves, and your inner ear. Inner ear disorders can cause dizziness or vertigo when they send signals that contradict what your eyes and sensory nerves are sending. Causes related to your inner ear include
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) or rapid head movement
- Infection
- Meniere’s Disease
- Migraines
- Debris build up in the inner ear
There can be a variety of other causes as well from the circulatory system to environmental causes:
- Low blood pressure
- Poor circulation
- Neurological conditions
- Side effects from medication
- Anxiety
- Anemia
- Low blood sugar
- Dehydration or overheating
- Drinking alcohol
The Symptoms of Dizziness
People who experience dizziness can describe many different symptoms:
- Feeling unsteady
- Lightheadedness or a faint feeling
- Loss of balance
- Unsteadiness
- Feeling of floating or being woozy
- Heavy Head
These symptoms can be exacerbated by walking, standing up, or moving your head quickly. They may happen infrequently and last for a short time. They can also occur regularly and last for a long time.
When dizziness is severe, it can be accompanied by other symptoms:
- Severe and ongoing headache
- Vomiting
- Change is speech, vision, or hearing
- Difficulty walking
- Fainting
- Chest pain
- Numbness or weakness
- Fever
- Seizures
If you experience these symptoms with dizziness, call 911 or seek emergency medical help immediately. They can be a sign of severe health problems.
The Treatment of a Dizziness
Dizziness is always a result of some other underlying cause, so treating dizziness means treating the underlying cause. Some cases of dizziness disappear on their own over time.
When you experience dizziness, lie down, and wait for the symptoms to pass. If you are overheated or dehydrated, move to a cool place, and ask for some water.
Tai Chi, yoga, or other positional exercises can help by improving balance.
Chiropractic Treatment of Dizziness
Your chiropractor can also treat dizziness. For those who have a buildup in the inner ear, your chiropractor can use the Epley maneuver, which moves the patient through a series of positions to restore normal inner ear function.
Chiropractors can also work on joints that are not moving properly and help send mixed signals to the brain. When the head, neck, and spine are properly aligned, they can alleviate the feeling of dizziness.
Schedule Your Appointment Today
Contact us today and schedule an appointment with SpinePlus Chiropractic.