It may be hard to believe, but vertigo affects 40% of people over the age of 40. Vertigo has been described as a sensation that the person or the things around the person are spinning or otherwise moving. It may only last a few minutes or as long as a few hours at a time. The latter can indicate a more serious condition may be to blame, such as migraines or Meniere’s disease.
A link has been noted between head and neck trauma and the onset of vertigo. This can be attributed to such things as a concussion, whiplash, or a trip and fall, often resulting in a misalignment in the C1 (atlas) or C2 (axis) vertebra. Why is this so serious?
The brainstem, the communication superhighway of the body, lies in this area at the base of the skull. If a misalignment is present, it can lead to pressure being placed upon the brainstem. Another problem that may ensue is a restriction of proper blood and cerebrospinal fluid flow to and from the brain. The vestibulocochlear nerve – the one responsible for sending signals about where the body is located in its environment – may also be affected. All of these problems set up the perfect conditions for vertigo to occur.
A case study observed 60 vertigo patients after they received the care of an upper cervical chiropractor. Out of the 60 participants, 48 reported a total remission in vertigo symptoms after less than 6 months of care. The remaining patients saw a decrease in the severity of symptoms and frequency of attacks. Interestingly, 56 of these recalled having previous neck or head injuries, such as horseback riding injuries, slipping and falling, or automobile accidents.
Here at Advanced Spinal Care, we use a gentle, precise method to encourage the neck bones to move back into their proper position. Once this is done, patients often report seeing similar results to those in the study noted above.
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