Vertigo will make you feel like the world is rotating, spinning, or rocking even if you're staying perfectly still. There are people who interchange vertigo with dizziness to describe something that comes with different symptoms like lightheadedness and balance disorder. However, some healthcare professionals and Vacaville Chiropractors would consider vertigo as something that involves the balance centers of the brain and the inner ear.

To get a better understanding of vertigo, it's best to understand first the anatomy of the ear. Sound waves travel through the outer ear canal until it reaches the eardrum. This will turn the sounds into vibrations, which is transmitted in the middle ear via the 3 small bones to the cochlea and then the vestibular nerve. The entire process helps carry the signal to our brain, which then interprets the nerve impulses as sounds.

Vertigo can be emulated by spinning or riding a rollercoaster or merry-go-round. This induced-type vertigo is self-limiting, where it can last for a few moments and then it just disappears. Vertigo that happens spontaneously or is caused by an injury or illness can last for hours or even days before it vanishes completely.

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Signs and symptoms of Vertigo in Vacaville

You have vertigo when you feel a sense of spinning, whirling, or loss of balance. These symptoms can take place even if one remains perfectly still. Moving the head or body can worsen the symptoms. In most cases, people even feel nauseous or vomiting on top of the other symptoms.

Some patients may refer to vertigo as dizziness, but it's worth noting for a health care professional to understand if the patient is describing a spinning sensation (vertigo) or if their dizziness is described as another symptom like fainting, lightheadedness, or nearly passing.

When a physical examination is conducted, doctors will notice an abnormal eye movement in the patient, which is called nystagmus. Health care professionals can reproduce the symptoms by making the patient's head or body do abrupt movements, thus helping them look for nystagmus that is produced by the said maneuvers.

Medical professionals will also narrow down if the vertigo is being caused by the cerebellum or inner ear problems. Patients will have to do coordination tasks to ensure the normal functioning of the brain. Some tests may even include walking (to find any balance problems), reaching out to touch the index fingertip of the examiner, or sliding the heel up and down the opposite shin.

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Causes of vertigo

Vertigo can be caused by many different things. It can be defined on whether the cause is central or peripheral. Peripheral vertigo refers to a problem in the inner ear while central vertigo arises from the brain or spinal cord.

Causes of Central Vertigo:

• Multiple sclerosis
• Brain or spinal cord tumors
• Concussion or traumatic brain injury
• Stroke
• A migraine headache known as vestibular migraine can develop vertigo as a symptom

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Causes of Peripheral Vertigo:

• An infection of the vestibular nerve (labyrinthitis, vestibular neuritis, or vestibular neuronitis) can cause dizziness, or vertigo.
• A spontaneous inflammation on the inner ear's structure can lead to vertigo.
• A fluid buildup within the inner ear or the endolymphatic system can cause Meniere's disease, vertigo that also includes tinnitus or hearing loss.
• Acoustic neuromas can also be present along with these 3 other symptoms.

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Chiropractic adjustment and vertigo

Chiropractors can use manipulation techniques that target the joints that are not moving properly. Faulty motion patterns in the upper neck can create misinformation about body movement and position that goes from the joints to the brain. This vertigo type is called cervicogenic vertigo and can be treated using chiropractic manipulation.

On top of the manipulation, your chiropractor will also recommend Tai Chi exercises that can help you do slow, controlled movements to make you more focused on your balance and body movements. Other relaxation techniques like meditation and breathing exercises can also help you regain control over the situation.

If you have a habit of consuming caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, and other substances, you will be advised to stay away from them since they are known to be triggers. Even antihistamines and non-prescription sleeping pills can trigger dizziness so you should stop using them as well. To get in touch with a chiropractor, you can go visit Dr. Alex Tam of Absolute Family Chiropractic in Vacaville. He owns a chiropractic clinic that not only will help with your vertigo, but also improve the overall quality of your life.