Understanding Vertigo and Its Common Causes
Vertigo is a sensation of spinning or movement that occurs even when you are standing or sitting still. Some individuals feel as though the room is moving around them, while others experience a sensation of tilting, swaying, or losing their balance.
Vertigo can be unsettling and may interfere with walking, driving, working, or performing everyday activities.
Common causes include benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), vestibular neuritis, Ménière’s disease, vestibular migraine, and certain neurological conditions.
BPPV is one of the most common causes of vertigo. It occurs when tiny calcium carbonate crystals within the inner ear move into a semicircular canal, disrupting normal balance signals.
Because vertigo has many potential causes, identifying the underlying condition is essential before selecting treatment.
How Floro Chiropractic Can Help Patients Experiencing Vertigo
At Floro Chiropractic in Eden Prairie, Dr. Olinda Floro takes a comprehensive approach to reviewing symptoms and identifying possible musculoskeletal factors that may contribute to discomfort.
Patients experiencing dizziness may also have neck stiffness, restricted cervical movement, or muscle tension.
For individuals whose symptoms include a musculoskeletal component, Dr. Floro may discuss gentle treatment options intended to improve neck mobility and reduce associated discomfort.
However, chiropractic spinal adjustments are not an established treatment for most causes of vertigo and should not replace a medical or vestibular evaluation.
When symptoms suggest an inner-ear or neurological condition, evaluation by a primary care clinician, vestibular specialist, or other appropriate healthcare professional is important.
Vertigo, Neck Pain, and Cervicogenic Dizziness
Some individuals experience dizziness alongside neck pain or restricted cervical movement. This is sometimes described as cervicogenic dizziness.
Cervicogenic dizziness remains a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning other causes of dizziness must first be investigated.
For carefully selected patients, treatment of associated neck dysfunction may help improve comfort and movement. However, this approach is not appropriate for every patient with vertigo.
When Should Vertigo Be Evaluated Immediately?
Sudden dizziness or vertigo accompanied by difficulty speaking, double vision, facial drooping, severe headache, new weakness, difficulty walking, or loss of coordination may indicate a serious neurological problem.
These symptoms require immediate emergency medical attention.
New vertigo accompanied by sudden hearing loss also requires urgent medical evaluation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Vertigo
What is the difference between dizziness and vertigo?
Dizziness is a broad term that may describe lightheadedness, imbalance, or faintness. Vertigo specifically refers to a false sensation of spinning or movement.
Can neck problems cause dizziness?
Certain neck-related conditions may contribute to dizziness, but this diagnosis should only be considered after other vestibular, neurological, cardiovascular, and medical causes have been evaluated.
What is the most effective treatment for BPPV?
BPPV is commonly treated with canalith repositioning procedures, such as the Epley maneuver, performed by an appropriately trained healthcare professional after confirming the diagnosis.
Can stress make vertigo symptoms worse?
Stress and anxiety can intensify the experience of dizziness or make symptoms more difficult to manage. However, recurrent vertigo should not automatically be attributed to stress without medical evaluation.
Schedule a Consultation in Eden Prairie
If dizziness occurs alongside ongoing neck stiffness or musculoskeletal discomfort, Floro Chiropractic can discuss whether a chiropractic evaluation is appropriate. Persistent or unexplained vertigo should first receive an appropriate medical assessment.