If you are experiencing vertigo, the Internet can be a great resource for finding out more information, discovering home remedies, and knowing when it’s time to seek medical attention. Unfortunately, there is just as much misinformation available as there is good information (if not more). With that in mind, we’ve compiled this discussion of 7 misconceptions and controversial statements regarding vertigo. Then we will discuss a natural way to get help that is bringing hope to many.
Table of Contents
Myth #1 – Vertigo Is the Same as Lightheadedness
Lightheadedness is actually synonymous with dizziness. While vertigo is often classified as a type of dizziness, it is actually a false sensation of movement. For example, the room may appear to be spinning around you. Or you may get a rocking sensation such as when getting off of a boat after a long trip. The conditions can happen together, but they are not the same thing.
Myth #2 – Vertigo Means the Fear of Heights
This is a misconception that was started by a movie. I’m sure Alfred Hitchcock didn’t think he would confuse an entire generation when he made the main character in his movie Vertigo a man who was afraid of heights. Yet down to this day you will still hear people get somewhere high up and start talking about how bad their vertigo is. The actual fear of heights is called acrophobia. Just to be clear, vertigo can happen while a person is high up, but you don’t have to be afraid of heights to experience it.
Myth #3 – Vertigo Is a Medical Condition
This is more of a controversy than a myth. The fact is that the medical community holds vertigo as a symptom of other conditions rather than a condition on its own. However, the most common form of vertigo is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, which is basically a catchall for when the underlying cause of vertigo can’t be identified. It usually just means that vertigo occurs when a person moves his or her head in certain ways. Because of this, it is usually linked to the particles in the inner that detect motion becoming dislodged.
To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and vertigo download our complimentary e-book by clicking the image below.
Myth #4 – Vertigo Can’t Kill You
This is the equivalent of the old saying, “It’s not the fall that kills you – it’s the landing.” Every year, vertigo results in millions of falls. Some of the people who experience those falls die from their injuries. So the idea that vertigo can’t kill a person, while more controversial than a myth, really seems like a technicality.
That having been said, vertigo can also be a symptom of cardiac disease, which kills millions of people each year. If you are experiencing other symptoms of a heart attack, you should seek medical attention immediately.
Myth #5 – Once You Get Vertigo, You Always Will
If this were true, every kid who rode the merry-go-round would have vertigo for the rest of his or her life. Some people experience a bout or two of vertigo, and it never happens again. For others, it becomes a chronic condition. If your vertigo is not combined with symptoms of a more serious condition you may choose to ride it out and hope it doesn’t come back. Vertigo that occurs frequently should always result in seeking care.
Myth #6 – Vertigo Gets Better if You Just Stop Moving
If movement started the vertigo, standing still should stop it, right? That may seem to make sense, but once vertigo gets going, the body is struggling to figure out where it is in relation to your surroundings. Ceasing to move may help end an episode sooner, but it may not. Severe bouts of vertigo can continue even if a person lays down and closes his eyes. This degree of vertigo may also lead to nausea and vomiting.
Myth #7 – There Is No Way to Help Vertigo Naturally
Most doctors will tell you that your options with vertigo are limited to bed rest or medication. Some more forward-thinking practitioners are now recommended natural remedies like the Epley maneuver, which is designed for a doctor to help a patient through a series of head positions that restore a loose particle in the ear to the canal it belongs in. If this is all that is wrong, the maneuver may provide either temporary or even long-term relief. However, it can also make vertigo worse depending on the cause.
A few things you can do at home to limit vertigo attacks (depending on the cause) include:
- Get up slowly – If the problem is related to blood pressure, standing up slower may be the key.
- Avoid bending over – Especially for older ones, bending over is a trigger for vertigo.
- Low-salt diet – If your problem is related to fluid levels in the ear, eating less salt can help you to retain fewer fluids.
I’d also like to introduce you to upper cervical chiropractic care, which has been helping many patients to find natural vertigo relief.
Upper Cervical Chiropractic for Vertigo
In one case study involving 60 vertigo patients, 20% had a significant reduction in symptoms following upper cervical chiropractic care. The other 80% saw their vertigo go away completely! The other thing these patients had in common was that 56 of the 60 had experienced whiplash or another form of head or neck trauma.
If you are experiencing vertigo on a regular basis, especially if you have a history of injury, such as a car accident or a slip and fall, contact Upper Cervical Chiropractic San Diego. A gentle adjustment may set you on the path to results like those noted in the study above. For more information, schedule a no-obligation consultation today.
To schedule a consultation with Upper Cervical Chiropractic San Diego, call 858-434-5926 or just click the button below.
If you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
