Dizziness, Vertigo, & Fainting
Feeling lightheaded? Does the room seem to spin, even though you are standing perfectly still?
If so, then you are experiencing some form of dizziness, or possibly about to faint.
Many people get a little dizzy from time to time, and the way it occurs varies. Standing up too fast. Feeling stressed or anxious about something. Looking at an optical illusion, up at the ceiling, or down at the ground for too long. Have not eaten in a long time. All of these are typical explanations for feeling off-balance. Yet, when someone feels nauseous, along with being lightheaded or about to pass out, something more serious could be happening.
Here at Innate Life Chiropractic, our team is exceptional when it comes to dizziness, vertigo or fainting. Whether you have had this for a while now, and it is getting worse (known as chronic), or it just appeared suddenly (known as acute), our Chiropractor in Palatine has solutions for you.
Is it Dizziness, or Vertigo?
“Dizziness” is a catch-all, general term for various sensations a person may experience for different reasons. Dizziness is often associated with feeling imbalanced or lightheaded; in other words, as if the room is spinning. It can occur from hyperventilation and dehydration, too.
Vertigo, on the other hand, is more intense. When experiencing vertigo, a person can feel lightheaded and nauseous at the same time. This can be due to any number of causes, including having migraines and headaches. In addition, vertigo can be classified as either central (focusing on the brain/skull), peripheral (regarding the inner ear), or cervicogenic (when there is damage to nerves, ligaments, and bones in the neck). Cases of vertigo result from some form of head and neck trauma, problems in the inner ear, or issues regarding the body’s nervous system.
Regardless, both point to a disturbance in the nervous system. If left alone, the condition can become worse, and it can affect the rest of the body in the process.
What Causes Dizziness or Vertigo?
Dizziness or vertigo can be caused by a multitude of reasons. A person can feel dizzy if they are feeling lightheaded, dehydrated, anxious and are hyperventilating, or have not eaten in a while. For vertigo cases, it can be brought on by a migraine, by head and/ or neck trauma, or by nervous system issues (in the brain, the nerves, or both).
Many people will see a chiropractor when suffering from vertigo, and its symptoms. Due to its connection to head or neck trauma, to pressure on the spinal cord, vertigo can make a person feel debilitated, especially when there is some form of nerve damage. In addition, trauma to the inner ear is another concern.
The most common condition, regarding the inner ear, is BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo). BPPV occurs when calcium crystals located in the inner ear become dislodged and travel into the ear’s canals. Because there are sensors and nerves in the inner ear, which relay information to the brain about the body’s position and balance, these crystals cause the signals to be misinterpreted. This leads to vertigo or feeling dizzy.
Aside from headaches, nausea, and feeling dizzy/ lightheaded, patients suffering from vertigo may experience other symptoms including:
- Sweating
- Vomiting
- Swaying, or unable to remain balanced
- Tinnitus (ringing or buzzing sound in one or both ears)
What about Fainting?
Fainting occurs when there is decreased blood flow to the brain. Also known as syncope, fainting can occur for various reasons. Simple fainting spells, for example, are due to anxiety, pain, stress, hunger, or from alcohol or drugs. These cases are not caused by heart or neurological conditions; they can happen to anyone.
The most common type is a vasovagal attack, or a neurally-mediated syncope. When a patient experiences a vasovagal attack, their blood pressure is dropping, which reduces blood circulation to the brain. In addition to losing consciousness, patients may feel lightheaded and nauseous. Most cases occur in children and young adults, and they happen while the person is standing upright.
Another common condition, resulting in fainting spells, is postural hypotension. This condition is more common in seniors, individuals with poor muscle tone, and people with prolonged illness that keep them bedridden. Postural hypotension comes from quick movements, from lying or sitting down then standing up quickly, and the body is not able to regulate blood pressure due to it. Considering this, patients experiencing this condition may take more time to stand up, to prevent lightheadedness.
Other causes for fainting include:
- Autonomic nervous system diseases
- Diabetes
- Alcoholism
- Heart arrhythmia
- Blood clot in the lung(s)
- Cough or stretch syncope
- Hyperventilation
Help for Dizziness, Vertigo, and Fainting at Innate Life Chiropractic
At Innate Life Chiropractic in Palatine, our chiropractor will perform an examination, neurospinal scans, and evaluate your posture to determine the cause of your dizziness/ vertigo/ fainting. After analyzing the findings , Dr. Nathan will develop a care plan to help improve the health of your spine and nervous system and provide you with recommendations to lower your risk for possible re-occurrences.
Spinal Adjustments
Dr. Nathan will adjust the vertebrae in the affected area to increase your range of motion and take pressure off the spinal nerves. He will focus on the imbalanced zone(s) connected to your challenge and begin care from there. Symptoms resulting from dizziness, vertigo or fainting, from other nerves in the affected area, may begin to decrease as well.
Lifestyle Advice
With any injury, whether to the back, neck, or extremity, the last thing you want to do is make the pain worse. The same idea applies to handling cases of dizziness, fainting and/or vertigo. Our advice is designed to help you perform everyday tasks and responsibilities safely. This does include suggestions to improving your diet, drinking plenty of water and fluids, and exercising. At Innate Life Chiropractic, we focus on healing and relief from dizziness, vertigo or fainting, not aggravating it.
Contact Our Palatine Chiropractor for Dizziness, Vertigo, and Fainting
To get started with chiropractic care for your dizziness, vertigo, or fainting, choose our Palatine, IL chiropractor today. Innate Life Chiropractic is currently accepting new patients of all ages. Call our office today. When it comes to dizziness, vertigo and/or fainting, get relief NOW!
