Dizziness is a common symptom of many different health issues. You may experience a bout of dizziness due to a new medication, the flu, or low blood sugar. Usually, it isn’t a serious problem and it is resolved quickly.
If dizziness or problems with your balance occur more frequently or don’t resolve quickly, there may be a condition causing the problem. Two of the most common causes of dizziness are vertigo and Meniere’s disease.
The two conditions are often confused, so allow us to help clarify the issue for you.
What is Meniere’s Disease?
Meniere’s Disease is a chronic disorder of the inner ear due to a buildup of fluids. Narrow vessels in the ear are generally responsible for drainage and help regulate air pressure inside the ear. When fluids are trapped in these vessels, it causes the pressure levels in the ear to change. This causes Meniere’s disease.
Doctors are unsure what causes Meniere’s disease. There may be blockages that cause pressure to build, or it may be due to an abnormal immune response. Both of these problems could be caused by a misalignment of the upper cervical spine.
Meniere’s disease causes ear pressure, tinnitus, nausea, vomiting, and hearing loss. It also causes vertigo.
What Is Vertigo?
Vertigo is caused by a build-up of fluid or, occasionally, calcium deposits in the inner ear.
Vertigo involves the feeling of being off-balance or unsteady. This causes lightheadedness or dizziness. It can make you feel like the room is spinning around you when you’re sitting still. This feeling can lead to sweating, a ringing in the ears, nausea, or a headache.
The build-up may be due to a head and/or neck injury, a tumor, a stroke, or migraines. It can also be caused by Meniere’s disease.
The Difference Between Vertigo and Meniere’s Disease
Vertigo is a symptom of several different diseases or conditions. Vertigo is the main symptom of Meniere’s Disease. This is how the two conditions are related.
In other words, if you have Meniere’s disease, those dizzy spells you get are vertigo. However, if you have vertigo, it isn’t necessarily caused by Meniere’s disease.
Meniere’s disease is a recurring condition that will get progressively worse in time if left untreated. On the other hand, vertigo will usually clear up after a few days unless there is a more serious underlying cause.
How We Treat Vertigo and Meniere’s Disease
Vertigo and Meniere’s disease do share one more thing in common: both can be caused by a misalignment of the upper cervical spine. Often, the best way to treat the problem is to have any misalignments in the upper cervical spine corrected so that health can be restored.
The upper cervical spine consists of the seven uppermost vertebrae that run through the neck. This part of the spine is very close to the narrow vessels that control ear fluid and pressure. When this part of the spine is misaligned, it causes swelling and inflammation of the surrounding tissue, which can put pressure on the vessels and impede anything from flowing through them.
Dr. Alex Bello of Los Angeles Upper Cervical is a specialist in the upper cervical spine and an expert in the Blair Chiropractic Technique. This technique is a modern method in chiropractic care that uses advanced technology for better screening and assessment purposes, allowing the doctor to utilize precise but minimal pressure to make corrections. These corrections generally are swifter, more gentle, and hold longer than those with traditional chiropractic methods because 3D diagnostic imaging tools allow for more precise corrections.
When the spine is returned to a correct state of alignment, the body’s natural healing mechanisms are triggered to help reduce inflammation and swelling, restoring nerve flow, allowing the ear vessels to function, and improving the overall posture and health.
If you suffer from bouts of vertigo or have been diagnosed with Meniere’s disease, contact Dr. Bello for a consultation. He offers upper cervical chiropractic care to patients in Brentwood, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Westwood, Culver City, Marina Del Rey, West Los Angeles, and the surrounding areas.