Chiropractor Federal Way Wa | Balance & Vertigo: Go Hand In Hand

When it comes to balance & vertigo, we take our body for granted. It isn't until we experience a loss of balance or vertigo problems that we even give it a second thought. However, when vertigo happens, it is the only thing you can think about.

When Vertigo Occurs -

Vertigo can strike at any time. For many of us that suffer from this problem, normal everyday tasks can become a whole new adventure. While most people do not experience extreme cases, even a mild case of vertigo leaves you feeling dizzy and off-balance.

Children purposely trigger mild vertigo in play. They spin around and around until they are dizzy. If they are really brave, then spin around until they fall down. It is great fun when you are trying to trigger the experience.

However, when you are trying to check the mail and the world starts spinning, it is not so fun. Nothing really compares to the embarrassment of a 30-something randomly falling down for no apparent reason. Yet it happens to many Americans experiencing the symptoms of vertigo.

How Balance Works-

Vertigo all starts in the vestibular system. You can think of it as the inner ear. The vestibular system is among the first systems to develop in humans. It keeps track of the pull of gravity and the rotation of objects. It determines if you are moving or if the object you are looking at is moving or a combination of the two.

Mothers naturally provide vestibular stimulation to babies. They will rock them, jiggle them and put them in swings. All of these activities help develop the vestibular system. Then as babies grow, they begin rocking and spinning themselves. You can see this on playgrounds too (swings, merry-go-rounds, see-saw).

It is the vestibular system that allows us to keep our balance. When this system is over-stimulated nausea, vomiting and loss of balance occur. Again, you can see this on playgrounds as children stumble away from the equipment. Adults may experience the same phenomenon on roller coasters.

Treatment Options for Vertigo -

When vertigo occurs for an unknown reason, it can be surprising at best and downright frightening at worst. In more extreme cases of vertigo, patients fall down unexplainably.

Patients report that the room started spinning. In more rare cases, some patients report the room "flipping" upside down on them. Obviously, a patient cannot maintain balance when their sensory input gives such information.

Medical attention is required to treat vertigo. There is nothing you can do at home to treat the problem. Medical professionals will need to establish a cause for the problems before treatment can begin.

However, treatment for vertigo may include:
"Treating ear infections.
"Vestibular rehabilitation exercises
"Treating a hole in the ear
"Oral medications such as Meclizine

When to Seek Medical Help -

Everyone experiences loss of balance and vertigo at some point in their lives. A single episode of vertigo is no cause for alarm and medical treatment is not necessary. However, if you experience chronic vertigo or if the vertigo is so severe that you are repeatedly falling down, seek help as soon as possible.