We usually think of spells as being mystical and powerful.
But there is nothing magical about a dizzy spell. Dizziness upon standing or waking up is disorienting and a terrible way to start the day. We’d rather close the curtains, turn up the white noise machine, and reactivate our Do Not Disturb.
As a chiropractor for vertigo in Springfield, IL, I know that a whopping 42% of adults experience dizziness at some point, making it the third most common symptom reported during outpatient visits. That’s right, it’s a symptom; it’s not a medical diagnosis. It could be from something as innocent as dehydration.
Or something more sinister like heart disease.
It’s really not worth rolling the dice.
Dizziness is an umbrella term for various sensations, like feeling faint, woozy, weak, unsteady, or…
It can be a symptom of a whole bunch of health issues, some cardiac, neurologic, gynecologic, and ear/nose/throat related. It can last a few seconds or hang around for months like that recently divorced father-in-law who just won’t take a hint. It’s a tricky symptom that doesn’t always point to a problem with your inner ear (the vestibular system).
Now, here’s where things get really wild. There are over 80 possible causes of dizziness, and here are some heavy hitters:
- Heart-Related: Atrial fibrillation, tachycardia, hypotension, atherosclerosis, heart disease – it’s like a cardio party in there.
- Brain and Nerve-Related: Think vertigo, Meniere’s disease, stroke, fibromyalgia, PTSD, post-concussion syndrome, altitude sickness, migraine, hangover, and motion sickness.
- Ear/Nose/Throat-Related: Common cold, flu, middle ear infections, tinnitus – your head’s a happening place.
- OB-GYN-Related: Pregnancy, menopause, endometriosis, toxic shock syndrome – it doesn’t even spare the ladies.
But wait, there’s more! Anemia, anxiety, B12 deficiency, and even caffeine overdose can trigger a dizzying journey.
Heard.
Dizziness may not be life-threatening. Being dizzy when hungover may feel like the end of the world, but it’s actually just a sign of youth and lack of self-control. Dizziness is dangerous:
- After a head injury
- When it causes changes in vision or speech
- When accompanied by a rapid, slow, or irregular heartbeat
- Alongside chest pain
- With shortness of breath
- With fever and stiff neck
- With fainting or lack of consciousness
- With convulsions
- Numbness or tingling
- In addition to vomiting
- When we can’t move an arm or leg
To just address the dizziness would be a fool’s errand. Sure, it might dissipate for a few hours while the medicine a bunch of chemists cooked up in a lab numbs the body’s senses, but medications don’t last forever, unlike some things…
To get rid of dizziness and not be haunted that it could appear out of nowhere at any moment, we have to address the root cause of the issue. For chiropractors, that’s the name of the game.
There are a few easy, natural remedies for dizziness that, barring any emergency situation, should be tried before calling in the National Guard.
Natural Treatments for Dizziness
1. Relax and Hydrate
When feeling dizzy, just lie down. Doctor’s orders! If it’s vertigo, keep those peepers shut. Remain hydrated and move to the shade or a cooler indoor space. Stress, dehydration, and heat can all trigger dizziness – which explains why I didn’t feel so good at my five-year-old nephew’s baseball game last Sunday.
2. Acupuncture
This ancient technique uses needles to stimulate points on our body to restore healthy function and promote healing. It may sound like hippy-dippy quackery, but studies have concluded that after 30 minutes of acupuncture, patients experienced a significant reduction in dizziness and vertigo.
3. Cut Back on Caffeine and Alcohol
As hard as this is to hear, for inner ear-related dizziness, it’s helpful to ease up on the coffee and booze. Sure, in small amounts, caffeine has great anti-oxidant effects, but in large amounts, it messes with our circulatory system. I guess we can include red wine as well. But both bevvies can also wreak havoc on our balance. Drinking alcohol affects our cerebellum, the part of the brain responsible for balance. This makes sense to anyone who has been to college. Balance and dizziness are so deeply interconnected that messing with one will inevitably mess with the other. They’re like:
4. Check B12 Levels
B12 keeps our body’s blood and nerve cells healthy and happy and helps make DNA. So, kind of important stuff. It also prevents anemia, a blood condition that makes people tired and weak. B12 doesn’t directly provide energy, but it gives the body the tools it needs to convert food molecules into energy. A B12 deficiency can result in:
- Fatigue
- Lethargy
- Breathlessness
- Feeling faint
- Headaches
- Palpitations
- Tinnitus
We’ve seen a few words on that list before. Loading up on B12 foods can prevent these feelings and help stabilize us. Foods like:
- Sardines
- Grass-fed beef
- Wild-caught salmon
- Feta cheese
- Cottage cheese
- Eggs
5. Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care is a preventative way to deal with dizziness. We don’t live in a culture that likes to prevent things. We see that as a waste of time; we’ll just clean up the mess if it happens. Preventative care is the best way to remain healthy and ensure a robust, productive life.
Chiropractic care optimizes nervous system function by removing misalignments in the spine that may interfere with normal nerve flow. Improved nerve function can improve balance and coordination by allowing the brain and body to be in better communication with each other. Chiropractic adjustments also promote better blood flow, which can often help alleviate dizziness. Not to mention, chiropractic treatment fortifies the immune system and improves the body’s ability to heal.
Dizziness is not a way to walk through life. It’s a way to stumble through. At the Springfield Wellness Center, our team of expert chiropractors wants to make sure our community has the full facility of their potential to live the best life possible. That means vertigo has got to go.
Give us a call or schedule a time to meet with one of our amazing doctors. Don’t be held back by something that might seem silly. What’s really silly is living a less-than-thriving life when the solutions are right in front of us.