Demystifying Dizziness – Looking Through An Upper Cervical Lens
Dr. Michelle Speranza is a NUCCA Upper Cervical Chiropractor, owner of Core Balance Centre, and co-founder of re-HUB Health Collective. She holds a Diplomate in Chiropractic Craniocervical Junction Procedures (DCCJP) and is passionate about serving and educating people on the impact head and neck injuries have on brain health and wellness.
Many people encounter dizziness at some point in their lives, but its complexity often leaves them unsure about the best path to relief. For some, dizziness feels like a sense of light-headedness or faintness, while others experience a sensation of being unsteady or off-balance. And then there’s vertigo, a more intense form that creates a false sense of spinning.
Often dizziness and vertigo are lumped together and used interchangeably by people. The more precise you can describe your symptoms, the easier it will be to get a proper diagnosis and treatment. So, let’s explore this a little deeper.
Dizziness is more than just a symptom
Dizziness is an umbrella term, and it’s important to clarify what people mean when they use it. There are several common descriptions of dizziness:
Light-headedness: This often involves feeling faint or as though you might pass out. It is commonly associated with dehydration, low blood pressure, or sudden drops in blood sugar.
Unsteadiness: This is a sense of being wobbly, with some people describing it as if they are walking on a boat, feeling unbalanced, or feeling like they have a bobblehead. This can result from visual or inner ear imbalances but can also largely stem from issues in the neck.
Vertigo: Distinct from general dizziness, vertigo involves the sensation that either you or the environment is spinning or moving when, in reality, it is not. Vertigo is most often connected to problems with crystals located in the inner ear.
Dizziness vs Vertigo: Understanding the difference
While dizziness and vertigo are often used interchangeably, they are distinct experiences. Dizziness is a general, non-specific term for feeling unsteady or out of sorts, whereas vertigo is characterized by a definite spinning sensation. Vertigo often has more defined causes, including inner ear disturbances, and may involve nausea, vomiting, and loss of balance.
In cases of dizziness or vertigo, it is important to identify the root cause to provide the right care. That’s where upper cervical chiropractic care comes in – a unique approach that focuses on the relationship between the spine, particularly the upper neck, and the central nervous system.
Causes of dizziness and the role of the upper cervical spine
Dizziness can arise from a wide range of factors, but one of the lesser-known yet impactful causes involves the alignment of the upper cervical spine, particularly the atlas (C1) and axis (C2) vertebrae. These two vertebrae house a critical area of the nervous system where all the brain and the body’s communication systems must cross. They are surrounded by dense connective tissue (ligaments and muscles) that contain an exceptionally high number of sensors that tell the brain how the head and neck are positioned and moving. Misalignments here can create strain through these tissues, affecting signals related to balance and posture, which can lead to feelings of unsteadiness or vertigo-like symptoms, especially with head or neck movements.
Some common causes linked to dizziness include:
Head or neck injuries: Even minor head or neck trauma can misalign the upper cervical spine, resulting in a breakdown in posture and balance coordination.
Jaw dysfunction: Head and neck alignment can directly influence the motion and tension in the jaw. Excessive clenching, grinding, and tension can affect pressure in the inner ear leading to feelings of unsteadiness.
Stress and tension: Stress can tighten the muscles in the neck and shoulders, potentially affecting posture and upper cervical alignment. Chronic tension can result in trigger points that can exacerbate dizziness.
Dizziness is often a multifaceted issue. For many, upper cervical chiropractic care can provide a profound sense of relief from dizziness. By targeting the root of the issue, people often experience improvement in overall balance, reduce or resolve the frequency and intensity of their dizziness, and even find relief from associated symptoms like headaches and neck pain.
Read more from Dr. Michelle Speranza
Dr. Michelle Speranza DC, DCCJP, BSc, NUCCA Upper Cervical Chiropractor
Dr. Michelle Speranza is an upper cervical Chiropractor in Airdrie, Alberta, Canada. She is a member of the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA) and has advanced training in craniocervical junction procedures. Working with people suffering from headaches, neck pain, hypermobility, and dizziness, her passion is helping people restore balance in their body, return to doing the activities that they love, and ultimately take back control of their health.
