Cervical dizziness, cervical vertigo or cervicogenic dizziness can be defined as vertigo caused by neck postures, can be attributed to pathophysiological changes in the inner ear, head or neck region.
This condition is best described as dizziness that occurs when the neck is moved.. While there are different reasons for a person to suffer from cervical dizziness, in almost all cases, the condition includes Neck Pain.
The feeling of instability can also be caused by a disorder of cervical origin
With cervical dizziness, a person feels the world is spinning around him. It is easy to understand how this condition can affect the feeling of balance and concentration.. Nevertheless, cervical dizziness should not be confused with auditory dizziness.
Let's take a closer look at the common causes, the symptoms, diagnosis, treatments and some yoga exercises that will help us in the management of cervical dizziness.
Index
Causes of cervical dizziness
Cervical dizziness is often the result of a head injury, trauma to the spine, postures, whiplash and neck disorders, that disrupt head and neck alignment.
Cervical vertigo is not easy to diagnose because there are several causes for it. Among the most common reasons why people suffer from this type of dizziness, is it so:
- Trauma like whiplash, this could cause changes in blood flow through the arteries that feed the brainstem
- Degenerative arthritis of the neck and rheumatoid arthritis
- Chronic pain that impairs neck movement
- Blockage or blockage of the arteries in the neck from hardening or tearing
- Espondilosis cervical, which causes vertebrae and the discs in the neck wear out over time
- Rupture of the vertebral artery, due to overstretching
- Platybasia or abnormality at the base of the skull
- Cervical root sleeve tear. This when the tough outer layer of a disc in the spine ruptures
Frequent symptoms
Imbalance is one of the main symptoms of cervical dizziness. Nevertheless, it can also be a sign of many different health problems. Some symptoms to be aware of are:
- Neck and head pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Loss of balance when walking, stand up and sit.
- Ear pain and tinnitus characterized by ringing, whistling or other noises originating in the ear or head
- Difficult to focus
- Visual disturbances when shaking the head, spots in the field of vision and loss of vision in the middle of the visual field
- Feeling weak
Symptoms are usually aggravated by standing up suddenly, during rapid neck movements, physical exercise, coughing and even sneezing.
Dizziness can last for minutes or hours. If neck pain decreases, dizziness may also start to subside. Symptoms may get worse after exercise, quick movements and, sometimes, sneezing.
Diagnosis
Accurate diagnosis of cervical dizziness is possible primarily only by ruling out other causes, What: vestibular neuritis, tumors, autoimmune diseases, BPPV, Meniere's disease, central vertigo and psychogenic vertigo.
Cervical dizziness associated with head and neck injuries, like post-traumatic vertigo, whiplash injury or severe arthritis should definitely be considered during diagnosis.
These are some of the tests used to diagnose cervical dizziness:
- MRA (magnetic resonance angiography)
- Vertebral angiography
- Vertebral Doppler Ultrasound
- Flexion-extension X-ray of the cervical spine
- Fluoroscopia
- Evoked potential tests (measures the spinal cord and brain pathways in the nervous system)
- Dynamic posturography (balance control test)
- Audiogram (hearing test)
Diagnosing cervical vertigo can be difficult. Doctors will need to eliminate other possible causes of cervical vertigo with similar symptoms..
Treatments
In many cases, treatment for cervical dizziness can be as simple as applying hot and cold packs, massage and stretching exercises.
Manual therapy has been a recent addition that has been shown to be very helpful.. Chiropractors recommend therapeutic sessions to improve neck range of motion and balance.
Treatment of cervical dizziness depends on the cause. Improvement can be felt after exercising or with a combination of exercise and medication..
Medical treatment includes the use of muscle relaxants, analgesics, medicines for motion sickness and to reduce neck tightness.
3 yoga exercises to treat cervical dizziness
There are specific exercises that can help improve the symptoms of cervical dizziness. We must remember that before starting any exercise routine, we have to consult with a specialist.
Note that a little dizziness with these exercises is normal at first. If you are in pain or feel really bad, must stop. A full hour of these exercises is recommended each day, with a break of approximately five minutes between sessions.
It is important that you have plenty of space to perform the exercises and clear the area of any objects that could cause injury should you lose your balance.. Having someone with you is a good security measure.
1.- Balasana or child pose
Get on all fours. Now, put your feet together while widening your knees. Rest your abdomen on your thighs and your buttocks on your feet. Put your forehead on the ground.
Bring your arms around you, next to your legs. You can support your feet with your palms. Hold the pose for a few minutes.
2.- Viparita Karani or legs up to the wall
Sit on a wall and lift your legs with the wall bracket. Lie down gently and stretch your arms out to the sides, bending them at the elbows to look like a cactus.
Place your palms up. Once you feel comfortable, close your eyes and breathe long and deeply. Release after a few minutes.
3.- Shavasana the corpse pose
Lie on your back, with the palms of your hands resting beside you, looking up. Get comfortable and make sure your body is in a straight line.
Close your eyes and focus on each and every part of your body. Take deep, cleansing breaths. It enters a meditative state, but try not to fall asleep.