Spine Health & Spinal Hygiene

Getting dizzy can happen, usually after standing up too fast or staring at an optical illusion then looking away. The unsteadiness can be troubling but is minimal when compared to vertigo symptoms. Vertigo is a symptom rather than a condition that causes dizziness combined with a spinning sensation, even when an individual stands completely still. Vertigo can make everyday life a debilitating nightmare:

• It causes individuals to feel nauseous.
• It makes it difficult to walk.
• It interrupts vision and hearing.

Vertigo symptoms usually begin with a communication issue with the inner ear and brain. This neurological connection involves the spinal cord, which chiropractic can treat and cure. A chiropractor will implement the necessary techniques to help alleviate vertigo symptoms.

Causes

The most common signs and symptoms are dizziness accompanied by a spinning sensation. Vertigo symptoms can also include:

• Balance issues
• Body swaying
• Headache/s
• Tinnitus
• Sweating
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Vertigo is a common symptom in individuals that have gone through trauma to the neck and/or head. A  disturbance/interruption occurs in the nerve pathways in the spinal column. Disruption, injury, or damage to the vestibular system/inner ear also causes vertigo symptoms. Other causes include:

• Ear infections
• Pressure changes
• Movement of particles within the inner ear

Chiropractic Treatment

Chiropractic treatment can cure vertigo symptoms through various exercises and spinal adjustments. When nerve signals don't transmit correctly, it can cause a feeling of dizziness along with the other symptoms. Adjustments or manipulations help alleviate the symptoms by allowing nerve energy to circulate properly. Spinal adjustments realign the joints and vertebrae in the cervical spine. This opens the nerves pathways and allows for clear communication.

A common type of vertigo is known as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo or BPPV. This is the movement of particles around the inner ear. These particles come from otolith organs. The particles break loose and fall into other parts of the vestibular labyrinth. This alters the center of balance and can cause dizziness. A chiropractor may use the Epley maneuver, which maneuvers the head into different positions. A chiropractor will recommend specific exercises at home to benefit the vestibular system and its communication with the brain.

Body Composition

A Common Cold

The common cold, aka upper respiratory tract inflammation. It is the most common infectious respiratory disease. It is called this because of the effects on the nose and throat. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, an adult will catch 2–3 colds a year. A cold-causing virus enters the respiratory tract directly when an individual inhales droplets or direct skin contact from an infected person. Cold symptoms include:

• Runny nose
• Stuffy nose
• Sneezing
• Coughing
• Headaches
• Body aches

The duration of a cold differs, but most individuals with a healthy immune system recover in 7–10 days. However, individuals with compromised immune systems, asthma, or COPD have an increased risk of developing serious illnesses like bronchitis or pneumonia. Quickly recovering from a cold requires boosting the immune system with proper rest, a nutritious diet, and drinking plenty of water. 

General Disclaimer *

The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional, licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make your own health care decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified health care professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and support, directly or indirectly, our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*

References

Collins, Matthew E, and Tom M Misukanis. “Chiropractic management of a patient with post-traumatic vertigo of complex origin.” Journal of chiropractic medicine vol. 4,1 (2005): 32-8. doi:10.1016/S0899-3467(07)60110-4

Dalby, B J. “Chiropractic diagnosis and treatment of closed head trauma.” Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics vol. 16,6 (1993): 392-400.

Sajko, Sandy S et al. “Chiropractic management of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo using the Epley maneuver: a case series.” Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics vol. 36,2 (2013): 119-26. doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2012.12.011

"Mom, it hurts. It hurts!"

Parents of children suffering from ear infections are all too familiar with this cry. Tugging at their ears, crying, and trouble sleeping are all signs of an ear infection in your little one.

Children are more susceptible to ear infections than adults because of their smaller Eustachian tubes, and their less effective immune systems. Unfortunately, chronic ear infections can quickly become a painful, ongoing problem.

Parents have a variety of options at their disposal to treat their child's ear infections. Drops, antibiotics, and ventilation tubes placed by surgical procedure are all commonly used treatments for chronic infections. Chiropractic care is another option available and is rapidly gaining acceptance and popularity for the effective treatment of ear infections.

According to HealthyChild.com, ear infections are the reason for 35% of pediatrician visits, and ear pain is the number one reason a child visits a chiropractor. Children who suffer from recurring ear infections benefit from chiropractic care in several ways that are not available through other, more traditional forms of treatment.

Here are a few of the benefits chiropractic care offer for ear infections are:

Ear Infections: It Is Non-Invasive

Unlike the surgical procedure that is often used to combat ear infections by inserting tubes in the child's ears, chiropractic adjustments provide a non-invasive form of treatment.

This treatment option works well because a little one's spine may be moved out of alignment from the birthing process, or from any number of spills he or she makes learning to walk, run, or navigate stairs. An experienced chiropractor can map out a treatment plan that includes gentle adjustments of the child's neck and spine. The goal is to decrease fluid build up within the ear canals that bring on ear infections and pain.

It Is A Painless Option Of Treatment

The last thing parents want in any medical treatment is to cause their child more pain. A negative experience at a doctor's office can create a fear that lasts for years to come.

Children with ear infections have nothing to fear from visiting a chiropractor. During a chiropractic visit, the child will participate in adjustments that are pain free. The treatments will be able to reduce the pain in a short amount of time in many instances, and reduce the chance of dealing with another ear infection down the road.

It Treats The Underlying Cause

Other options of treatment may decrease the symptoms of an ear infection, but never get to the actual root issue. Chiropractic care strives to return the body in its entirety to its normal function.

This is the main building block concept for chiropractic in general. By re-aligning the spine, the body as a whole can be healthier and more resistant to infection and disease. Chiropractic care helps adjust the child's body back to a normal state, thus providing a way for it to heal itself and fight off future ear (and other) infections better than simply using drops and antibiotics.

If your child is susceptible to ear infections, there are steps you can take to minimize the chances of an occurrence in the first place. Frequent hand washing to prevent the spread of germs and avoiding cigarette smoke are two simple ways to combat ear infections.

Chiropractic treatment continues to show promise in treating the underlying issues that cause a child to suffer from ear infections. If you are looking for a treatment that is pain free, not intimidating to the child, and an alternative to invasive surgery, enlisting the help of a chiropractor is a fantastic option.

So if your child is experiencing chronic ear infections, give us a call. Our Doctor of Chiropractic is here to help!

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