Dizziness is a disturbance in the sense of balance and space, in which the sufferer feels that they or their surroundings are moving, spinning, swaying or tilting, even though no actual movement is occurring.
What are the types of vertigo?
Vertigo can be divided into two main types: Peripheral vertigo and central vertigo.
1. Peripheral vertigo
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV): This is the most common type of vertigo, caused by small calcium deposits clumping in the inner ear canal, leading to brief episodes of vertigo.
- Ménière’s disease: This inner ear disorder causes vertigo, hearing loss, tinnitus, and a feeling of fullness in the ear.
- Vestibular neuritis: Inflammation of the vestibular nerve, often caused by a viral infection, causing severe and constant vertigo.
- Labyrinthitis: An infection or inflammation of the inner ear labyrinth can cause vertigo, hearing loss, and loss of balance.
2. Central Vertigo
- Migraine-Related Vertigo: Some people with migraines experience dizziness during or between migraine attacks.
- Stroke: Vertigo can occur if blood flow to the brainstem or cerebellum, areas of the brain that help control balance, is reduced.
- Multiple sclerosis (MS): This condition can cause loss of myelin in areas of the brain and spinal cord responsible for balance, leading to dizziness.
- Tumors: Tumors in the brain, especially in the cerebellum or brainstem, can cause dizziness by pressing on areas involved in balance.
Causes of dizziness in winter
Here are 3 common causes:
1. Weather changes
Winter weather is often unpredictable, with sudden changes in temperature and strong winds. These sudden changes can significantly affect the body’s balance system, which controls the sense of movement and orientation in space. As a result, you may experience more frequent and severe dizziness during the winter months.
2. Atmospheric pressure fluctuations
Atmospheric pressure is the weight of the surrounding air. It changes constantly, but these changes are often too subtle to notice. However, rapid changes in barometric pressure, such as those that occur before a storm, can cause symptoms of dizziness. This is because the air pressure affects the fluid pressure inside your ears, creating a feeling of imbalance that you feel as dizziness or lightheadedness.
3. Common winter illnesses
Cold and flu season is another culprit for winter dizziness. Upper respiratory infections can cause inflammation of the inner ear, which can lead to symptoms of dizziness. Additionally, some medications used to treat common winter illnesses, such as decongestants and antihistamines, can also cause dizziness as a side effect.
Winter dizziness remedies
There are practical steps you can take to reduce the symptoms of dizziness, including:
1. Stay hydrated
It’s easy to skip drinking water during the winter months, but staying hydrated is important. Dehydration can make dizziness worse, so try to drink plenty of water.
2. Get enough sleep
Getting enough sleep is essential to preventing dizziness. Lack of sleep leads to increased adrenaline production, which can worsen dizziness symptoms. Make getting enough rest a priority.
3. Avoid triggers
Caffeine, alcohol, and smoking can worsen dizziness. Caffeine affects blood pressure, potentially causing an imbalance in the inner ear, while alcohol dehydrates the body, reducing fluid in the ear. Smoking damages the hair cells in the ear, disrupting their cleansing function.
4. Consider upper neck care
If you are tired of searching for effective remedies for persistent dizziness, consider seeking help from an Upper Cervical Chiropractor. Upper cervical care targets the root cause of dizziness. These misalignments, often caused by trauma, accidents, or chronic physical stress in this area, can affect the entire alignment of the spine, including the delicate structures of the inner ear.
