Your Spine and Vertigo in Marlboro New Jersey
Head and Neck Trauma
Have you ever wondered why your ears don't function correctly or why your entire body doesn't keep balance the way it should? We're sure you have. You may not notice when things like that happen, or you may think things like that are just a normal part of life.
Well, it's not, and the reason your ears aren't functioning correctly, or you're suddenly experiencing trouble with your balance, is because your body is not aligned the way it should be. That happened because your spine is out of alignment.
Now, think of your spine like a set of dominos. When one is knocked out of alignment, all of the others are also knocked out of alignment. That's what happens when the top two vertebrae in your spine, also called your upper cervical spine, are knocked out of alignment.
​Your Spinal Misalignment and the Equator
When those two vertebrae are knocked out of alignment by as little as ¼ of a millimeter, your entire body and your head are also knocked out of alignment. You may not feel that misalignment, or you may become so used to it, that you may not notice it. That's because there is a built in function in your body called righting reflex that causes it to stay aligned with the horizon.
Now, the problem with that is that in order to keep your eyes, ears, and the rest of your body aligned with the horizon, that means your body needs to sustain the equivalency of a 10 to 14 lb. bowling ball on those top two bones in your upper neck.
Of course, this leads to another problem, and that is that your brain also needs to stay level with the horizon. Your brain then keeps your eyes and ears level with the horizon. That can lead to further complications throughout your body.
Complications from Spinal Misalignments
A misalignment in your upper neck effects the way your body functions because your brain needs to communicate with your body. It primarily communicates with your spinal cord and your entire body by sending messages via the brainstem.
That alignment in your upper cervical spine causes your entire spine to shift out of alignment, and that can cause your body's organs to also shift out of alignment
Just as the brain's ability to communicate with your body is hindered, your upper neck cannot send messages via pressure sensors to your brain and brainstem.
Your brainstem's ability to send messages to your ears via the cranial nerves is also hindered
Your cerebral blood flow and the flow of your cerebrospinal fluid may also be hindered
Realigning Your Spine
Now, that last one is an important one, because when your cerebral blood flow is hindered, it can lead to vertigo, dizziness, and disequilibrium. The good news is that correcting that misalignment in your upper neck will cause your entire body to realign itself. That may not happen right away, but it will. And when it does, it will allow the body to begin to heal itself.
Though, it's important to note that vertigo, dizziness, and disequilibrium are not always caused by a misalignment in your upper neck. But if you have a history of head or neck injuries prior to the symptoms beginning that it is very likely to be connected. An upper cervical specialist can examine your upper neck for any misalignments that may be leading to those conditions, or any symptoms of those conditions.