Vertigo: Why You Feel Dizzy and What You Can Do

Hey there, this is Doctor Brent Johnson from Castle Hills Chiropractic right here in Castle Hills, Texas. Thanks for joining me today.

Let’s talk about something that really throws people off balance… literally. Vertigo. That spinning, dizzy sensation that makes you feel like the room is moving even when you’re standing still. If you’ve ever experienced it, you know how unsettling it can be.

Now, here’s what I want you to understand. Vertigo isn’t a disease… it’s a symptom. Something is sending mixed signals to your brain about where your body is in space. And there are a few different reasons this can happen.

The most common cause I see in practice is something called benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. We call it BPPV for short. What happens is tiny calcium crystals in your inner ear get loose and float into the wrong canal. When you move your head, these crystals tumble around and confuse your balance system. It’s like having debris in a level… everything gets off-kilter.

Another culprit can be issues in your neck. Your upper cervical spine, especially those top two vertebrae right under your skull, they have a direct connection to your balance centers. When those joints aren’t moving properly or the muscles get really tight, they can send faulty information to your brain. Your brain gets one message from your eyes, another from your inner ear, and a completely different signal from your neck. That mismatch creates that dizzy, spinning feeling.

You know what I hear a lot? People tell me their vertigo gets worse when they roll over in bed, or when they look up to grab something off a high shelf. Those position changes are huge clues about what’s going on.

So what can you actually do about this? Well, first off, if your vertigo is severe or came on suddenly, or if you have other symptoms like double vision, slurred speech, or numbness… you need to see a doctor right away to rule out something serious. Safety first, always.

But for many people with positional vertigo or neck-related dizziness, there are some really effective treatments. For BPPV, there are specific maneuvers we can do to move those crystals back where they belong. It sounds almost too simple, but repositioning your head in certain ways can literally guide those crystals out of the wrong canal. Many patients feel dramatically better after just one or two treatments.

If your neck is contributing to the problem, gentle chiropractic adjustments and targeted soft tissue work can restore proper movement and reduce that confusing input to your brain. When your neck joints move correctly and your muscles relax, your balance system gets clearer information.

Here’s something you can try at home. Move slowly. When you’re getting out of bed, don’t just pop up quickly. Roll to your side first, pause for a moment, then push yourself up gradually. Give your brain time to adjust. Stay hydrated too… dehydration can make dizziness worse.

And practice balance exercises when you’re feeling stable. Simple things like standing on one foot while holding onto a counter. This helps retrain your balance system over time.

Now, here’s the thing. You don’t have to live with vertigo. It’s not just something you have to tough out. If you’re experiencing dizziness, spinning sensations, or balance problems, come get evaluated. We can figure out what’s causing it and create a plan to help you feel steady again.

Life’s too short to feel like you’re on a merry-go-round you can’t get off. We’re here at Castle Hills Chiropractic to help you get back to feeling grounded and confident in your movements.

Thanks for listening today. If you have questions or want to schedule an evaluation, give us a call. We’d love to help you out. Take care, and I’ll talk to you next time.