“It was a typical day. I was heading out for breakfast with my dear friend. While I was bending down to get my car key on the sofa, my body started to feel light. And in a split second, I suddenly felt like floating, and my vision was spinning,“ one patient shared her experience with our Salem vertigo chiropractor.
She continued, “While I was browsing the internet, I was confused because I found two similar terms that described my symptom—vertigo and disequilibrium.” She wanted to know the possible underlying condition that caused her symptoms.
Her story inspired us to create this blog that would explain the difference and similarities between vertigo and disequilibrium.
Table of Contents
Are Vertigo and Equilibrium the Same Thing?
Balance problems, such as vertigo and disequilibrium, are common when you reach adulthood. These two are different but often used interchangeably due to their similar nature.
We believe in the importance of understanding the nature of these balance disturbances. So, we are going to simplify everything for you in this article. Let us start with the similarities of vertigo and disequilibrium to be followed by their differences.
Similarities of Vertigo and Disequilibrium
- They are not diseases nor conditions but consequences or symptoms of an underlying condition.
- Vertigo and disequilibrium may stem from the same source. Often, they happen due to a disorder in the inner ear.
- They can become serious issues, especially if you do nothing to address their causes. In addition, since both can affect your balance, you may become prone to injuries.
- The two symptoms can poorly affect someone’s quality of life.
Differences Between Vertigo and Disequilibrium
What’s Disequilibrium?
It’s the sensation that refers to a loss of equilibrium or balance. Patients describe this as a feeling of instability accompanied by spatial disorientation. Disequilibrium often results from:
- Vestibular Problems.Some abnormalities that occur in your inner ear can cause this balance problem.
- Medication.Loss of balance control can be a side effect of certain medications.
- Neurological Conditions.The most common neurological conditions that can lead to disequilibrium are BPPV, Meniere’s disease, and vestibular migraine.
What’s Vertigo?
Unlike disequilibrium, a spinning feeling accompanies vertigo. A vertigo episode feels like you’re whirling, tilting, or falling to the ground, similar to when you’re riding a merry-go-round. You may also feel the following symptoms along with vertigo:
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Ringing in the ears
- Headache
- Hearing loss
Whether you think you have vertigo or disequilibrium, it would be best to seek the help of a Salem vertigo chiropractor that you can trust. It’s essential to let experts determine the real cause of your condition.
To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and vertigo download our complimentary e-book by clicking the image below.
Root Causes of Vertigo
Balance problems such as vertigo and disequilibrium are possible symptoms of various medical conditions, including:
Migraine
A migraine episode is one of the leading causes of vertigo attacks. Vertigo usually occurs in people who have migraines with aura.
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
This condition results from a problem in the inner ear. It develops when calcium crystals inside the ear dislodge from their normal position. BPPV usually affects adults. If you have BPPV, you’re most likely to experience spinning sensations when you do sudden head movements. In addition, impulsive acts of lying down or standing up can trigger a BPPV episode.
Meniere’s Disease
This condition develops due to the fluid buildup in the labyrinth, a part of the inner ear. Abnormal fluid buildup interferes with the communication process between the inner ear and the brain. As a result, Meniere’s disease causes symptoms such as hearing issues and vertigo attacks.
Acoustic Neuroma
Benign tumors may develop in the vestibular and cochlear nerves. Its symptoms include hearing and balance problems. Therefore, with acoustic neuroma, one can experience dizziness, disequilibrium, or vertigo.
Head Injury
Trauma can cause a massive impact on the inner ear and the brainstem. As a result, the debris in the ear canals can break and float around the inner ear. Floating debris sends signals to the brain that you’re in motion even if you’re completely still. Therefore, this problem causes someone to experience vertigo or other balance problems. If you think that a past head injury is the root of your symptoms, consulting our Salem vertigo chiropractor can help address your health issues.
Natural Vertigo Management Methods
Specific natural remedies can help relieve vertigo. They are all safe to try.
- Exercise.Exercising can help in relieving your vertigo symptoms. In addition, performing repetitive movements help in overcoming and managing a sudden onset of vertigo episodes.
- Modified Epley maneuver. One of the popular therapies used by patients with positional vertigo is the Epley maneuver. It aims to remove the calcium crystals from the semicircular canals of your inner ear. However, you can modify its basic moves at home.
- Healthy lifestyle.Lifestyle changes that can help reduce the severe effects of vertigo attacks include:
- Changing your sleep position. Sleep by elevating your head using enough pillow height.
- Managing your stress and its triggers. Conditions that cause vertigo, including migraine and Meniere’s disease, can arise from severe stress. So, try to develop a personal and healthy strategy to manage stress. Breathing exercises, meditation, and yoga are good examples to start. You also need to be more aware of your stress triggers. Being mindful of your triggers is an effective way to prevent vertigo symptoms from recurring.
- Sleeping well. Sleep deprivation triggers episodes of vertigo in many patients. Make sure that you allow your body to have enough amount of sleep daily. You can also practice sleeping and waking up at the same time every day.
Consult with Our Salem Vertigo Chiropractor
In case you didn’t know, vertigo and inner ear problems could also result from neck misalignments. Even the slightest misalignment in this area may irritate your nerves, which could lead to inflammation. If this happens, the flow of fluid in your inner ear will become abnormal— which could cause balance problems such as vertigo and disequilibrium.
Our Salem vertigo chiropractor (whether you choose to consult with Dr. Amy or Dr. R.T) focuses on correcting the misalignment in your neck. ’s goal is to relieve your vertigo and help you recover from its underlying cause. We can fix your problem gently and naturally.
To schedule a consultation with Dr. Holliday, call our Seneca office at 864-383-9421. You can also click the button below.If you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
