An episode of vertigo is similar to dizziness as the person does feel dizzy but it also differs from dizziness in that the person actually feels as if they are moving or that their environment is moving. The most common cause of vertigo is due to changing positions. Going from sitting to standing, bending over and then standing straight again, or standing up from a position of lying down can cause vertigo. These episodes of vertigo are called BPPV, or benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and are typically not serious and can be effectively treated. Other causes of vertigo include inner ear disturbances such as inner ear infections, decreased blood flow to the brain, a tumor present in the nerve tissues called an acoustic neuroma, trauma to the head or neck, episodes of migraines, arteriosclerosis, diabetes and a condition called Meniere’s disease. An episode of vertigo can last for only a few minutes or as long as a few hours. Aside from the feeling of motion that is not actually present, nausea and vomiting may also occur as well as unusual eye movements, increased sweating, a ringing in the ears, hearing loss, trouble with walking and talking and vision changes.  

Reduce the Frequency

While most cases of vertigo are harmless, it is important to tell your doctor about any episodes that are present. A health history will include questions about the duration and frequency of vertigo, if any recent trauma such as whiplash has occurred and if there are any other symptoms present with the feelings of movement. Lab testing and an EEG may be helpful in examining blood sugar levels and heart rhythm as well. If something other than vertigo is suspected, a CT scan may be requested by the primary care physician to rule out any trauma to the brain or neck. If the cause of vertigo  has been diagnosed as being caused by an inner ear infection, treatment will include antibiotic medication. There are medications that can also be used for other causes of vertigo as well as vestibular rehabilitation exercises that work to place the body in specific positions that would normally cause vertigo and to repeat these positions until the vertigo is no longer present. There are simple ways to reduce the frequency of vertigo including changing positions slowly, eating small amounts of healthy snacks between meals to keep blood sugar levels steady, seeking medical attention immediately following any head or neck  trauma and receiving care promptly if an ear infection is suspected. For people who are at high risk for stroke, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, seeking immediate care when vertigo is present can help to avoid a more serious outcome.

References Cited in this Article

www.mayoclinic.com

www.emedicinehealth.com

www.neurologychannel.com

Do you or someone you know suffer from a Gluten Intolerance?  Unfortunately, this is becoming increasingly common to suffer from this condition.  When an individual suffers from a Gluten allergy there body cannot process the protein known as Gluten.  Gluten is the protein that is most commonly found in products like the following: wheat, barley, and rye.  If the individual ingests these substances they can have a mild to a severe reaction.  These may range from skin irritation like a rash to diarrhea, constipation, severe stomach aches, ulcerative colitis, and irritable bowel syndrome.  If left untreated, Gluten Intolerance can cause severe irreversible damage to the intestines and colon.  When the individual ingests Gluten it damages the villi of the intestines therefore causing malabsorption.  When malabsorption occurs, the patient can become malnourished, suffer from a B12 deficiency which can later cause neurological symptoms, and damage the intestines. 

How to treat a Gluten Intolerance

Unfortunately, there is no known treatment for a Gluten Intolerance.  The key is to catch the intolerance before it causes permanent irreversible damage to the intestines and colon.  This is a specific test that checks for the allergy.  Once found, your doctor can begin to make dietary guidelines to prevent future damage and reverse your diet.  Fortunately, there are many gluten-free food choices available to aid in this transition.  These are usually formulated with corn and rice products and typically taste surprisingly well.  These can be found at your local grocers and natural health food stores nationwide.   

Celiac Disease

Celiac Disease has several different names associated with the disease and they are the following: Non-tropical sprue, Gluten intolerance, and Gluten-sensitive enteropathy.  Individuals with Celiac Disease are much more likely to suffer from conditions such as: Autoimmune disorders such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, and Sjogren syndrome; other conditions like Down syndrome, intestinal cancer, and type I Diabetes.  Children suffering from Celiac Disease may have the following: delayed puberty, defects in their teeth, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and slowed growth overall. 

Objective signs and diagnostic tests

Some things to watch out for are low albumin levels, high levels of alkaline phosphatase, clotting factor abnormalities, low cholesterol, anemia, and abnormal liver enzymes.  If the tests are positive, the physician will run specific diagnostic testing of the small intestine and duodenum.  It is crucial to tell your doctor all your specific signs and symptoms as this condition goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed very frequently.  Many times individuals are diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome instead.

Do you suffer from chronic fatigue and diffuse pain throughout your body?  You may be suffering from a very common condition known as Fibromyalgia.  Fibromyalgia is a musculo-skeletal condition that is diagnosed by having 11 out of 18 tender points throughout the body.  The etiology of this disorder is unknown and usually affects middle aged women most commonly.  These individuals have chronic debilitating pain that is characterized by achy muscles, joints, and ligaments.  They are usually stressed individuals and this has been linked to depression, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, headaches, stiffness, numbness, and overall anxiety.  These individuals need to exercise regularly and control their diet.  Another factor that helps considerably is receiving massage therapy, chiropractic care, and using moist heat packs to reduce muscle tension. 

Pain

Fibromyalgia may develop on its own or along with other autoimmune conditions such as Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) or Lupus.  With Fibromyalgia, the patient will complain of long-standing tender points throughout their body.  Tender points vary from trigger points in that tender points are sore to the touch but do not radiate pain upon palpation like trigger points do.  Since Fibromyalgia can mimic the pain of Fibromyalgia, diagnose is extremely important.  RA is an autoimmune disease in which the body is attacking its own synovium, the lining that coats the inside of joints.  RA can also cause joint deformity and destruction, visible on x-ray.  However, Fibromyalgia is much more vague in the signs rather than the symptoms.  A physician’s diagnosis of Fibromyalgia is obtained via case history and the presence of eleven out of eighteen tender points on the body.  Fibromyalgia sufferers will describe the pain as being a gnawing, radiating, shooting, deep ache that ranges from mild to severe in nature.  Some patients complain of pain that improves during the daytime but increases into the evening; however, most patients describe day-long unrelenting pain that continues into the evening.  Pain seems to be exacerbated by stress, cold weather, exercise, and anxiety. 

Treatment                                                                                                      

Since this disorder is so vague, treatment options may be difficult to implement.  However, the patient should ultimately lower their stress levels, eat a balanced nourished diet, exercise regularly, and apply most heat compresses to sore muscles.  In 2007, the pharmaceutical drug Lyrica was the first approved drug by the FDA used for the treatment of Fibromyalgia.  Since then, two more drugs have been approved by the FDA.  In addition, Chiropractic care, massage therapy, and acupuncture are all excellent alternatives for the treatment of Fibromyalgia.  They work simultaneously to balance the musculo-skeletal and nervous system.  Chiropractors work with the most important system in the human body the nervous system.  The nervous system controls and coordinates every single organ system and body part in the body.  When interference is present in the spinal column, it may put pressure on the spinal nerve roots that corresponds to a specific organ or body part.  When this happens, that particular organ or body part cannot function at 100%, leaving the body to develop disease processes and reduced range of motion in that joint. 

Obstacles are what you see when you take your mind off the goal.  There are many questions that need to be answered prior to starting an exercise program.  Why is exercise so important for me, who should I listen to, where should I go, what should I do, how do I exercise, what are my excuses, what is my motivation and my goals, and what questions do I need the answers to?  These are all the questions an individual has before beginning a workout program. 

Statistics

So what’s the big deal about exercise?  80% of Americans aren’t getting enough exercise while 25% aren’t getting any at all.  Here’s some staggering statistics…58 million Americans are overweight, 40 million are obese, 85% of all Diabetes cases are due to being overweight or obese and there has been a 78% increase in Type II Diabetes since 1990 among people between the ages of thirty and forty years of age, 70% of all heart disease is associated with being overweight, In 1982 there were only 4% of childhood obesity cases compared to a staggering 30% in 2010. 

Health benefits

What are the health benefits to regular exercise?  These include but are not limited to the following: helps maintain a healthy body weight, improves mood and behavior, boosts the immune system, promotes good sleeping patterns, strengthens the heart and lungs, improves the circulatory and immune system, increases libido, increases energy levels, and promotes muscle and bone strength overall. 

Exercises

What body type are you?  There are three and include mesomorph, endomorph, and ectomorph.  What type of exercise should I be doing?  Resistance training, cardiovascular training, and core strengthening should be at the top of your list.  Cardiovascular endurance should be performed three to five times per week for at least twenty minutes.  Muscular strength training should be performed three times a week by alternating the days.  Muscular endurance training should also be performed three times a week by alternating the days with low to moderate resistance.  Stretching should be performed daily to improve flexibility in the joints, ligaments, and muscles.  Body composition including aerobic and anaerobic should be performed five to seven times per week and the time is directly dependent on the intensity. 

Excuses

What’s your excuse not to exercise?  The ten most common include: you don’t have time, you’ve tried it before and it didn’t work, you can’t afford a gym membership, you’re not getting the results you wanted, you don’t know how to exercise, you need to take care of your children, you can’t stay motivated, exercising hurts, and you can’t stick to a program.  Remember you’re not alone!  There are people and places including friends and family out there to help you every step of the way.  So get out there and exercise!

What are Visual Disturbances?  Individuals can suffers from a number of visual disturbances and eye problems including but not limited to: blind spots, floaters, halos, and other symptoms.  Blurred vision is when you lose sharpness of the vision and unable to see small details.  Blind spots, also known as scotomas, are dark holes in the visual field.  These changes can represent an eye disease, aging, eye injury, or an underlying systemic condition like Diabetes, which affects all the organ systems. 

Who should be sought out when determining a Visual Disturbance?

It’s important to realize who treats what so you’re not wasting time or money.  An Optician only dispenses glasses and doesn’t diagnose or treat diseases of the eye.  An Optometrist is able to perform eye exams and prescribe glasses and contact lenses.  In certain states, they are able to diagnose and treat certain eye diseases.  Ophthalmologists are physicians who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders and diseases.  They may also perform eye surgery to correct vision.  In addition, they may also provide eye exams and prescribe glasses and contact lenses. 

Some common conditions of the eye

Cataracts are cloudy eye lens which are more commonly seen in the elderly.  This causes poor nighttime vision, halos around lights, and an overall sensitivity to glare.  Presbyopia refers to difficulty focusing on objects that are too close.  This condition usually becomes noticeable around middle age and many individuals need bifocal lenses at this time.  Another eye condition is Glaucoma which is an increased pressure in the eye that causes poor night vision, blind spots and loss of vision.  With Glaucoma, it may happen gradually or suddenly (emergency situation when this occurs).  Macular Degeneration is when you lose your central vision causing blurred vision, distorted vision and color fading.  Macular degeneration is the most common reason for blindness in people over the age of 60.  Floaters are tiny particles which float across the eye.  This can be a sign of retinal detachment.  A retinal detachment is evident when flashes of light cross your vision field, you experience floaters, or there is a sensation of like a curtain hanging over your visual field.  Optic neuritis is inflammation of the optic nerve from an underlying infection of Multiple Sclerosis.  This condition may or may not be painful especially when you go to move your eye or touch the eyelid.  Temporal Arteritis is a condition where an artery is inflamed in the brain that supplies the optic nerve its blood. 

Ulcers are sores that resemble a crater that can form within the lining of the stomach (gastric ulcers), right below the level of the stomach and the beginning of the small intestine called the duodenum (duodenal ulcers), or they can form in the esophagus (esophageal ulcers) which are much less frequent.  These can range in size from ¼ inch to 2 inches in size, but more frequently range from ¼ inch to ¾ inch.  Ulcers within the stomach and duodenum are typically referred to as peptic ulcers as a general rule.  Since the stomach is a muscle that essentially mixes juices to breakdown food particles, sometimes those liquids like hydrochloric acid and pepsin have a tendency to leak out if there is damage to the stomach lining; hence causes peptic ulcers. 

Causes

In general, too much acid and pepsin may damage the lining of the stomach.  However, more commonly there is another causation factor that makes the stomach lining more susceptible to general gastric acid.  For example, a person undergoing physical, chemical, or emotional stress is much more likely to develop ulcers than someone who doesn’t exhibit those particular stressors.

Treatment

If left untreated, ulcers may turn into bleeding ulcers or perforated ulcers.  Bleeding ulcers form when the ulcer has literally eaten through the blood vessel and the blood has entered the digestive tract.  Perforated ulcers form when the ulcer has eaten a hole through the stomach or duodenum and bacteria and partially digested food has entered into that hole causing further inflammation.  Things an individual can do to treat or prevent ulcers from reoccurring include the following: find out food allergies, eat healthy, and try to avoid daily stressors, use over-the-counter benzocaine, and finally seek a doctor’s help.  Individuals suffering from reoccurring mouth ulcers will find that their typically allergic to something in their everyday diet.  By eliminating this cause the ulcers should decrease and/or diminish significantly.  To determine what foods cause allergic reactions, get a food allergy blood test from your doctor.  This will show not only food allergies but sensitivities and the severity of the allergy to those particular foods.  There are many alternative ways to cope with stress and include: reading self-help books, talking to a psychiatrist or counselor, yoga and meditation, proper diet and exercise, chiropractic, acupuncture, massage therapy, social outreach groups, positive reinforcement, and any activity that provides uplifting and positive thoughts.

www.healthscout.com

www.ulcertreatment.org

Parkinson’s Disease is also known as Parkinson’s, Paralysis Agitans, or PD.  This condition is a degenerative condition of the central nervous system that impairs motor, speech, and other functions.  Parkinson’s disease has very distinguishing characteristics such as: a shuffling gait, resting tremors, slow physical movement, and muscle rigidity called cog-wheel rigidity.  This disease is caused by decreased stimulation of the motor cortex by the basal ganglia that are caused by the inadequate formation of dopamine.  Parkinson’s Disease is typically idiopathic (meaning of unknown origin); however, secondary causes may be due to toxins like drugs, head trauma, or other medical disorders. 

Parkinsonism

Parkinsonism may be divided into four categories such as the following: primary, secondary or acquired, hereditary parkinsonism, and Parkinson plus syndrome.  Parkinson’s disease is still the most common type of Parkinsonism.  Although researchers have said there is no genetic component, about 15% of people with Parkinson’s disease have had a first-degree relative suffer from the same disease. 

Diagnosis and Management

Diagnosis is made by a physician who performs a through medical history and neurological examination usually including a CT or MRI of the brain.  Levodopa or L-Dopa is a pharmaceutical medication that has been used for the last thirty years in the treatment of Parkinson’s.  Many times if a physician suspects this disease they will place the patient on this medication to see if they have positive results in response to the pharmaceutical drug.  This will sometimes assist in the diagnosis of the disease.  About 5-10% of L-Dopa is able to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB).  Other pharmaceutical medications that are given include: Dopamine agonists, MAO-B inhibitors, and other drugs.  In addition, surgery, deep brain stimulation, rehabilitation, diet, and alternative treatments such as Acupuncture have all been known treatments as well.  It’s important to realize that individuals suffering with PD will ultimately not live as long as someone who doesn’t suffer from the disease.  Unfortunately, even if the patient is on treatment, the symptoms will progress.  It is said that people who do not seek treatment will lose independent ambulation in eight years and be bedridden in ten years. 

Osteoporosis is a disease that leads to an increased risk of fracture due to the bones being weak and brittle.  In this condition, the BMD (Bone Mineral Density) is greatly diminished as shown on a bone-scan known as DEXA (dual energy x-ray absorptiometry).  This condition is most common in women after menopause; however, it can occur at any age and may also occur in men.  Sometimes, individuals may also get Osteoporosis from certain medications like glucocorticoids.  Other factors that may lead to Osteoporosis include over-consumption of dietary protein, and diseases of the parathyroid like Hyperparathyroidism.  Fortunately, OA is a preventable disease.  Lifestyle changes such as diet, exercise, and supplements can greatly reduce a person’s chances for contracting OA.  There really aren’t any signs and symptoms of OA; some people won’t even realize they have this condition until they suffer from a fall and/or fracture.  Since elderly people have an increased risk of falling as they age, prevention is the key. 

Risk Factors

There are some risk factors that may predispose someone to getting Osteoporosis and include the following: excessive alcohol, tobacco smoking, excessive Vitamin D deficiency, malnutrition, heavy metals, caffeine consumption, or someone who is either underweight or inactive.  Risk factors that are unfortunately non-modifiable include: being female, of advanced age, having an estrogen deficiency, and those with European or Asian descent. 

Diseases associated with Osteoporosis

In addition, there are a host of diseases and disorders that have been linked to Osteoporosis and include the following: immobilization, a Vitamin B or K deficiency, renal insufficiency, Hematologic disorders, Scoliosis of an unknown cause, malnutrition, Hypo-gonadal diseases, and some inherited disorders.  If you have any of the above mentioned diseases or disorders it crucial to speak with your primary care physician to know your risk for getting Osteoporosis and have a DEXA scan preformed to check the bone density. 

Chiropractic Care and Osteoporosis

Chiropractors need to be extremely careful when treating Osteoporotic patients because their bones are so weak and brittle.  It is necessary to use a light-force technique such as the Activator tool or SOT (sacral occipital technique) to adjust the patient’s spine, especially where it is Osteoporotic.  Once the patient exhibits the signs of Osteoporosis they cannot be reversed.  The doctor can only help to stop the progression and reduce any signs and symptoms the patient may have.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is also known as degenerative arthritis or degenerative joint disease (DJD).  Symptoms may include pain, tenderness, clicking, locking, and inflammation.  OA most commonly affects the hips, knees, hands, feet, and spine.  When OA affects the hands, Heberden’s and Bouchard’s nodes may be present on the proximal and distal interphalangeal joints.  It has been researched that overuse and activity may be linked to the development of Osteoarthritis or dramatically increase one’s risk for the condition.  Overuse can damage the joints and break down the cartilage within them.  Ultimately, this will cause local pain and inflammation.  There are two types of Osteoarthritis: primary and secondary.

Primary and Secondary

This is a chronic degenerative disorder related to the body aging.  As we age, we lose the water capacity within our joints, causing the joints to therefore breakdown.  In the spine, OA will cause bony outgrowths known as osteophytes. On the contrary, Secondary OA is caused by one of the following conditions: Diabetes, congenital disorders of a joint, inflammatory diseases, septic arthritis, Marfan syndrome, obesity, Alkaptonuria, and Hemochromatosis. 

Diagnosis 

Diagnosis of OA is straightforward for the most part.  A physician will take a detailed case history and through physical exam; however, the real diagnosis is made once the physician looks at an x-ray report.  Upon x-ray of an Osteoarthritis patient, the physician will observe the following changes: decreased joint space narrowing, subchondral sclerosis, subchondral cyst formation, and osteophytes. 

Treatment 

There are many advancing treatments for the treatment of Osteoarthritis patients.  They include but are not limited to: lifestyle modification such as diet and exercise, analgesics, physical therapy, chiropractic care, surgery, glucosamine supplements, acupuncture, and other supplementation such as vitamin A, C, E, ginger, turmeric, omega-3 fatty acids, and chondroitin sulfate. 

Chiropractic care 

Chiropractors can significantly reduce the effects of OA.  They can increase range of motion and reduce pain and local inflammation by administering manual manipulations and incorporate physiotherapy modalities.  These modalities may include the following: ultrasound, electrical muscle stimulation, cold laser treatments, inter-segmental traction, whirlpool, spinal decompression, paraffin baths, and diathermy.  Since OA is a wear and tear type of condition, significant improvement is not very common.  The above treatments may help relieve the patient’s symptoms; however, most patients won’t get significant re-growth of the cartilage which has broken down.  Most will only see minor improvements according to the current literature out there. 

Do you experience any type of numbness in your extremities?  Unfortunately, there are many causes for Numbness.  Some of the causes include: sitting for extended periods of time, nerve injury, pressure on local and peripheral nerves, shingles, herpes zoster, lack of blood supply, Diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Seizures, Stroke, Migraines, lack of B12 in the diet, and Raynaud’s phenomenon. 

Herniated Disk

The vertebral column is made up of bones called vertebra.  In between these bones are fibrocartilage jelly-like disks which absorb the shock of the spine.  When were young, these disks are well-lubricated with water; however, as we age wear and tear can cause the breakdown of these delicate disks causing possible disc herniations.  Disc herniations may be contained or non-contained.  In addition to these criteria, they may also be a sequestration, involution, or extrusion.  Herniated discs may cause a number of signs and symptoms not limited to: muscle weakness, pain, inflammation, reduced reflexes and sensations, numbness, and tingling.  Diagnosis of a herniated disk is performed with a through case history and physical exam, this may also include special diagnostic imaging such as an x-ray or MRI.  An MRI is the most sensitive test for a disk herniation.  This will show the exact location and severity of the disk bulge, in addition to determining whether the bulge is pressing on the spinal cord.  When a disk herniation is present in the cervical spine, the patient may experience numbness and tingling down one or both arms; however, if the disc herniation is present in the lumbar spine, the patient will experience numbness and tingling down the posterior leg into the calf and possibly down to the foot.  This will mimic the symptoms of a relatively common condition known as Sciatica. 

Chiropractic care

Chiropractic care is essentially for patients suffering from any type of numbness or tingling.  This is almost always nerve-related and may be treated through manual manipulations to the spine and/or extremities.  Chiropractors are trained in the art of the nervous system, the most important organ system in the entire human body which controls and coordinates every organ and body part.  They will use static and kinetic palpation to effectively determine the level of subluxation within the spine and/or extremities.  They will then deliver a HVLA (high velocity low amplitude) thrust in the plane line of the facets to correct the mis-alignment.  They may also incorporate the use of physiotherapy modalities to speed up the recovery process and reduce the numbness and tingling symptoms.