Vertigo is a condition that leaves people feeling dizzy, off balance, or as if the world is spinning. It has become a hot topic in recent years, even making headlines in the New York Times. Unfortunately, much of the attention has focused on the profitability of new drugs, rather than addressing the root cause of the problem.
What Is Vertigo?
Vertigo is the medical term for dizziness. It is closely related to tinnitus and Ménière’s disease, with many overlapping symptoms. Here are some important facts:
- Vertigo affects 5–10% of the general population, and nearly 40% of people over age 40.
- It accounts for 2.5% of all emergency room visits.
- The most common type, Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), makes up 81–90% of all cases.
- Despite its prevalence, vertigo is difficult to diagnose and treat because there is no single known cause.
The Problem With Current Treatments
Traditional treatments for vertigo include dietary changes, medications, injections, and even invasive surgeries. Yet many patients find little lasting relief. This lack of results has led to a growing market for new drugs—highlighted by The New York Times—but medications often only mask the symptoms instead of correcting the cause.
The Neck–Vertigo Connection
Research shows that vertigo may be linked to the upper neck. In a German study of 31 vertigo patients, 20 had misalignments in the top two vertebrae (the Atlas and Axis). When these bones are out of alignment, they can disrupt balance signals, blood flow, and nerve function, leading to dizziness.
How NUCCA Care Helps
Board Certified NUCCA Doctors specialize in this delicate area of the spine. Using precise imaging and measurements, they determine if the Atlas (C1) or Axis (C2) vertebrae are misaligned. If so, a gentle, customized correction is made—no popping, cracking, or twisting.
When the head and neck are properly aligned, pressure is removed from the nervous system and the body can restore balance naturally. Many vertigo patients notice improvement as their body begins to function the way it was designed.
✨ Are you ready to stop the spinning?
To schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click the button below.
Want to hear from people like you? Check out our patient results here.
Dr. Craig Lapenski at Advanced Spinal Care, in Graham, Washington is one of 27 Board Certified NUCCA Doctors worldwide. His clinic serves the highest quality upper cervical care in the Pacific Northwest. Dr. Lapenski also serves a number of patients who are out of state including Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Kansas, Montana, Nevada, New York, and more! He is uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines, headaches, fibromyalgia, vertigo, neck pain, back pain, and more. More information can be found on our website at https://www.nuccawashington.com/