Can Cervical Neck Issues Impair Your Ability to Hear Properly?
Sudden hearing loss or losing the ability to hear properly is concerning, to say the least. There are a lot of reasons why this could happen, but what some may not know is that it could be related to cervical neck issues. Here’s how.
Understanding the Cervical Spine
Everyone has what’s called a spinal column (or the backbone) that runs through most of the body. Along the spinal column are different regions, and one of them is known as the cervical spine or the neck region.
The cervical spine consists of seven bones that are separated by discs that act as cushions between them. These discs absorb shock and allow the bones to move freely and give people their mobility.
When people have neck pain, this is the area where it is located. The pain can be dull and achy or very sharp and create problems with mobility and sleep, to name a few. It also can lead to headaches and, on some occasions, hearing loss.
This is because of how intricate the backbone is and how if any injury occurs to any one of the vertebrates, the rest of the muscles and organs in the head can be affected too.
Cervical Syndrome
Having cervical neck issues can impair one’s ability to hear in four main ways.
- Vascular Issues: Throughout the cervical spine are vertebral arteries that carry blood up into the head. In certain situations, there can be a narrowing of those arteries, known as vertebral artery stenosis. If this blood flow is compromised, sudden hearing loss can occur.
- Nerve Issues: When there are cervical spine problems relating to the nerves, hearing loss can occur. This is because when a spinal situation occurs, such as a bulged disc, that disc can irritate nearby nerves that connect directly to the inner ear, so the ear is affected as well.
- Combination of Both: There can be various problems of both the nervous and vascular areas that all come together to create hearing loss or tinnitus, a ringing in the ears. Because the neck is so closely connected to the workings of the inner ear, this is very common, which is why it’s important to contact a medical professional to figure out the best treatments for you.
- Misalignment: When the vertebrates in the backbone don’t line up correctly, a slew of problems can emerge from lack of support, back pain, neck pain and, full-circle effect, hearing loss. Many people can experience misalignments in the spine and not know it.
Benefits of Chiropractic Care
There are many benefits in going to see a chiropractor regularly, one of them being fixing the issue of sudden or recurring hearing loss.
Chiropractic care can increase blood flow, increase mobility, lead to a more invigorated body and improve sleep. It even can help with tummy issues and reduce ear infections—another connection to the workings of the ear.
Chiropractors focus on realigning the spine to its most optimal placement through various manipulations. There is very low risk for error, and it can save people from having to go through invasive surgeries or take daily medicines.
Chiropractic care is also beneficial for other areas of the body, including the back, lower back, foot and knees. Your backbone holds the body up, and your body is connected, so it makes sense that full-body chiropractic care can be very beneficial.
Schedule an Appointment Today
We understand how important it is for our patients to feel their best throughout their whole body. When neck pain starts wreaking havoc on the senses, it can feel overwhelming and just plain irritating.
Which is why now is the time to schedule an appointment with the experienced practitioners at the South Orange Chiropractic Center. We’re here to help you feel the best you can and get on with your daily life pain-free.
