Exercise Do’s And Don’ts To Prevent Vertigo

Exercising is good for you, and we highly encourage you to engage in regular physical activities to stimulate your mind and body. But practicing caution in everything you do is also encouraged. There are proper ways and guidelines in doing physical exercises to stay on the safe side, prevent any injury, and avoid triggering bouts of vertigo. We also want to ensure that you engage in physical activities to support your efforts when seeking vertigo relief in Seneca SC.

Exercise Do’s:

1. Keep hydrated

Working out makes you sweat a lot, which depletes fluids and minerals in your body. So it would help to replenish the fluids and minerals you lost by drinking water or sports drinks. If you don’t replace lost fluids during your workout, you increase your risk of getting a vertigo episode due to dehydration. So remember to keep a good hydration level or take a water bottle anywhere you go for a quick exercise session.

2. Eat 2-3 hours before a workout

When you exercise, your body breaks down sugar molecules to produce the energy needed to power your muscles. If you exercise on an empty stomach, your body will not have enough glucose to draw on for energy metabolism. When this happens, your blood sugar levels will drop, and you will experience hypoglycemia. Some of the symptoms you might observe at this point will include fatigue, hunger, irritability, shakiness, and vertigo. 

You can avoid this problem by fueling up with a hearty meal two to three hours before your intended workout schedule. Make sure it’s a well-balanced meal, complete with ample portions of protein, carbs, and fat. We also strongly suggest carving out enough time to digest the nutrients from your meal. This will improve performance and endurance and prevent bloating, vomiting, nausea, or cramping. 

3. Find the best routine that works for you.

Vertigo creates false sensations of movement that can prompt you to avoid any activity as much as possible. Nobody wants to power through a rigid workout routine while feeling like the world is spinning. Additionally, heightened nausea or sweating can trigger headaches and vomiting. While most of these symptoms improve after several days or weeks, they can feel overwhelming when present. 

If you suffer from vertigo but still want to remain active, we recommend focusing on exercises that strengthen your balance. You should also take it easy and start slow to help your brain adjust and recalibrate the surroundings and body movements. 

By doing repetitive movements, you help your brain and body get used to it, and overcome the confusing signals of vertigo. Engaging in a routine can also help you manage dizziness and motion sensations once vertigo episodes arise.

You may explore the Brandt-Daroff exercise, marching in place, turning in place, Epley maneuver, or Semont Liberatory maneuver. You can also consult with your primary doctor to know additional vertigo-friendly exercises.

Exercise Don’ts:

1. Don’t overexert yourself

This means that you should not push yourself physically too hard or too long when working out. Vertigo usually happens when you overexert yourself in an activity. As a result, you can experience shortness of breath, lightheadedness, and even vomiting. If you have a health condition that can prompt vertigo, consulting with your doctor about the best workout routine and duration is essential to support your regimen towards complete vertigo relief in Seneca SC.

Overexertion can also trigger migraine, which can then trigger symptoms including vertigo. If you experience migraine episodes after your workout, you may need to assess your routine and change it to fit your needs and condition.

2. Don’t stay too long on an exercise machine.

Vertigo can occur when you engage in repetitive movements for a long time. One example is if you spend your entire day on a boat, you can still feel a rocking or swaying sensation even if you disembark; that false sensation of movement is a form of vertigo.

The same goes for using pieces of exercise equipment. Suppose you usually spend a long time on a treadmill, elliptical machine, or performing other continual motion exercises. In that case, your body may not figure out fast enough that you have already stopped. This can lead to an onset of vertigo symptoms.

You can either avoid these pieces of gym equipment or spend less time on them. Alternatively, you can try to start and stop gradually, allowing your brain to know that you are speeding up, slowing down, or leading to a complete stop.

3. Don’t ignore stress or warning signs.

It is crucial to listen to your body and watch out for signs of stress and physical overexertion while exercising. For example, if you notice that you are catching your breath, your oxygen levels may be dropping dramatically. It won’t take long until you feel lightheaded or experience vertigo when this happens.

Watch out for your heart rate and pulse rate too! Physical activities can make your heart beat faster to pump more oxygen to your body. While this is normal, it’s essential to know if you are stressing your heart too much. If you observe abnormal heart beating, you probably have arrhythmia and might feel lightheaded and short of breath. You might also experience vertigo, or even faint. Don’t let this happen, and watch out for warning signs leading to it.

Finding Vertigo relief in Seneca SC that works

Vertigo can go away on its own sometimes, only requiring some rest and a moment of relaxation and calmness. But often, people are not aware that a misalignment in the top two bones of the neck can contribute to the onset of vertigo. When there is a misalignment in this part of the spine, vertigo bouts can often happen and become harder to manage.  

So how is a misalignment corrected? Your best option is to go to an upper cervical chiropractor like Dr. Holliday. At Upper Cervical Health & Restoration, we help patients like you resolve misalignment in the C1 and C2 vertebrae with gentle and controlled chiropractic adjustments.  

Book your consultation and start achieving vertigo relief in Seneca SC, by calling our office at 864-888-4399 or using this contact form. We will correct the misalignment that triggers your vertigo and guide you on recovery exercises to get you up and running sans the spinning sensation in no time.