Dr. Michelle Speranza
Core Balance Centre, 520 1st Ave NE T4B 2R2 Airdrie, AB, Canada

Many people will work with their family doctor to help manage medications for their migraines. Additionally, working with practitioners who specialize in head and neck injuries may be beneficial in addressing biomechanical factors influencing migraine symptoms (ex: upper cervical chiropractors). Other types of practitioners who can aid in addressing nutritional factors and vestibular compensation include naturopaths, nutritionists, and functional medicine doctors. What has helped you with your migraines?

The first step in managing migraines, including vestibular migraines, is knowing what your triggers are. Keeping a journal of when you experienced symptoms and what happened before they started is a good place to start. Once you have a clear idea as to what your triggers are, making some lifestyle adaptations to avoid these is the next step. This may include dietary changes, developing a stress management strategy, or enhancing your sleep hygiene.

By now, you may be wondering what causes a vestibular migraine. While the exact pathology of a vestibular migraine is unknown, it is thought that changes in neurotransmitters and hormone levels, such as serotonin and estrogen, can trigger blood vessels in the brain to contract. This in turn will affect the activity of the surrounding nerve cells and may trigger the symptoms associated with migraines. When this occurs near structures ass...ociated with your vestibular system, symptoms of dizziness, nausea, and imbalance may result. In addition, biomechanical disturbances in the neck may also play a role in the onset of both headaches and dizziness. The upper neck acts as a bottle cap that allows all the fluid from your head to drain into the rest of your body. Injury to the upper neck can slow this drainage, resulting in a build-up of fluid containing cellular waste in the head. This can create a toxic environment around the nervous system which is thought to make it more sensitive to environmental changes, which can trigger the cascade of events leading to a migraine. Addressing all factors that contribute to headaches is important in finding a solution to this problem. Check out my previous article on Dizziness and Headaches on my website for more information! See more

A vestibular migraine is just one of many types of migraines you can experience. A vestibular migraine is a type of migraine that is strongly associated with symptoms of vertigo. Other common symptoms are sensitivity to light and motion, and also hearing problems. What symptoms do you experience during a migraine?

A way to treat sensations of BPPV is to perform the Epley maneuver. Diagrams of the Epley maneuver are readily available for public use; however, there are three semicircular canals in the inner ear and proper identification of the affected canal is necessary for optimal results when performing this maneuver. A trained healthcare provider can help you specifically identify which canal is creating your problem and give you the proper repositioning maneuver to solve it.

Did you know that your inner ear has two primary functions - hearing and balance? The balance portion of your inner ear consists of organs that act as motion sensors to help orient us as we move around. There are two types of these motion sensors: the otolith organs and the semicircular canals. The otolith organs contain little calcium crystals which are sensitive to gravity- they tell us if we are moving up and down or forward and backw...ards. The semicircular canals contain fluid and detect rotational movements of the head. The semicircular canals are not sensitive to gravity; however, in BPPV, heavy calcium crystals from the otolith organs can become displaced and enter one of the semicircular canals, now making them sensitive to gravity. Every time you move your head in a particular direction it will stir up these displaced crystals and trigger a very uncomfortable spinning sensation for a few seconds until the crystal debris has re-settled. Fun fact: Your inner ear is no larger than a pencil eraser in circumference! See more

An episode of BPPV can happen suddenly without warning and typically lasts for a few seconds (under one minute). In addition to the intense spinning sensation, you may experience nausea and have feelings of unsteadiness (but not spinning) as you go about your daily activities. The great thing about BPPV is that it is a benign condition, as its name suggests, and the cause and treatment for it is straight forward. Check out my latest blog post - Demystifying Dizziness - BPPV for more!

To kick off my 'Demystifying Dizziness' series, we are going to take a deep dive into one of the most common causes of dizziness, which s Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, also known as BPPV. If you've ever felt like the world was spinning from turning over in bed, chances are you may have had an episode of BPPV. BPPV is a type of positional vertigo, or spinning sensation, that occurs when you move your head in a particular direction and is one of the only conditions that can trigger dizziness when lying down. If you've ever had an episode of BPPV and would like to learn more, check out my latest blog where I dive into all the fun details!

I am very excited to announce that I am starting a new blog series called 'Demystifying Dizziness'. This series is intended to act as a quick reference guide to help you break down what can be a complex symptom into some of the most common causes and conditions presenting with dizziness and the most up to date treatment solutions. If you have any specific questions regarding dizziness, let me know and I can write about it in my next blog post!

Lifestyle is sometimes one of the less talked about factors contributing to dizziness and headaches. This includes diet, sleep, and stress management. In some instances, there may be a simple solution to the problem, such as a positioning maneuver or postural correction; in other cases, often taking a holistic lifestyle approach is required to control, reduce, and prevent episodes of dizziness and headaches. Seeking guidance from a professional can help expedite your road to recovery and help you take back control health!

Have you been outside lately? What if I told you that some fresh air can help feelings of dizziness and headaches? One of biggest causes of dizziness and headaches is lack of oxygen. Get some fresh air and take some deep breaths. This can help clear the mind, relieve stress and tension, and re-energize the body. Not to mention, nature's medicine is a nice sight for sore eyes.

Every person experiences their symptoms differently. Be kind, for everyone is facing an invisible battle.

Have you ever stood up too quickly and felt the initial head rush and unsteadiness as blood flow is momentarily reduced to our brain? Typically, this sensation is transient and we have several built-in mechanisms to ensure our body quickly adapts to pump blood against gravity to get it to our brain. Our brain is a very energetically expensive organ, using about 20% of our body’s metabolism to function. Changes in blood flow to our brain c...an occur with postural changes, dehydration, hypertension, and may be associated with certain types of headaches, such as migraines. It can be helpful to monitor what triggers your dizziness and headaches as this can help your practitioner get to the root of the issue faster. See more

This type of headache causes throbbing pain on one side of your head as well as nausea or vomiting and sensitivity to light but you don't have to experience all of these symptoms for the headache to be a migraine. Migraines are a severe type of headache that may be associated with a host of unusual symptoms. While it is not fully understood what specifically happens in the body to cause a migraine, one theory looks at changes in hormones and neurotransmitters that may trigger vasospasm (constriction) of the blood vessels in the upper neck and brain resulting in the diverse symptoms characteristic of a migraine. What is the one migraine symptom you would wish to never have again?

Experiencing dizziness can be very unsettling. Dizziness is not a medical condition on its own, it’s a symptom of an underlying issue. There are many causes of dizziness, some more serious than others. Here are some lifestyle tips to help relieve dizziness.

Increased muscle stiffness can trigger referred pain and pressure that may be felt in the forehead, temples, and base of the skull. This characterizes the classic tension type headache, which is the most common type of headache reported. Treating the underlying neck dysfunction may be as simple as correcting your posture, which can dramatically reduce these symptoms. If you've missed the tips I've shared on how to improve your posture, you can check out my previous blog post on my website - link is in my bio!

The neck is a vital and complex region of our body that supports our head and allows our brain to communicate with the rest of our body. #Didyouknow, the average adult head weights around 10-12 lbs and is balanced on a 2 oz ring of bone called the atlas (C1). While this design may seem flawed, there are approximately 44 muscles and a near equal number of ligaments that support our head and neck and communicate with our brain about where... our body is in space. Neck injuries, such as whiplash injuries, or chronic repetitive stress injuries, such as poor posture, can cause the joints in our neck to lock up in an abnormal position leading to restricted range of motion and increased muscle stiffness. When our joints are not moving properly the surrounding muscles and ligaments send incorrect information to the brain which can often lead to feelings of imbalance, unsteadiness, and light headedness. Do you experience any of these symptoms? Early intervention is key to preventing long term dysfunction and working with a practitioner with experience in this area can help guide your recovery. See more

What is the conNECKion between dizziness and headaches? Dizziness and headaches are some of the most common symptoms that frequently occur together. In fact, if you were to do a quick WebMD search you would find that dizziness and headaches are associated with 90+ different conditions ranging from mild traumatic brain injury, such as a concussion, to sunburns. These two symptoms are strongly connected through the neck, especially when you have had a neck injury. Check out my latest blog post (link found in my bio) for more information!

For most, the workplace is the 2nd place we spend most of our time. In order to improve your posture, it's important to ensure your workplace is set up to promote healthy postural habits. In addition, regular movement breaks throughout the day are great ways to reduce postural fatigue and the side effects that come along with it. What have you done in your work environment to help with good posture?

I've shared some information about sleep and how it is affected by stress and dizziness, but it can also be affected by your posture. Poor posture can have negative impacts on your sleep, due to the body having a harder time being able to fully relax. Alternatively, lack of sleep can also contribute to experiencing dizziness and headaches. Our body works altogether and if one thing is off, it can cause a domino effect and harm other bodily functions. It's important to have regular check-ups to ensure everything is working properly.

By simply pulling your shoulders back and lifting your head you can boost hormones that promote feelings of confidence while lowering hormones associated with feelings of stress and anxiety.

The first step in improving your posture is to correct the reflexive nature of your posture. Engaging your appropriate postural reflexes can help return your body to a more balanced position and reduces stress and strain on your muscles and joints. Working with a practitioner, such as a chiropractor, osteopath, or a specialized massage therapist or personal trainer, who understands the postural system can be beneficial at this stage. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the health of your postural system, get in touch with me!

Posture 101: Our postural system is largely reflexive in nature, meaning that we do not have to be constantly thinking about how we are moving or positioning our bodies to be able to function. When our reflexive postural system starts to break down, due to accidents, injuries, and micro-stressors, we start to subconsciously shift and adapt our posture. When this is not immediately addressed, our muscles will start to learn to support us in an unbalanced position. Over time this can result in a stiff neck and shoulders, low-back fatigue, headaches, and dizziness. Here is a quick guide to improve your posture. If you have tips you want to share, comment them below!

One of the best ways to improve posture is to take the time to re-teach your muscles how to keep you in a proper postural alignment. Stretches focused on the chest, hamstrings, and hip flexors, and exercises to strengthen the back are a great place to start here. What are some of your favourite postural stretches?

When experiencing dizziness, have you considered what your posture might be doing? Dizziness can be a very unsettling experience; however, it is not always a sign of a serious underlying issue. An important factor that may be contributing to the sensation of being dizzy, and one that is often overlooked, is your posture. #Didyouknow, poor postural alignment is a major cause of dizziness and headaches. Poor postural alignment is classicall...y seen as slumping through the midback while the head and shoulders start to roll forward (as seen in the picture). When this position is maintained, the muscles that support our head, neck, and shoulders may start to shorten and stiffen-up and can even begin to develop trigger points. This altered muscle function can change their ability to accurately tell the brain where your body is in space and can result in feelings of unsteadiness, particularly when moving your neck or body. Do you know what causes your dizziness/headaches? See more

Compared to vertigo, dizziness is a non-specific feeling of unsteadiness. This may include feelings of faintness or light headedness and may or may not be induced by specific body postures or head movements. Other causes of dizziness can include: Muscular dysfunction, including whiplash injuries Temporomandibular Joint dysfunction Cardiovascular disorders... Visual problems Dehydration Low blood sugar Understanding your symptoms and triggers can help expedite your treatment and get you back on track faster and stop your world from spinning! See more

Dizziness is a strange phenomenon and anyone who has experienced episodes of dizziness will understand how difficult it can be to describe. Is it a spinning sensation, light headedness, unsteadiness, double vision? To further complicate things, terms like dizziness and vertigo are often lumped together and used interchangeably; however they can mean very different things to a practitioner. The mor...e precise you can be in describing your symptoms, the easier it will be to get a proper diagnosis and treatment. In my latest blog post, I elaborate more on vertigo and how it differs from dizziness. #lockdowndizzy #lockdownsymptoms #definedizzy #vertigo #properdiagnosis #vertigoversusdizziness #understandingsymptoms #takebackcontrolofyourhealth #controlyourhealth

The best way to combat dizziness is to recognize your triggers. Being able to recognize your triggers and having some tools to tackle them with is the first step. However, sometimes this can be easier said than done or things may be more complicated than first thought. Working with a professional who understands underlying causes of dizziness can help you get to the root of what you are experiencing faster so that you can start feeling like yourself again. Experiencing dizziness or have any questions, get in touch with me!

Experiencing the quarantine munchies? With a lot of people out of their usual daily routine, you may find yourself snacking more throughout the day and turning to foods you typically wouldn’t consume on a regular basis. This can cause fluctuations in blood sugar and hydration levels. Rapid changes in blood sugar or dehydration can trigger sensations of light headedness and dizziness. Here's a QUICK TIP: Try to eat the colours of the rainbow (and I...’m not talking about Skittles here) every day. Include a good variety of colourful vegetables and fruits and go for these foods before reaching for the sweets - this will not only add body boosting vitamins and minerals to your diet, but may even help to reduce cravings for treats. In addition, drink water regularly throughout the day to stay hydrated. What have you been craving during quarantine? #nutritionalfacts #nutritionalfoods #improveyourhealth #foodstoavoid #quarantinesnacks #quarantinediet #quarantinemunchies #foodhabits #healthyfoodhabits #healthylifestyle #healthylife #improveyourhealth #controlyourhealth See more

We would love to welcome you back to our clinic! Here is what we are doing to ensure your health and safety standards are being met as outlined by the Alberta College & Association of Chiropractors (ACAC). If you have any questions, I would be happy to answer them!

Changes in sleep routines can leave us feeling groggy and fatigued throughout the day. When this persists, it can start to negatively affect our body’s ability to handle stress and for some people, may trigger symptoms such as migraines and migraine associated vertigo and dizziness. Here's a QUICK TIP: Create a sleep routine and follow it! Reduce screen exposure before bedtime, create a dark, cool environment for you to sleep in, and try to get up ...at the same time every day. For more tips to combat dizziness, check out my blog post on Lockdown Dizziness. #lockdowndizzy #lockdownsymptoms #lockdowntips #definedizzy #sleephabits #improveyourbalance #improveyoursleep #sleepschedule #relieveanxiety #healthyhabits #takebackcontrolofyourhealth #controlyourhealth See more

Stress may be the number one trigger for symptomatic flare-ups, especially for symptoms such as dizziness and light headedness. The stress response activates a hormonal cascade that puts the body in a fight-or-flight state. For short durations, this can be adaptive; however, when prolonged this can start to negatively impact your health. Here's a QUICK TIP:... Put together a stress management strategy. This is an important first step in making your body more resilient to an ever change environment. This may look different for everyone, but may include things like daily movement/exercise, getting outdoors, reading a book, listening to or playing music, mediation and breathwork, and/or talking to a friend. For more tips on understanding where your dizziness stems from, check out my blog! Link: https://msperanza7.wixsite.com//post/lockdown-dizziness #crisisintervention #stressmanagement #stresslevels #stresshormone #stressfulevent #reducestress #stresstips #nervoussystem #stressreaction #stressreduction #moderndaystress #understandingstress #takebackcontrol #reducedizzy #lockdowndizziness See more

Let's talk "Lockdown Dizziness". This is a question I have encountered a couple times during this COVID-19 lockdown and feel it deserves some attention and explanation. Over the last several month, life as we knew it has taken on many unexpected changes. During these times, a number of people have been experiencing flare-ups of old (and some new) symptoms, including sensations of dizziness and feeling off balance. These sensations may oc...cur unexpectedly, make you feel out of sorts with yourself, and add additional anxiety to an already stressful time. I'll be sharing tips on how you can combat the lockdown dizzies. Check out my recent blog post on different triggers for dizziness. Link to my blog post here: https://msperanza7.wixsite.com//p/lockdown-dizziness #lockdowndizzy #lockdownsymptoms #lockdowntips #definedizzy #balancetips #improveyourbalance #reducestress #relieveanxiety #healthyhabits #takebackcontrolofyourhealth #controlyourhealth See more

The majority of our brain growth happens within the first six years of life. During this time the human cerebral cortex begins to develop specific functions that allow us to plan, predict, and learn behavioural responses, separating us from other species. This allows us to effectively navigate our environment- physically, socially, and emotionally. It is critical to understand the factors that influence brain development to understand its purpose. The brain is a fascinating organ! Stay tuned for more brain health facts and tips for how you can take control of your health!

Loneliness is the subjective human experience of not having sufficient social connections. During these times, I want to share ways to promote social connections, especially during these uncertain times, as outlined from the Canadian Mental Health Association. #socialconnection #virtualcommunity #bereal #stayhonest #sharevulnerabilities #mentalhealthtips #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters #healthylifestyle #takebackcontrolofyourhealth

Are you still #workingfromhome? If so, don't forget to stretch in between work sessions! Getting up to do a 10-minute stretch every couple hours can go a long way! Stretching will help to prevent cramps, aches, and pain later. I've shared these before, but here are some stretches to specifically help reduce tension building in your neck and shoulders from too much computer work. You can be seated or standing to do these stretches. Remember to keep your mov...es slow and smooth! 1. Forward Tilt Start with your head squarely over your shoulders and your back straight. Lower your chin toward your chest and hold for 15-30 seconds. Relax and slowly lift your head back up. 2. Shoulder Shrug Shrug your shoulders towards your ears and hold for 5 seconds, then roll your shoulders down your back, squeezing your shoulder blades together. Repeat this 5-10 times. If you have any specific areas you want to stretch, comment them below! #wfh #wfhtips #neckstretches #hometips #homelifestyle #remotelife #stretchoften #neckhealth #bodystretches

In my recent blog post, I elaborate more on the evolution of the brain. One thing we can conclude when we compare ourselves to other animals and creatures with more advanced nervous systems, the ability to move is the one thing we all have in common. With the increase in movement complexity, so too comes the growth and sophistication of our nervous system and brain. When we are first born, we are governed by the primitive center of our ...brain, called the brainstem. Our cerebral cortex (the wrinkly part we think of when we think of a brain) is only approximately 25% developed. When we begin to take in our environment through our senses, especially through movement, our cerebral cortex begins to grow and mature. For those at home with little ones, encourage breaks between doing craft activities and school work to get their body moving! See more

We are OPEN and excited to welcome our patients back! Starting today, we are open for regular clinic hours Monday-Friday. You will notice several changes to our clinic, all made to help keep you, our staff, and our community safe. Together, let’s stay healthy!

Happy Mother's Day to all the beautiful and hardworking women! May you feel appreciated and valued for everything you that you do.