Does cervical spondylosis cause dizziness?

Written by Liu Yan Hao
Neurology
Updated on May 17, 2025
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Not all cervical spondylosis will cause dizziness. Vertebral artery type cervical spondylosis can cause dizziness due to the hyperostosis of the cervical spine or changes in curvature that compress one of the vertebral arteries. When patients turn their heads to one side, the compressed vertebral artery cannot compensatory increase the blood flow, which does not lead to an increase in blood supply to the brain, resulting in insufficient cerebral blood supply and causing dizziness. A typical manifestation of these patients is that turning the head to one side intensifies the dizziness due to the reasons just mentioned, which is a typical symptom of dizziness caused by vertebral artery type cervical spondylosis. For treatment, drugs that invigorate blood circulation and improve cerebral blood supply are needed, along with cervical physiotherapy treatment. Generally, avoid sitting for too long, don’t use pillows that are too high, and pay attention to protecting your cervical spine. (Please follow professional medical advice for medication usage and do not self-medicate.)

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Written by Li Jin
Orthopedics
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Symptoms of cervical spondylosis

Cervical spondylosis is mainly caused by long-term strain and degenerative changes in the cervical spine. When the spinal cord, nerve roots, or vertebral artery are compressed, a series of symptoms can occur. The symptoms of cervical spondylosis are very complex, mainly manifested as weakness in the upper limbs, numbness in the fingers, weakness in the lower limbs, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, palpitations, and heart palpitations. Therefore, when these symptoms occur, one can go to the hospital for examination or combine imaging studies, such as CT and MRI of the cervical spine, to clarify the specific condition of the cervical spondylosis. Subsequently, targeted treatment measures can be taken based on the symptoms.

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Written by Xie Yi Song
Orthopedics
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Symptoms of cervical spondylosis

Many people think that cervical spondylosis is just neck pain, but actually, after developing cervical spondylosis, there can be other symptoms. For example, the early symptoms of cervical spondylosis are generally diverse and complex. Most patients initially experience mild symptoms, which gradually worsen over time. Some patients have severe symptoms, and clinically, it is generally divided into five major types. The first type is cervical cervical spondylosis, where the main symptoms are soreness and swelling in the head, neck, shoulders, back, and arms, neck stiffness, and limited movement. The soreness in the neck and shoulders can radiate to the suboccipital area and upper limbs. The second type is vertebral artery type, where patients generally experience dizziness, a sensation that the room is spinning, and severe cases may include nausea, vomiting, and bedrest, with a few instances of vertigo and sudden collapse. The third, and most common, is spinal cervical spondylosis, where it is particularly strenuous to hold objects, which often fall to the ground, instability in walking, as well as spasms in the neck and shoulder muscles, increased muscle tone in the limbs, and even paralysis. The fourth type is radicular cervical spondylosis, with neck pain, acid swelling and distension pain in the unilateral or bilateral upper limbs, numbness, and sometimes intense pain that is unbearable. The fifth most common type is sympathetic nerve cervical spondylosis, where patients may experience blurred vision, dizziness, abnormal sweating, persistent low-grade fever, palpitations, chest tightness, rapid heartbeat, often with insomnia and frequent dreaming. The sixth type is the mixed type, which may present a combination of symptoms from the types mentioned above.

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Differentiated diagnosis of cervical spondylosis

The differential diagnosis of cervical spondylosis should be described according to the four types of cervical spondylosis. First, for myelopathic cervical spondylosis, the differential diagnosis mainly includes amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and syringomyelia. Second, for radicular cervical spondylosis, the differential diagnosis primarily involves distinguishing it from thoracic outlet syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome, radial tunnel syndrome, and ulnar tunnel syndrome. These syndromes are all characterized by localized bony or fibrous entrapment of nerves, whereas the compressive factors in radicular cervical spondylosis include herniated cervical discs and hyperplastic uncovertebral joints. This can be confirmed through physical examination, radiological analysis, and electromyography. Third, for vertebral artery type cervical spondylosis, it should be differentiated from vestibular disorders, cerebrovascular disease, and eye disorders, while also excluding Ménière's syndrome. Fourth, for sympathetic cervical spondylosis, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases should be excluded. X-ray imaging of the cervical spine in dynamic positions may initially reveal cervical instability.

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Written by Liu Yan Hao
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Cervical vertigo characteristics

Dizziness is a typical symptom of cervical spondylosis, usually exacerbated when the patient turns their head to one side. In a normal person, when turning the head to one side, the vertebral artery on that side might be compressed, but the opposite vertebral artery can compensate by increasing blood flow, preventing cerebral insufficiency and dizziness. Conversely, in a patient with cervical spondylosis, due to osteophyte formation or changes in the curvature of the cervical spine, the vertebral artery on one side may be compressed. When the patient turns their head to the other side, the compressed vertebral artery cannot compensate by increasing blood flow, leading to insufficient cerebral blood supply and an increase in dizziness or the onset of dizziness symptoms. This explains the characteristics and mechanism of dizziness caused by cervical spondylosis.

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Features of headaches caused by cervical spondylosis

Cervical spondylosis can also cause headaches, and the headaches caused by cervical spondylosis have their own characteristics compared to headaches caused by other reasons. Headaches resulting from cervical spondylosis generally stem from the irritation or compression of the cervical vertebrae and vertebral arteries due to the growth of cervical bone spurs, leading to constriction of these arteries and insufficient blood supply to the cerebral arteries, causing headaches and dizziness. Typically, these headaches are accompanied by symptoms of dizziness. Additionally, the headache is related to the movement of the neck and cervical spine, and neck movements can intensify the headache.