Vertigo: An Overview of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
Have you ever felt like the room was spinning around you or that you were tilting or translating in space when you were actually lying or sitting completely still? Unfortunately, many people suffering from BPPV regularly experience this sensation with position changes throughout the day.
There are so many different causes of dizziness or vertigo. Still, BPPV is by far the most common and is a condition that can be so easily treated but is met with significant anxiety and fear because of the severity of the symptoms.
Let's start from the beginning; BPPV most commonly presents in someone's 50s or 60s, unless a person was involved in a car accident or suffers a head/neck injury or concussion. BPPV is significantly more prevalent in women (7:1) and is caused by tiny crystals (otoconia) in your inner ear that are displaced. When you change positions, the crystals shift, causing your brain to think that you are spinning when you are not. The shift of the crystals causes nystagmus (quick rotary movements of your eyes) that cause the spinning or tilting sensation. The spinning symptoms typically last 10-20 seconds, but you may have motion sensitivity or nausea much longer.
The positions that most typically cause symptoms include:
Lying down on your back
Sitting up from lying
Rolling over in the bed
Bending over
Looking up
Looking down
Any quick movements of your head
People that may be at increased risk for experiencing BPPV:
People with other vestibular disorders: Meneire’s disease, vestibular hypofunction due to neuritis, vestibular migraines, concussion
People who have Multiple Sclerosis
People with frequent sinus infections or seasonal allergies
People diagnosed with osteoporosis or osteopenia
People with a history of motion sensitivity
Treatment for BPPV
Let's talk about treatment; vertigo is a terrible feeling which causes significant anxiety, especially if this is the first episode someone has experienced and they don't know what has caused it. Of course, people will first reach out to their doctor to ask what they can take to make their dizziness go away. Unfortunately, the commonly prescribed medications for vertigo only work to dull the symptoms and do not treat the dizziness itself. They include side effects of drowsiness (which can be very significant for some people), dependency, and even dizziness! Typical medications prescribed include Meclizine, Diazepam, or Valium.
In my next post, I will discuss treatments to resolve dizziness using positional maneuvers.
For more information you can visit my website at: https://movementmatters-pt.com/dizziness-vestibular-therapy or check out this video on my YouTube Channel: BPPV (Vertigo) Overview - YouTube
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For more information or to find a provider that specializes in vestibular disorders near you, check out: https://vestibular.org
Disclaimer
This blog is provided for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
