What is Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo ( BPPV) ?

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, BPPV, as it is more commonly known, is a specific type of Vertigo that causes sensations of spinning, & dizziness to patients. BPPV is the most common type of Vertigo that patients suffer from. 

Infact, you can get a gist of the disorder by its name only. 

Benign, means that it is not a very serious condition, i.e., there is no immediate danger to your life.

Paroxysmal, means that its attacks & episodes are sudden in nature, last for short durations, & keep recurring for certain periods. 

Positional, means that the episodes are triggered by certain changes in position, head movements, & sudden changes in the body’s position. 

Vertigo, signifies that the disorder is a type of Vertigo, & is characterized by bouts of dizziness, nausea, & loss of balance. 

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo(BPPV) is quite common in adults, & is usually easily treatable in doctor’s offices. 

BPPV, as is evident in its definition, isn’t a serious condition, & isn’t fatal unless frequent bouts of dizziness cause you to fall while standing, climbing, running, or driving. 

If the attacks occur way too frequently, then it may be caused by some other underlying illness or cause. It’s important for you to sit with your doctor & have them give you an accurate diagnosis of your condition, in order to formulate a better treatment plan. 

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo(BPPV) symptoms:

• A sensation that your surroundings are spinning,

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Lightheadedness

• Dizziness

• Unsteadiness

• Loss of balance & sense of coordination while walking, standings, sitting, etc. 

Sometimes, patients with BPPV also experience varying intensities of migraines. 

There is a very easy test to determine which ear of yours is the cause of your BPPV symptoms, before you even make your first official visit to the Vertigo specialist. 

1. Sit on the edge of your bed such that your head hangs over the edge when you lie down.

2. Turn your head to the right now, & lie down quickly.

3. Now, wait for about 1 minute. If you feel dizzy, then that means that the right ear is affected & is causing your BPPV symptoms. 

4. If you don’t experience any dizziness during the above steps, then repeat the steps in the left direction. If you do feel dizziness then, then that would mean that the left side of your ear is affected. 

BPPV causes

We all have tiny calcium carbonate crystals, also called otoconia, inside our ears. Sometimes, these crystals can get dislodged from their original position & get deposited in the inner ear canal. The inner ear canal is an integral part of our body’s balance system, & is responsible for transporting balance signals from the inner ear to the brain. 

When the crystals get deposited there & form lumps, they hinder the path of the balance signal carrying nerves, thus creating a discrepancy between the balance perception & the actual situation in the surroundings.

This disorientation is what causes the dizziness & the spinning sensation associated with BPPV Vertigo. 

Any kind of head injury, viral infections like viral labyrinthitis, Meniere’s Disease, can cause these crystals to move from their original position. Sometimes, the movement occurs naturally, & there is no known cause for it. 

BPPV Treatments

Benign paroxysmal Positional Vertigo(BPPV) is a highly common disorder, & is also very easily treatable. It is important to note here however, that some cases of BPPV might not be treatable at all. In such cases, the patients usually have to live with BPPV for their entire lives, albeit with strong management techniques. 

There are certain maneuvers & exercises that BPPV patients can do at their homes, to treat & better manage their BPPV. 

Some of these are mentioned below:

• Epley Maneuver

• The Semont-Toupet Maneuver

• Canalith Repositioning 

These exercises can either be done along with or under the supervision of, your healthcare provider &/or Vertigo specialists. However, some of these can also be done alone at home without any specialist supervision. 

In some cases, where none of the above mentioned exercises & maneuvers show tangible results, surgery might be an option for BPPV patients. Your doctor will tell you if surgery is the right way forward for you, based on an accurate diagnosis & your medical history. 

Working with Vertigo & dizziness specialists is the first step towards treating & managing your Vertigo. Get in touch with expert Vertigo specialists, only at Vertigo And Ear Clinic. 

Know more about Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo(BPPV) here. 

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