Vertigo (Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo) |
Overview Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) is a disorder in which changing your head position with respect to gravity leads to a sudden feeling that the room is spinning around as opposed to just being "light headed". It often happens in bed. It is the most common form of vertigo. Vertigo can vary in its intensity from mild to severe usually lasts for less than one minute and generally is not a sign of a serious problem. However dizziness which is associated with vertigo can lead to falls and accidents. BPPV can be treated simply and effectively. Causes The cause of BPPV is not known although it may be caused by an inner ear infection head injury or aging. It occurs when tiny particles that help maintain balance break loose and fall into the wrong part of the canals of the inner ear. When these particles shift they stimulate sensors in your ear producing the symptoms of vertigo. Movements that can trigger an episode of BPPV include rolling over or sitting up in bed bending the head forward to look down or tipping the head backward. Typically only a single ear is affected although it can affect both ears. The following symptoms can come and go with episodes commonly lasting only a few seconds.
Although it's uncommon for dizziness to signal a serious illness see your doctor immediately if you experience dizziness or vertigo along with any of the following:
These signs and symptoms may signal a more serious problem such as cardiovascular disease stroke brain tumor Parkinson's disease or Multiple Sclerosis. Treatment Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is easily diagnosed and treated. The diagnosis can usually be made in the doctor's office based on a person's medical history and a physical examination. Treatment also involves a short simple in-office procedure known as the particle repositioning maneuver. This procedure is 80 to 90 per cent effective although there is a slight chance that vertigo will return at some time in the future. The particle repositioning procedure takes about 15 minutes to complete and involves a series of physical maneuvers that change the position of the head and body in order to shift the particles in the inner ear out of the semicircular canals and back into their proper location. This is done while the patient is sitting up and lying on a treatment table. Once the shift takes place it still takes some time for the particles to dissolve. To allow the process to occur and to ensure that the particles don't move back into the semicircular canals patients who undergo the procedure must follow specific post-treatment instructions regarding head positioning and activities. This usually involves keeping the head elevated above the level of the shoulders for 24 to 48 hours. Without treatment the symptoms of vertigo may increase and diminish over time until they resolve on their own usually within six weeks. |