BPPV stands for Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo. It is an intense type of dizziness which occurs with certain movements of the head. It is the most common cause of dizziness, and fortunately can be treated by a medical professional. Here are some facts about BPPV:
- The most common cause of BPPV is a head trauma
- It occurs when crystals are dislodged from our utricle, which is one of two organs which detect linear motions and is sensitive to gravity. The crystals/otoconia are made from calcium carbonate (CaCO3)
- If the crystals become dislodged, they can accidentally end up in one of our semicircular canals. We have three semicircular canals in each ear with detect movements of our head
- If the crystals become loose, they cause dizziness symptoms, which looks as if the room is spinning
- BPPV is very easy to test for. It does not require any imaging to identify BPPV as the cause of dizziness
- Your ENT or Physical Therapist can treat for BPPV by performing maneuvers to relocate the crystals and resolve your dizziness symptoms
- In some cases, crystals may be found in multiple canals, and both ears. This requires multiple maneuvers to be performed
- This type of dizziness usually lasts for a matter of seconds
- However, the dizziness although brief is intense. It can also cause feelings of nausea and vomiting, along with feeling unsteady. For this reason, it also puts you at a higher risk for falling.
If you are having any kind of dizziness symptoms, especially those that sound like BPPV, you should call your ENT or Physical Therapist to begin treatment . To schedule your evaluation, call (240) 361-9000