Vertigo

BPPV, or benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, is a very common reason people feel dizzy. Dizziness, or vertigo, is a sudden feeling of spinning or like your surroundings are spinning. BPPV causes short periods of light to severe dizziness. It's often linked to how you move your head. For example, tilting your head, lying down, rolling over, or sitting up can trigger these dizzy spells. While BPPV can be uncomfortable, it's not usually dangerous, except in cases where it might make you more likely to fall. Fortunately, doctors can usually treat BPPV effectively during a simple office visit.

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) is a condition causing dizziness. Common symptoms include:

• Spinning or moving feeling (vertigo): This is a sensation that you or your surroundings are spinning, tilting, or moving.
• Loss of balance or feeling unsteady: You might feel like you're about to fall.
• Nausea: An upset stomach feeling.
• Vomiting: Throwing up.

These symptoms often come and go, usually lasting less than a minute. They may disappear for a while and then return. What triggers the symptoms (like a change in head position) can differ from person to person. Some people also feel off-balance when standing or walking. Rapid, uncontrolled eye movements (nystagmus) are also often associated with BPPV.

If you have recurring, sudden, severe, or prolonged dizziness or vertigo that you can't explain, see a doctor. While dizziness isn't usually a sign of a serious problem, see a doctor immediately if you have any dizziness or vertigo along with any of these:

• A new, different, or severe headache: This is important because a headache with dizziness could indicate something more serious.
• Fever: A fever can accompany various illnesses.
• Double vision or loss of vision: These changes in vision can indicate problems with the brain or nerves.
• Hearing loss: A sudden change in hearing is often a sign of an inner ear problem.
• Trouble speaking: This could be a sign of a neurological issue.
• Leg or arm weakness: This could indicate a neurological or other medical problem.
• Loss of consciousness: This is a serious symptom that requires immediate medical attention.
• Falling or difficulty walking: This could be a sign of a problem with balance or the brain/nerves.
• Numbness or tingling: This could signal a nerve problem or other medical issue.

The symptoms listed above might indicate a more serious health problem, and prompt medical evaluation is crucial.

If you frequently feel dizzy, or if dizziness comes on suddenly, is very strong, lasts a long time, and you can't figure out why, it's important to see a doctor.

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) is often a mystery; doctors can't pinpoint a reason for it, and this is called idiopathic BPPV. Sometimes, a bump or blow to the head, from a minor knock to a more serious injury, can be a cause. Other less common causes include illnesses that harm the inner ear, or, very rarely, problems that arise during ear surgery or extended periods lying on your back, like in a dentist's chair. Migraines have also been linked to BPPV.

Your inner ear has a crucial part called the vestibular labyrinth. This includes three curved tubes called semicircular canals. These canals contain fluid and tiny, hair-like sensors that register when your head turns. There are also other parts of your inner ear called otolith organs. These organs contain tiny crystals and are responsible for sensing your head's position in relation to gravity, such as when you're tilting your head or moving it side-to-side.

These crystals in the otolith organs can sometimes become loose. When this happens, the crystals can shift and end up inside one of the semicircular canals, especially when you're lying down. This disrupts how the semicircular canals work. Normally, these canals only respond to head movements, not to the presence of crystals. The presence of the loose crystals makes the canals over-sensitive to changes in head position. This is what causes the dizziness and spinning sensation associated with BPPV.

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a common problem that causes sudden, brief dizziness. It's most often seen in people 50 and older, but it can happen to anyone at any age. Women are slightly more likely to experience BPPV than men. Things like a head injury or problems with the parts of the ear that control balance can make someone more prone to developing BPPV.