The Basics Of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) And How To Manage It

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, or BPPV, is a common and treatable condition that causes intense episodes of vertigo. It is caused by the displacement of calcium carbonate crystals in the inner ear, which can cause a person to experience dizziness and spinning sensations. Although BPPV can be a frightening experience for some people, it is important to remember that it is not life-threatening and can be managed with proper treatment.

What Causes BPPV?
BPPV occurs when calcium carbonate crystals move around in the inner ear fluid and become lodged in one of the semicircular canals. When this happens, these crystals can interfere with normal signals sent from the inner ear to the brain about head position and movement, resulting in dizziness and spinning sensations. While it’s not clear why this happens for some people, aging is thought to be a factor as well as head trauma or infection.

Symptoms Of BPPV
The main symptom of BPPV is vertigo which may last anywhere from seconds to minutes depending on the severity of your condition. You may also experience nausea or vomiting along with these episodes of vertigo as well as ringing in your ears (tinnitus). Additionally, you may feel off balance or unsteady while walking due to your body’s inability to adjust properly when you move your head suddenly or quickly change positions.

Diagnosis Of BPPV
If you suspect you have BPPV then it’s important that you visit your doctor for an accurate diagnosis so that they can determine if this is indeed what’s causing your symptoms. Your doctor will perform a physical exam as well as ask about any past medical history that could be related such as head trauma or infection before ordering imaging tests like an MRI scan if needed. They might also do certain eye tests such as an electronystagmography (ENG) test which measures eye movements during different head positions while wearing special goggles that track eye movements during different head positions while wearing special goggles that track eye movements during different head positions while wearing special goggles that track eye movements during different head positions while wearing special goggles
Treatment Of BPPV
Once diagnosed with BPPV there are several treatment options available depending on how severe your symptoms are:

- Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy: This type of therapy helps retrain the brain by teaching it how to interpret signals coming from the inner ear more accurately so it doesn't get confused when sudden changes occur in body position leading up to an episode of vertigo. This therapy usually involves exercises such as balance training using various props like foam pads and balancing boards; gaze stabilization exercises; habituation exercises; visual tracking exercises; etc., all designed specifically for helping manage symptoms associated with vestibular disorders like benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).

- Medication: Your doctor may prescribe medications such as anti-nausea drugs like meclizine hydrochloride (Antivert) or antihistamines like cetirizine hydrochloride (Zyrtec) if needed for symptom relief but these should only be taken under medical supervision since they may cause side effects such drowsiness or dry mouth/eyes depending on dosage taken.

- Canalith Repositioning Maneuvers: These maneuvers involve positioning yourself into certain postures meant specifically for dislodging calcium particles stuck within one's semicircular canal system thus relieving pressure on nerve endings responsible for sending false signals regarding body movement/position leading up to episodes of vertigo associated with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPR). These maneuvers should only be done under medical supervision since incorrect positioning could lead up further complications requiring additional treatments/therapies down the road so make sure you consult with a qualified professional prior attempting any canalith repositioning maneuvers at home without help from someone who knows what they're doing first!

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Tags:

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), calcium carbonate crystals, vertigo, dizziness, spinning sensations, aging, head trauma, infection, nausea, vomiting, tinnitus, off balance/unsteady walking, physical exam/medical history/imaging tests/MRI scan/ENG test/vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT), medications (meclizine hydrochloride/Antivert and cetirizine hydrochloride/Zyrtec), canalith repositioning maneuvers,

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