About 40% of Americans experience vertigo during their lifetime. It is the sudden feeling of dizziness and lightheadedness that one has as a result of some underlying condition. Vertigo occurs even when there is no apparent underlying condition.
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, also known as BPPV, is an internal ear disorder, wherein a person experiences a sudden spinning sensation whenever they move their head. While BPPV is not considered a severe issue, one has to be careful about the treatment they receive. If the problem doesn’t disappear within 6 weeks, seeking professional help is always recommended.
Let us try to understand a few aspects about the BPPV.
How is BPPV triggered?
BPPV is usually triggered by a change or a sudden change in the position of the head, and may accompany a migraine. This usually happens after an impact on the head or ears, such as a fall or sports injury. People may experience this feeling while lying down or sitting up or even when they tilt their head towards one side. It is important to keep such conditions under check as the symptoms may worsen with age due to normal wear and tear of the inner ears. BPPV may sometimes be the symptom of other underlying conditions such as labyrinthitis, acoustic neuroma or vestibular neuritis.
Why do head movements trigger BPPV?
BPPV develops when calcium carbonate particles move into the semicircular canals. These are structures in the inner ears that control the balance of a person. These calcium carbonate particles, also called otoconia, become loose due to an injury or age. So, when there’s a head movement, the otoconia moves and pushes on hair-like structures called cilia, which help transmit information about balance to the brain. In simple terms, vertigo is caused when cilia are stimulated by the rolling otoconia.
How to diagnose BPPV?
BPPV can be diagnosed by your healthcare provider through physical examination and by studying the nature of your symptoms. In this regard, Audiologie Centre West BPPV treatment can help treat your vertigo in the most effective ways. Professionals at this center are reliable and quite experienced.
Conclusion
We may speculate that the sudden spinning may be due to motion sickness or some other condition but the possibility of a vertigo hardly crosses our mind. One has to be, therefore, aware and alert, especially when it comes to choosing a clinic or professional for treatment.
