BPPV: What you should know:

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is one of the most common causes of vertigo- the sudden sensation that you're spinning or that the inside of your head is spinning. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is usually triggered by specific changes in the position of your head. This might occur when you tip your head up or down, when you lie down, or when you turn over or sit up in bed.

Why should one get treated?

It increases the chance of falls. Is effective treatment available? You can receive effective treatment for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo during a doctor's office visit.              

What are the usual symptoms?

  • Dizziness
  • A sense that you or your surroundings are spinning or moving (vertigo)
  • A loss of balance or unsteadiness
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting

These symptoms usually last for a minute or less.

Inside your ear is a tiny organ called the vestibular labyrinth. It includes three loop-shaped structures (semicircular canals) that contain fluid and fine, hair-like sensors that monitor the rotation of your head. Other structures (otolith organs) in your ear monitor movements of your head and your head's position related to gravity. These otolith organs contain crystals that make you sensitive to gravity. For a variety of reasons, these crystals can become dislodged. When they become dislodged, they can move into one of the semicircular canals- especially while you're lying down. This causes the semicircular canal to become sensitive to head position changes it would normally not respond to, which is what makes you feel dizzy.

Semicircular canal to become sensitive to head position changes it would normally not respond to, which is what makes you feel dizzy.