Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo – Symptoms and Causes
Overview
BPPV, or Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, ranks among the most frequent causes of vertigo. This condition creates a spinning feeling inside your head that typically lasts for short periods.
Dizziness can vary from mild to severe and typically occurs when changing head positions, such as looking up or down, or when lying down or sitting up in bed.
While BPPV can disrupt daily activities, it rarely poses serious health risks except for increasing fall risk, especially in older adults. The good news is that treatment is usually straightforward and can be done during a single doctor’s visit.
Most people experience complete relief after proper treatment. If you notice spinning sensations triggered by head movements, discussing these symptoms with a healthcare provider can lead to effective management strategies.
Signs of BPPV
BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo) causes several noticeable symptoms that typically happen when you change your head position. These symptoms usually last less than a minute but can come back after going away for a while.
Common symptoms include:
- Dizziness
- Spinning Sensation (feeling like you or things around you are moving)
- Balance Problems
- Nausea
- Vomiting
Many people also feel unsteady when standing or walking. Unusual eye movements often happen during these episodes.
Your symptoms will most likely appear when you move your head in certain ways, though the specific movements that trigger symptoms vary from person to person.
When to Contact Your Doctor
See your doctor if you have dizziness or spinning sensations that:
- Keep coming back
- Happen suddenly
- Feel severe
- Last a long time
- Have no clear cause
Get Help Right Away
While dizziness is rarely a sign of something serious, get emergency medical care if your dizziness happens with:
- New or severe headaches
- Fever
- Vision problems (double vision or vision loss)
- Hearing loss
- Speech difficulties
- Weakness in arms or legs
- Passing out
- Falling or trouble walking
- Numbness or tingling
These combined symptoms might point to a more serious problem that needs immediate attention.
Causes
BPPV often happens without a clear reason, which doctors call idiopathic BPPV. When causes are identified, a blow to the head is the most common trigger. This can range from minor bumps to serious head injuries.
Other less frequent causes include:
- Inner ear disorders
- Recovery from ear surgeries
- Long periods lying on your back (like during dental procedures)
- Migraine headaches
The inner ear contains a small structure called the vestibular labyrinth. This important part of your balance system includes three curved tubes called semicircular canals. These canals hold fluid and tiny hair-like sensors that detect when your head turns.
Your ear also has structures called otolith organs. These parts:
- Monitor how your head moves in all directions
- Track your head’s position relative to gravity
- Contain tiny crystals that help sense gravitational pull
Sometimes these crystals break loose from where they belong. When this happens, they can float into one of the semicircular canals, especially when you lie down.
These displaced crystals make the canal sensitive to head positions that normally wouldn’t cause a response. This unexpected sensitivity is what creates the spinning sensation of dizziness.
Risk Factors
Certain factors increase the chance of developing benign paroxysmal positional vertigo:
- Age: People over 50 face a higher risk, though it can affect anyone.
- Gender: Women experience BPPV more frequently than men.
- Head Trauma: Previous head injuries may increase susceptibility.
- Inner Ear Disorders: Other balance-related conditions can make BPPV more likely.
These factors don’t guarantee someone will develop BPPV, but they are associated with higher occurrence rates.
Complications
BPPV can be uncomfortable but rarely leads to serious problems. The main concern is the risk of falls due to dizziness and unsteady balance.
