BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo) is a condition that develops from changes in the ear. These changes can lead to very severe vertigo and a sensation of spinning. The vestibular system in the body helps you balance and know where your head is positioned. Vertigo creates a sensation of spinning and can make being upright or moving your head miserable.
The Ear is essential for hearing and balance. Damaging to the ear function can lead to BPPV.
Each vestibular organ contains the utricle, saccule, and three semicircular canals. The canals are filled with a fluid that provides information to your brain about rotating head movements. Some people get tiny crystals of calcium carbonate in this liquid. If that happens, the brain signals that you are moving even if your body is still.
The ear is responsible for hearing and balance. It is made up of outer, middle, and inner portions, and each section has a specific job. The inner ear comprises cochlear (in charge of hearing) and vestibular organs. The vestibular organs sense head position and movement with the help of tiny hair cells that move when you change your head position. This information is used to adjust your eye movements and posture.
People who have experienced a head injury are more likely to develop BPPV. Having a virus, being older than 50, or being inactive for a long time can also cause BPPV. Your therapists are trained to improve your vertigo through specific head movements and exercises that you can do at home. Sometimes, the therapy can unsettle the fluid and make the vertigo worse. However, appropriate therapy should be very effective for relief and correction of BPPV and Vertigo.
