Vertigo refers to a false sense of spinning or whirling – the feeling of spinning when you’re still, or the experience of your environment revolving around you when it’s not. It can happen when there is a problem with the vestibular system, which is responsible for gathering information about your surroundings and communicating with the brain to keep you in balance.
When you experience vertigo, it is crucial to understand that it is not a standalone condition. Rather, vertigo is usually a symptom of one of many vestibular disorders. One of the most prevalent vestibular disorders is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, traditionally seen abbreviated as BPPV. Since BPPV is so common, we’ve chosen to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about this vertigo-causing health condition.
What is BPPV?
BPPV is a mechanical problem within the inner ear. There is a part of your inner ear called the utricle that contains calcium carbonate crystals called otoconia. These otoconia are normally embedded and never migrate outside of the utricle. However, in BPPV, these calcium particles become dislodged, often due to a head or neck injury, and travel into the fluid-filled semicircular canals where they do not belong. The presence of these crystals interferes with the normal fluid movement that detects head position and motion. The inner ear thinks that the head is moving in a manner it isn’t, sends false signals to the brain, and vertigo is the ultimate result.
Is BPPV Serious?
Despite a name that can sound intimidating and symptoms that can be very troublesome, BPPV is not a life-threatening condition. Breaking the words of BPPV down is helpful:
What Can Trigger BPPV?
One of the most common triggers for BPPV is a head injury. It is easy to think of head injury as being severe, such as a concussion or loss of consciousness. However, head injuries do not need to be direct or severe to increase the occurrence of BPPV. Whiplash injury, sports accidents, and even surgery or dental work can cause the otoconia in the inner ear to become dislodged.
Other common causes or triggers of BPPV include:
As with any health condition, the severity and duration of symptoms can vary quite a bit from person to person. If there was a “typical” case of BPPV, symptoms might last an average of 1-2 months from the initial episode. However, vertigo episodes and the other BPPV symptoms can undoubtedly drag on for longer than a couple of months.
Vertigo episodes themselves are usually brief but intense, lasting about a minute. In between spells of vertigo, some BPPV sufferers will be asymptomatic while others will continue to feel mild imbalance or unsteadiness. BPPV does not cause constant vertigo or dizziness and doesn’t affect hearing.
What are my Treatment Options?
Some people with BPPV will choose to wait it out to see if there is any improvement in their symptoms. This can be difficult or impossible for some since it has such a dramatic impact on getting a good night of sleep without experiencing a vertigo attack. The most common treatment choice is performing a head maneuver that aims to reposition the stray calcium crystal to a location in the inner ear that is less sensitive. Of these procedures, the Epley maneuver is the most widely used. Many will have success for a while, but one 1/3 of patients will have a recurrence of symptoms in the first year after treatment, and about half will have a relapse by five years. Some doctors might recommend BPPV maneuvers that can be done at home on your own. In extreme cases, surgical treatment may be used.
Are There Any Natural Solutions?
Upper cervical chiropractic care is a natural and effective method of addressing the underlying cause of vertigo disorders, including BPPV. Since head trauma is one of, if not the most common BPPV triggers, identifying and correcting the damage that occurs at the vital junction between the head and neck is key to healing from vertigo. The atlas (C1) vertebra sits at the top of the neck at the base of the skull and is tasked with protecting the brainstem. The brainstem is the hub for balance signals that travel from the vestibular system and coordinate our ability to maintain our posture.
If you’re looking for a vertigo treatment clinic in Cedar Falls, we can help you. Upper Cervical Cedar Falls provides gentle, specific upper care for vertigo sufferers, whether you’re living with BPPV, Meniere’s disease, or any other vertigo-related health condition. Our doctors are experts on the intimate relationship between upper cervical alignment and normal brainstem and nervous system function. If you are experiencing vertigo, our personalized and precise care may be the next logical step on your path to achieving relief. To learn more about upper cervical chiropractic care, browse the rest of our website at www.uppercervicalcedarfalls.com, where you can find valuable information, testimonials, and other resources.
References:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/vertigo/symptoms-causes/syc-20370055
https://www.dizziness-and-balance.com/disorders/bppv/bppv.html
https://vestibular.org/understanding-vestibular-disorders/types-vestibular-disorders/benign-paroxysmal-positional-vertigo
When you experience vertigo, it is crucial to understand that it is not a standalone condition. Rather, vertigo is usually a symptom of one of many vestibular disorders. One of the most prevalent vestibular disorders is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, traditionally seen abbreviated as BPPV. Since BPPV is so common, we’ve chosen to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about this vertigo-causing health condition.
What is BPPV?
BPPV is a mechanical problem within the inner ear. There is a part of your inner ear called the utricle that contains calcium carbonate crystals called otoconia. These otoconia are normally embedded and never migrate outside of the utricle. However, in BPPV, these calcium particles become dislodged, often due to a head or neck injury, and travel into the fluid-filled semicircular canals where they do not belong. The presence of these crystals interferes with the normal fluid movement that detects head position and motion. The inner ear thinks that the head is moving in a manner it isn’t, sends false signals to the brain, and vertigo is the ultimate result.
Is BPPV Serious?
Despite a name that can sound intimidating and symptoms that can be very troublesome, BPPV is not a life-threatening condition. Breaking the words of BPPV down is helpful:
- Benign = not malignant or life-threatening
- Paroxysmal = occurring in sudden but short bursts or spells
- Positional = triggered or worsened by certain head positions and movements
- Vertigo = the false sensation of rotational movement
What Can Trigger BPPV?
One of the most common triggers for BPPV is a head injury. It is easy to think of head injury as being severe, such as a concussion or loss of consciousness. However, head injuries do not need to be direct or severe to increase the occurrence of BPPV. Whiplash injury, sports accidents, and even surgery or dental work can cause the otoconia in the inner ear to become dislodged.
Other common causes or triggers of BPPV include:
- Migraine
- Aging
- Meniere’s disease (another common vertigo-causing vestibular disorder)
- Viral infection
- Certain yoga poses or pilates positions
- Hair washing sinks at salons
As with any health condition, the severity and duration of symptoms can vary quite a bit from person to person. If there was a “typical” case of BPPV, symptoms might last an average of 1-2 months from the initial episode. However, vertigo episodes and the other BPPV symptoms can undoubtedly drag on for longer than a couple of months.
Vertigo episodes themselves are usually brief but intense, lasting about a minute. In between spells of vertigo, some BPPV sufferers will be asymptomatic while others will continue to feel mild imbalance or unsteadiness. BPPV does not cause constant vertigo or dizziness and doesn’t affect hearing.
What are my Treatment Options?
Some people with BPPV will choose to wait it out to see if there is any improvement in their symptoms. This can be difficult or impossible for some since it has such a dramatic impact on getting a good night of sleep without experiencing a vertigo attack. The most common treatment choice is performing a head maneuver that aims to reposition the stray calcium crystal to a location in the inner ear that is less sensitive. Of these procedures, the Epley maneuver is the most widely used. Many will have success for a while, but one 1/3 of patients will have a recurrence of symptoms in the first year after treatment, and about half will have a relapse by five years. Some doctors might recommend BPPV maneuvers that can be done at home on your own. In extreme cases, surgical treatment may be used.
Are There Any Natural Solutions?
Upper cervical chiropractic care is a natural and effective method of addressing the underlying cause of vertigo disorders, including BPPV. Since head trauma is one of, if not the most common BPPV triggers, identifying and correcting the damage that occurs at the vital junction between the head and neck is key to healing from vertigo. The atlas (C1) vertebra sits at the top of the neck at the base of the skull and is tasked with protecting the brainstem. The brainstem is the hub for balance signals that travel from the vestibular system and coordinate our ability to maintain our posture.
If you’re looking for a vertigo treatment clinic in Cedar Falls, we can help you. Upper Cervical Cedar Falls provides gentle, specific upper care for vertigo sufferers, whether you’re living with BPPV, Meniere’s disease, or any other vertigo-related health condition. Our doctors are experts on the intimate relationship between upper cervical alignment and normal brainstem and nervous system function. If you are experiencing vertigo, our personalized and precise care may be the next logical step on your path to achieving relief. To learn more about upper cervical chiropractic care, browse the rest of our website at www.uppercervicalcedarfalls.com, where you can find valuable information, testimonials, and other resources.
References:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/vertigo/symptoms-causes/syc-20370055
https://www.dizziness-and-balance.com/disorders/bppv/bppv.html
https://vestibular.org/understanding-vestibular-disorders/types-vestibular-disorders/benign-paroxysmal-positional-vertigo
