Vertigo is a sensation that occurs when you stand up too quickly and the room starts to spin around you.
You grab the nearest chair, wall, or sturdy object to keep your balance until the spinning stops. Sometimes the sensation is very brief, lasting only a few seconds, but sometimes it can last much longer.
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is caused by an inner ear dysfunction and is the most common cause of peripheral vertigo. Tiny calcium carbonate crystals (canaliths) break off from an inner ear organ called the utricle and move into structures called semicircular canals.
The presence of canaliths in the fluid of the semicircular canals can contribute to the vertigo. This vertigo can lead to nausea and vomiting, eye fluttering, eye flapping (called nystagmus), falls, and subsequent fractures.
The cause of most cases of Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo remains unknown, making it a complex condition to prevent. Some specific causes include:
- Head trauma
- Meniere’s disease
- Vestibular neuritis
- Ear infection (otitis media)
- Vestibular migraine
So who is most likely to develop benign paroxysmal positional vertigo?
People with the following signs and symptoms are more likely to have Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo than the general population, including:
- Female gender
- Age 65 and older
- Osteoporosis
- Vitamin D deficiency
- Anxiety
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Hyperlipidemia
- Wearing of the cartilage discs in the neck (cervical spondylitis)
- Coronary heart disease
- Extended computer use
- Malnutrition
Home remedies you can try
- Get enough sleep: Reducing screen time, avoiding eating too close to bedtime, and creating a quiet environment are some ways to promote quality sleep.
- Drink enough water: Drinking water is a panacea, staying hydrated is important for overall health and can be a common cause of dizziness. Additionally, fruits, soups, and herbal teas are considered good sources of water! In addition to staying hydrated, stay away from caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco, as these can affect your hydration and make dizziness worse.
- Boost your vitamin D: While there are no large-scale studies to confirm these claims, some people claim that vitamin D supplements can help prevent dizziness from recurring.
- Use ginger: Ginger has long been known to help relieve nausea, but many people also attest to its ability to help relieve dizziness! Ginger tea and lollipops have been used by pregnant women as an alternative to help relieve morning sickness for generations.
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is highly treatable and manageable, with most patients experiencing significant relief after making the correct positional changes.
Although vertigo symptoms can be uncomfortable, the good news is that Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo does not cause permanent damage and can usually resolve within a few treatment sessions.
