Signs & Symptoms of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

Benign positional vertigo is a condition that causes intense feelings of dizziness. It is caused by a disturbance in the inner ear and the symptoms appear when you move your head. When you hold your head still, the sensation lingers.

Symptoms

• Lying still does not relieve the sensation of dizziness or the feeling that the room is spinning. Symptoms include nausea. Involuntary back and forth movement of the eyes might occur, called nystagmus. The effects of benign positional paroxysmal vertigo can cause vomiting and dehydration. The symptoms do not last long.

Diagnosis

• A history and physical exam will tell your doctor whether you might be experiencing BPPV. Symptoms associated with BPPV can also be signs of a more serious problem. Your doctor might want to perform a CT scan or MRI of the head to rule out tumors, hemorrhage, stroke or other neurologic disease.

Treatment

• A visit to your physician can treat BPPV. The condition is not serious, even though it is uncomfortable and nauseating. A canalith repositioning procedure, performed one or two times, can be performed by an audiologist and by physical therapists. The idea is to move calcium carbonate particles out of the inner ear canal into an area of the ear (the vestibule) where they will remain stable and be absorbed. BPPV is usually self-limiting, but in some cases, a bone plug can be surgically implanted to block the inner ear. Surgery is rarely needed.

Warning

• BPPV increases the risk of falling. It is important to have someone drive you to the doctor's office. Moving slowly reduces the risk of injury. Most often, BPPV resolves itself spontaneously, but it can last for months or even years, making it important to work closely with your doctor to find a successful treatment.

Risk factors

• There are no major risk factors for BPPV. Aging is believed to contribute to increased risk. A history of head trauma might increase your susceptibility to the disease.