When a change of position
of your head, such as rolling over in bed, produces extreme dizziness, you need
to check and see if you have a condition called Benign Paroxysmal Positional
Vertigo (BPPV). BPPV is not uncommon, touching a couple of million people each
year in the United States, for example.
Symptoms of BPPV
The vertigo caused by BPPV
differs from more serious conditions because the symptoms pass after seconds or
minutes and can result from only a simple change in position. BPPV does not
cause numbness or weakness. People who have BPPV can often pinpoint the exact
movement of the head that brings on the symptoms. If think you have BPPV, consult
a medical professional to get a sound diagnosis.
Cause of BPPV
BPPV results when calcium
crystals in the ear move from their normal position in the utricle to a spot in
a semicircular canal that controls balance. In this abnormal spot, these “ear
rocks” cause a fluid displacement that produces vertigo. A head injury or
infection can cause BPPV, as well as a deterioration of the utricle among
people older than 50. Doctors use a test called the Dix-Hallpike Maneuver to diagnose
BPPV.
Treatments for BPPV
Two treatments for BPPV that
have brought relief to many are: 1) the Canalith Repositioning Procedure (CRP),
and, 2) the Sermont Maneuver. The CRP is favored in the U.S., while the Sermont
Maneuver has gained popularity in Europe. The CRP is comprised of a series of
movements that use gravity to dislodge the ear crystals from their position. In
other cases, drugs (such as antihistamines) are prescribed to treat more persistent
cases of BPPV.
In both the CRP and the
Sermont Maneuver, the patient’s head is turned toward and away from the
affected ear in an attempt to use sudden motion and gravity to dislodge the
crystals. The patient often lies down, turns, then rises to a sitting position
to try and move the ear rocks. Both treatments enjoy a 90% success rate for relieving
BPPV.
Both of these treatments
can be performed at home once a person masters the movements. Many patients repeat
the movements every day to ward off BPPV. Other treatment options in recent
days have included a rotational chair that also uses gravity to move the ear
crystals and a home device that rotates the patient to achieve similar results.
Finding Help for BPPV
If your family doctor
does not have experience with BPPV, you would be wise to look for a
physiotherapist or audiologist. These types of doctors specialize in management
of dizziness and most know all about BPPV and effective treatments to combat it.
If your health professional does not know about the CRP or the Sermont
Maneuver, there are many websites that give detailed instructions (and videos)
on how to perform the movements and find relief.
Read more at: http://canalithrepositioning.com/bppv
Read more at: http://canalithrepositioning.com/bppv
