VERTIGO (BPPV)

                                                     
                           

                                                             Vertigo (BPPV)



What is vertigo?

Vertigo is a type of dizziness. It is described as a ‘spinning’ sensation in the head and is usually brought on by sudden changes in position. Some people say it feels like standing still in a spinning room. You may feel like you are going to fall over.

While there are some serious causes of vertigo, in most cases it is not a serious condition and usually gets better with time.

 What causes vertigo?

The most common cause of vertigo is called benign positional paroxysmal vertigo or BPPV.

BPPV happens when tiny particles in the balance centre of the inner ear are disturbed, usually by sudden movement. This causes the spinning sensation. It is a common problem that can affect people of all ages.

 Activities that bring on a dizzy spell can vary.
 They often involve moving your head into a certain position suddenly, such as:
 • looking up
• lying on one ear
 • rolling over in bed
• getting out of bed
• bending over.

There are other causes of vertigo, including head injuries (such as a knock to the head), stroke, circulation problems, infections, inner ear disorders, and the degeneration of inner ear structures. For some people the cause may not be found.

What are the symptoms?
 • Dizziness – this begins seconds after a certain head movement and lasts less than a minute.

 • Feeling light-headed.
• Balance problems.
• Nausea – feeling like you are going to vomit. These symptoms usually get better once you are in a different position. Pain, ringing in the ears (tinnitus) or deafness is not common.

If you have more serious symptoms – speech difficulty, double vision, unsteady walking, difficulty swallowing, altered strength or feeling in your legs or arms, ringing in your ears or deafness – you should seek medical help.

Treatment Vertigo often gets better by itself. Many people improve without treatment. If BPPV is an ongoing problem then your doctor may offer options.



Brandt-Daroff exercises

The Brandt-Daroff exercises are thought to disperse any tiny particles away from the balance centre in your ear, therefore getting rid of the cause of your dizziness. You may be anxious that the exercises will bring back your symptoms. This is normal. However, the exercises will only work if you feel dizzy as you do them. The dizziness will get less with time. 1. Sit on the edge of the bed. Turn your head 45 degrees (look to the left). Lie down quickly on the right side. Ensure the back of the head rests on the bed. Wait 20–30 seconds or until the dizziness stops. 2. Sit upright. Wait 20–30 seconds for any dizziness to settle. 3. Repeat on the other side. Turn the head slightly to the right before lying down quickly on the left side. 4. Do five times on each side (takes about 10 minutes).