A few cases of BVP i treated in last week and it seems general public is not aware what is it and what help available.
Se let go through it.
What is benign positional vertigo (BPV)?
Benign positional vertigo (BPV) is the most common cause of vertigo, the sensation of spinning or swaying. It causes a sudden sensation of spinning, or like your head is spinning from the inside.
You can have brief periods of mild or intense dizziness if you have BPV. Changing the position of your head can trigger an episode. Other actions that can trigger an episode of BPV include:
• tilting your head up or down
• lying down
• turning over
• getting up
BPV can be uncomfortable, but it’s rarely serious except when dizziness causes someone to fall.
What causes benign positional vertigo?
BPV is the result of a disturbance inside your inner ear. The semicircular canals, or the tubes inside your ears, contain fluid that moves when you change your body’s position. The semicircular canals are extremely sensitive.
BPV develops when small crystals of calcium carbonate that are normally in another area of the ear break free and enter the semicircular canals. It can also happen when these crystals form inside the semicircular canals. This causes your brain to receive confusing messages about your body’s position.
Who is at risk for benign positional vertigo?
There are no major risk factors for BPV, but there’s some indication it could be an inherited condition. Many people with BPV have relatives who also have the condition.
There are also other conditions that can make some people more prone to developing BPV. These include:
• prior head injuries
• osteoporosis
• diabetes
• an inner ear condition
What are the symptoms of benign positional vertigo?
The symptoms of BPV can include:
• vertigo
• vomiting
• blurred vision
• nausea
• dizziness
• lightheadedness
• loss of balance
• unsteadiness
Symptoms of BPV can come and go. They commonly last less than one minute.
A variety of activities can bring on BPV. However, most symptoms occur when there’s a change in your head’s positioning. Abnormal eye movements, also called nystagmus, usually accompany symptoms of BPV.
Although it’s extremely rare, you can have BPV in both ears.
In some extreme cases of BPV, people can develop dehydration due to vomiting.
How is benign positional vertigo diagnosed?
Your
Doctor can diagnose BPV by performing a maneuver called the Dix-Hallpike test. Your doctor will hold your head in a certain position while asking you to rapidly lie down with your back over a table. We will look for abnormal eye movements during this test, and may ask you if you’re experiencing a spinning sensation.
We will get a complete medical history and perform a neurological exam to rule out any other disorders or diseases.
Additional tests might include:
• caloric stimulation, which involves warming and cooling the inner ear with water or air to observe eye movements
Depends of the patient condition and clinical presentation following medical tests may be of benefit:
• an MRI of the head
• a magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) of the head, which is similar to an MRI
• a CT scan of the head
• a hearing evaluation
• an electronystagmography (ENG) to record eye movement
• an electroencephalogram (EEG) to measure brain activity
Best results usually achieved by combination of Medical ,Chiropractic and Physiotherapy
What are the treatments for benign positional vertigo?
A variety of treatments are available to help treat BPV. These include:
Epley’s maneuver
Some doctors consider the Epley maneuver the most effective treatment for BPV. It’s a simple exercise you can try at home that doesn’t require any equipment. It involves tilting your head in order to move the piece of calcium carbonate to a different part of your inner ear. Learn how to perform the Epley maneuver, and about other home remedies for vertigo.
Evaluation and mobilization of affected cervical vertebrae and learning modification of the Epley ‘s Maneuver most appropriate for the your condition.
Home treatment
There are steps you can take to manage the dizziness associated with BPV.
Be aware of your surroundings and avoid placing yourself at risk. Losing your balance is always a possibility. Falls can cause serious injuries.
Take a seat whenever you feel dizzy. Sitting down during a dizzy spell can help you avoid falling.You should also take precautions such as having good lighting around your home and using a cane for stability.
Also, learn what triggers your episodes. Preventing symptoms of vertigo from becoming worse during episodes of BPV can be as simple as avoiding the positions that trigger it.
Medication
Your medical doctor may prescribe medications to relieve spinning sensations. These may include:
• sedative-hypnotics, or sleeping aids
• anticholinergics, which work by blocking the neurotransmitter acetylcholine
• antihistamines
However, medications are often not effective in treating vertigo.
What are the complications of benign positional vertigo?
You may need to consult your treating doctor if the treatment for vertigo isn’t working, or if you develop weakness, slurred speech, or vision problems.
Keep in mind that symptoms of BPV can sometimes be related to other, more serious conditions.
What is the long-term outlook for people with benign positional vertigo?
Living with BPV can be challenging. It can affect relationships with friends and family, productivity at work, and quality of life.
In most of the cases improvement achieved .
It can occur again without warning, even after successful treatment. However, while BPV may sometimes be uncomfortable, it is manageable and usually improves with time and support treatment.
The Epley maneuver is the first go-to strategy for many people experiencing vertigo. Epley maneuver is extremely effective for people with BPPV.
Start by sitting upright on a flat surface, with a pillow behind you and with your legs outstretched.
Turn your head 45 degrees to the right.
With your head still titled, quickly recline with your head on the pillow.
Stay in this position for at least 30 seconds.
Slowly turn your head to the left, a full 90 degrees, without lifting your neck.
Engage your whole body, turning it to the left so that you are completely on your left side.
Slowly return to your original position, looking forward and sitting straight up
.You may also have someone assist you with the Epley maneuver by guiding your head according to the steps outlined above. It can be repeated three times in a row, and you may feel dizzy during each movement.
Brandt-Daroff exercise
This exercise is most commonly recommended for people with vertigo to do at home, because it is simple to do it unsupervised.
You shouldn’t perform the Brandt-Daroff exercise unless you are in a safe place and won’t be driving for a while, because it might provoke increased dizziness for a short period of time.
1. Start by sitting on a flat surface, with your legs dangling as they would from a chair.
2. Turn your head as far as you can to the left side, then lay your head and torso down on your right side. Your legs should not move. Stay here for at least 30 seconds.
3. Sit up and turn your head back to the center position.
4. Repeat the exercise on the opposite side by turning your head as far as you can to the right side, then laying down on your left side.
You can do this exercise in a set of 5 repetitions and repeat it as often as 3 times a day, twice a week.
Gingko biloba
Ginkgo biloba has been studied for its effects on vertigo a as the leading prescription medication to treat vertigo. Gingko biloba extract can be purchased in liquid or capsule form. Taking 240 milligrams of ginkgo biloba each day should lessen your vertigo symptoms and make you feel more on-balance.
Stress management
Some conditions that cause vertigo, including Meniere’s disease, can be triggered by stress. Developing coping strategies to navigate stressful circumstances could decrease your episodes of vertigo. Practicing meditation and deep-breathing techniques are a good place to start. Long-term stress isn’t something you can simply breathe through, and often the causes of stress aren’t things that you can cut out of your life. Simply being aware of what is causing you stress might cut down on your vertigo symptoms.
Yoga and tai chi.
YogaTrusted Source and tai chi are known to reduce stress while increasing flexibility and balance. Physical therapy performed in an outpatient setting trains your brain to compensate for the cause of your vertigo, and exercise you do at home can mimic this effect. Try simple yoga poses, such as Child’s Pose and Corpse Pose, when you’re feeling dizzy. Be cautious about anything that involves sudden bending forward, as that could make your symptoms temporarily feel stronger.
Adequate amount of sleep
Feelings of vertigo can be triggeredTrusted Source by sleep deprivation. If you’re experiencing vertigo for the first time, it might be a result of stress or lack of sleep. If you can stop what you’re doing and take a short nap, you may find that your feelings of vertigo have resolved themselves.
Hydration
Sometimes vertigo is caused by simple dehydration. Reducing your sodium intake may help. But the best way to stay hydrated is to simply drink plenty of water. Monitor your water intake and try to account for hot, humid conditions and sweaty situations that might make you lose extra fluids.
Plan to drink extra water during times you tend to become dehydrated. You might find that simply being aware of how much water you’re drinking helps decrease vertigo episodes.
Vitamin D
If you suspect your vertigo is connected to something you aren’t getting in your diet, you could a lack of vitamin D can worsen symptoms for people that have BPPV, the most common cause of vertigo. A glass of fortified milk or orange juice, canned tuna, and even egg yolks will all give your levels of vitamin D a boost. Have your doctor check your vitamin D levels so you know if you need more in your diet or if you need a supplement.
You may also have someone assist you with the Epley maneuver by guiding your head according to the steps outlined above. It can be repeated three times in a row, and you may feel dizzy during each movement.