Do you feel dizzy or get a spinning sensation when you roll over in bed, sit up, or tip your head back? For many people this is Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, or BPPV — one of the most common causes of dizziness, and one of the most treatable.
What causes BPPV?
BPPV happens when tiny calcium crystals, which normally sit in a part of the inner ear that senses gravity, become dislodged and drift into one of the fluid-filled balance canals. When your head moves into certain positions, these loose crystals shift and send confusing signals to the brain about movement, triggering a short, sharp spinning sensation.
The exact trigger isn't always clear. Age, a knock to the head, and certain medications are among the factors that can make it more likely to develop.
What does it feel like?
The dizziness of BPPV is usually brief — seconds to around a minute — and is set off by a change in head position rather than happening at rest. Common triggers include rolling over in bed, lying down, sitting up, or looking up to reach a high shelf.
How is it diagnosed?
We use a test called the Dix-Hallpike Manoeuvre to diagnose BPPV. It involves moving your head and body into a specific position while we observe your eye movements, which show us which of the balance canals is affected. BPPV most commonly involves the posterior canal, though the other two canals can occasionally be involved as well.
How is it treated?
Once we know which canal is involved, we use a repositioning technique — most often the Epley Manoeuvre — to guide the displaced crystals back to where they belong, so they can be reabsorbed. It's a gentle, hands-on sequence of head and body movements, and many people notice a significant improvement after just one session, though occasionally more than one visit is needed.
Other manoeuvres exist for the two less commonly affected canals, and we'll use whichever is appropriate for your particular presentation.
When should you get it checked?
Most dizziness triggered by position change is BPPV and responds well to the right treatment. That said, dizziness can occasionally point to something else, so it's worth having it properly assessed rather than guessing. If your dizziness comes with severe headache, slurred speech, double vision, weakness, or doesn't settle within a minute, seek medical attention promptly, as these can be signs of something requiring urgent care.
Book an assessment
If you're getting dizzy or spinning sensations when you change position, we can assess and, where appropriate, treat it. Contact the clinic to book in.