Why is the room spinning? The Secrets of Vertigo

Authur: Jenna Rhodes – Physiotherapist

Vertigo is not just a fear of heights, but also a commonly experienced symptom. It is often described as “room spinning” or the sensation of feeling dizzy and off balance.

Vertigo is an unpleasant and often debilitating symptom. There are many causes for vertigo, one cause is BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo). People have been known to live with this condition for a long time despite the fact that, in most cases, it is very easy to treat and can often be resolved with just 1 or 2 treatments!

What is BPPV and what causes it?

B Benign – not dangerous

P Paroxysmal – builds up to a peak and then disappears

P Positional – triggered by a positional change of the head

V Vertigo – abnormal sensation of movement or room spinning

BPPV starts in the inner ear. Every person has small crystals of calcium carbonate in the inner ear called otoconia. Sometimes these crystals can become dislodged and end up in the fluid of the semi-circular canals. This causes abnormal stimulation of nerve endings which causes symptom of vertigo and nausea.

Signs you may have BPPV

Short periods of vertigo, usually 10-15 seconds. Usually brought on by movements e.g. turning over in bed, getting into bed, bending down in the garden.
Usually worse in the morning
Attacks tend to come in bouts which can last from 2-3 days to months.
You should not experience any associated hearing loss or a feeling of fullness in the ear, this may indicate something else and you should contact your GP.

What can I do if I think I have BPPV?

Contact a physiotherapist trained in vestibular rehabilitation. They are usually specialised in Neurological Physiotherapy and will be able to carry out a full assessment, rule out other causes and in the case of a diagnosis they may be able to carry out a simple manoeuvre called the Epley manoeuvre.

Book a Home Visit with Jenna Rhodes, Medelit’s fully trained Vestibular Rehabilitation Physiotherapist.