Understanding Vertigo

(Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo)

I feel dizzy, it must be vertigo!

This is a common myth that many of my clients share during their visits, but vertigo is actually a type of dizziness.

A good question to ask yourself is: “Am I feeling unsteady?” or “Does the room spin?”.

Vertigo is where the room is spinning. Feeling unsteady is different and may be due to several other causes.

Now what could be the cause of vertigo? Some people have quoted their doctor talking about crystals in the inner ear. This is one cause of vertigo called Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), which is one of the conditions we treat at Break Free.   

Common triggers of vertigo in BPPV

·         Tilting the head

·         Rolling over in bed

·         Looking up or down

·         Sudden head motions

Symptoms

·         Short duration of room spinning due to change in position of head

·         Nausea and vomiting (vomiting less common)

·         Visual disturbances, trouble reading

·         Your partner at home may notice a funky eye movement where your iris rotates uncontrollably (don’t worry it doesn’t last!), also known as nystagmus

Causes

Not all episodes of vertigo caused by BPPV have a reason, but here are some possible factors:

·         Previous infection

·         Previous or recent trauma to the head

·         Surgical procedures of the ear

·         Allergies

·         Hypertension

·         Being female puts you at higher risk of experiencing this condition

Illustration of displaced otoconia in semi-circular canals

Okay, so why does this happen?

Your inner ear has a complex labyrinth of semicircular canals filled with viscous fluid that monitors head position with respect to gravity. When you tilt your head, the fluid within the canals of your inner ear moves which allows your brain to detect changes in head movement.

Within the labyrinth lies a collection of calcium crystals called otoconia that can be dislodged and travel through one of the semi-circular canals. This alters the flow of fluid in the labyrinth, which tells your brain that a rotational movement is occurring, thus the feeling that the room is spinning.

This sounds like me, but I’m not sure if I have this condition

Sometimes it can be very confusing as there are other underlying problems that could be causing dizziness. Your physiotherapist can look at your health history, and help you figure out where the source could be coming from. If you have concerns on what to do next, book an appointment with one of our physiotherapists today.