Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo: Causes, Symptoms, And Why You Should Visit Your Chiropractor
According to Neuro Kinetics, approximately 70 percent of all people will experience vertigo at one point in their lives. If you've experienced the symptoms often associated with vertigo, and your doctor cannot seem to help you find relief, you may have a specific type of this disorder that requires specialized care: benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, or BPPV. If you are struggling with the symptoms associated with vertigo and suspect you may have BPPV, here is some valuable information about this common disorder and why going to the chiropractor can help you find the relief you've been looking for:
Signs and Symptoms of BPPV
Benign paroxysmal position vertigo is a very common type of this disorder and is characterized by dizzy spells and a feeling like the room or your head is spinning. This spinning sensation and dizziness occur when you shift or turn your head. For example, you can often feel the symptoms associated with BPPV if you turn over quickly in bed or if you look up or down.
In addition to the feeling like the room is spinning and dizziness, patients with BPPV can also feel nauseated or even vomit when the spinning becomes severe. Luckily, for the majority of individuals, BPPV is merely an annoyance, and the dizzy spells don't last very long. However, in a few cases, BPPV can become serious because it can lead to a fall.
Causes of BPPV
Once again, BPPV is very common, and there are a lot of reasons why you might be suffering from this specific type of vertigo, including:
- A bad cold or another viral infection that impacts your inner ear
- Strokes
- An injury to the head, such as whiplash
- Migraines
When any of these conditions are present, or you suffer a head injury, the tiny calcified stones that are found in your inner ear become disrupted. When you move your head, the dislodged crystals begin moving to other parts of your inner ear, and this action makes your brain believe there is an issue with your inner ear, which in turn leads to the vertigo.
How Your Chiropractor Can Help?
If you are diagnosed with BPPV by your doctor, they may refer you to a chiropractor. Your chiropractor will be trained in several techniques that can help you find relief from the vertigo, dizziness, and nausea. For example, one technique your chiropractor might utilize is called Epley maneuver.
During this procedure, your chiropractor will ask you to turn your head and identify which way causes the more intense feelings of vertigo. When this is identified, your chiropractor will advise you to turn your head slightly in that direction. The chiropractor will then gently lower your shoulder to the table, and they will turn your head toward the floor and keep you in this position for several seconds.
Next, the chiropractor will turn your head to the other direction until you are looking at the floor. You will lie there for several seconds. The chiropractor will then carefully roll you on your side and shift your head so that you are now looking upward. You will remain like this until the vertigo subsides. Finally, you will be allowed to sit up. This maneuver helps shift the crystals in your inner ear that are causing the vertigo.
The chiropractor will also recommend several ways you can keep yourself safe, if you suffer another episode of BPPV at home. For example, if you are older and have a higher risk of falling, your chiropractor might recommend using a cane.
Benign paroxysmal position vertigo is a common issue that has a cure. If you begin to suffer from the signs and symptoms associated with BPPV, don't hesitate to contact a doctor or chiropractor like Dr. Jason B Kaster DC right away.