How BPPV Affects Portland Patients

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is one of the leading causes of vertigo, a sensation of spinning or movement, amongst Portland residents. Symptoms of BPPV are triggered by changes in the position of your head, and may occur suddenly, without warning. It can be dangerous to walk about the streets of Portland with vestibular disorders like BPPV, since the symptoms can strike at any time without in cases left untreated.

What Causes BPPV?

Tiny calcium carbonate crystals are a normal part of the anatomy of the inner ear. Occasionally they dislodge from the otolithic membrane and collect in the semicircular canals, structures that contain fluid and tiny hair-like sensors that detect rotational movement. When the head is still, the crystals clump together and settle. But when the head moves, the crystals shift; this causes the vestibular system to send false signals to the brain. These signals cause people with BPPV and other vestibular disorders in Portland to feel dizzy or off-balance.

In many Portland BPPV patients, the specific cause of these crystals breaking loose is unknown. Trauma to the head can be a factor, as well as disorders of the inner ear, migraines and side effects of ear surgery. Normal aging and degeneration of the otolithic membrane are responsible for cases in Portland patients over the age of 50.

Symptoms of Vestibular Dysfunction

The chief symptom of BPPV is vertigo in most Portland vestibular patients. This may be accompanied by dizziness, lightheadedness, unsteadiness, a loss of balance, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting and difficulty concentrating. Episodes are typically short in duration, lasting no longer than a minute, and can disappear for long periods before recurring.

Any unexplained dizziness or vertigo that persists for longer than a week is cause for concern, and warrants a visit to a Portland ENT physician or audiologist as soon as possible.

Treatment

BPPV is most commonly treated with head and body movement exercises designed to move the displaced crystals out of the semicircular canals. This technique, known as the canalith repositioning procedure (or Epley maneuver), involves sequential movements of the head into four positions, held for about 30 seconds each. Your Portland ENT doctor, audiologist or physical therapist can guide you in these exercises, which can sometimes also be performed right at home if help and supervision is available. They are usually effective after one or two treatments for most Portland BPPV patients.

In rare cases, canalith repositioning is ineffective. If the head maneuvers don’t work, options exist for vestibular rehabilitation exercises at home, canal plugging surgery or medications. Talk to a Portland ENT specialist today for more information about BPPV and other common vestibular disorders.

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