Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) is a type of vertigo that is brought on with certain movements of the head in relation to gravity, and is a disorder caused by problems within the inner ear. First, let's explain the major differences between vertigo and other types of 'dizziness': Vertigo The feeling of spinning or movement while you are not actually moving. This can be felt as either yourself moving (subjective vertigo), or the room moving around you (objective vertigo). Dizziness Can be described as feelings of unsteadiness (feeling a loss of balance while standing or walking), lightheadedness (feeling as though you might faint), and weakness. To understand how this specific type of vertigo known as BPPV occurs, we need to have a look at the anatomy & physiology of the inner ear. As can be seen in the picture above there is a snail-like shape known as the 'cochlea', and at the top of it are three 'semicircular canals'. T...