Benign Paroxysmal
Positional Vertigo
You have Ben diagnosed wit Benign Paraxysmal Psitional Vertig. Ths brochures designed to help nsease your
understanding of his eiorder and it potential treatment,
WHAT IS BPPV?
Boars zee vsti wt (oi er oe iro. Pn wh FF pty et
ence ble epliodes of vertigo (laziness) when they change the position oftheir head wth respect gravity.
Aprosimately 20 percent of all vertigo is due to BPPV.
WHAT CAUSES BPPV?
BT Meuse 10 be ae t 87 gpacnon crv
crystals, calle otaconia, that have collected STRAIGHT LATERAL
within a sensitive part ofthe inner ear. Otocania
are cystal of clcum carbonate that are normally
located in a structure of the ear ale the uric.
Dizziness occurs when the cstals are displaced from
‘the utile int the semicircular carals ofthe inner ea.
‘toconia may become displaced wien the tle sn
jue, if tere isan ffection or other disorder of the £Z oisersceo
Inner ear, or simpy due to advanced age. When you
change the posten of your head, the otoconia move
within the semicircular eanale and this causes the diz.
ess, The diziess subsides when the otoconia stop
The most common cause of BPPY in people underage 50 is head
Injury tn older people, the most commen cause is degeneration of the vestibular system ofthe inne ear. BPPV
becomes much mow common with advancing age. Othe causes include minor stokes, Meniere's disease, and viuses
suchas those casing vestibular reurts In approximately half o al BPPV cases, no cause canbe determined
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
ne symptoms cf BPPV include diziness or vertigo, lightheadedness, imbalance, and nausea. Acts that
‘rng on symptoms vary among individuals, but symptoms are usualy associated wth a change in the 2osition of
the head with respect to gravity. Getting cut af bed, ring over in bed, and tipping the head back to bok up are
common “prablen’ motions. The use of shampoo bonis in hair salons may bring on symptoms. An iternittent
pater is common. BPPY may be present for afew weeks, then stop, and then come back again.HOW IS BPPY DIAGNOSED?
PV is diagnosed with the Dix Halle test, This test involves observing the eyes with the heat and body
positioned in specific ways. It can be performed either by the clinician, or as part ofa laboratory test called
an electronystagnograpty, or ENG If the Dill testis abnormal and the findings are “clase” for BPP,
then additional testing ie not nacateary. IF the results ae normal or not “lassie than the dagnoss of PPV i
less certain and other tests may be suggested,
WHAT ARE THE TREATMENTS FOR BPPV?
There ove fur oppoeces to treating BPP
1. DO NOTHING AND WAIT FOR TT TO GO ANAY BY ITSELF
BPPV symptoms sometimes go aay within six months of onset, therefore you might want to wait and see if your
symptoms subside on their awn. During this waiting period, medications to prevent motion sites o nausea are
Sometimes helpful in contling the rausea associated with BPP.
2. PSIEALNAREWERS PERFORMED INTHE CDC
Che ley and Seno Haestes)
The Ee an Senor mae, ad fr thr ieros ae et
mets that ae pore inthe ne These eaters we spec
Cy intended to rve the cra om te sear aa fo
2 ess ems ton win he ne en Yur nan
See he tetnert tat ios prot fr ou.
tach of thse eaters takes at 15 ies ad
ales symptons a about 8 pert of pate. ay
nthe emg 20 pret, a sic tester ay et
be ect ryt mayb tc to prom he
Dena execs (Hoe Fate)
ein proce) ad prise pstonig, i
2 cee in ich the con noes yur hod
{into five postions maintaining each position for ap-
roxinately 30 seconds, The Semont maneuver 3 *
called the beat maneuver) fa procedure In which
the clinician apy moves you from tying on one sie ve =
te yng onthe oter sige, These maneuvers may not be a
ceproprat for points with nck or bockproblars.Pa- ton & rections
tients who experince nauses or anxiety may wish to take
medication prior the treatrent. The Epley ManeuverINSTRUCTIONS FOR PATIENTS
AFTER CLINIC TREATMENTS
Follow these structions after the Epley or Semont manewet. By doing so you wil minimize the
opportunity for ataconia ta eum to the somiciuar canals af the inner ear and rac the patti
that your dizziness wil recut
Watt at least 10 minutes after the maneuver before going home,
Tis isto avoit “quick spins” or brief bursts of vertigo asthe tzconia reposition themselves imnedi-
ately after the maneuver. If posible, arange to have someone dive you home,
‘The following two days:
Sleep semirecombent forthe nex wo nights This means
sleeping with your head halfway between fat and upright, at s°
3 45-degies ange. Tis s most easly dane by seping in &
rediner chr or by sleeping with pillows appropriately
arranged on 2 couch
Dug the 6, ty to beep your head vertical A sot neck _Swageste seeping postion
brace maybe help Do not go to the bare, harresser or
dentist, When shaving, keep your head vertical by Bending fornard a your hips with your nck
cane f you need to administer eye dons, try to keep your head as vertical as possible Stam
oo only under the shone
During the fellowing week, avoid provoking head positions that might bring on BPPV.
Use tw plows when you sleep.
‘void sleeping on the affected sige,
Dont turn your head far up o Fat down,
‘Ayoldtitieg your head back espcially when ying on your back wth your heed turned toward the
affected side. If posible, postpone elective surgery and going tothe beauty parlor or the dentist's
ofie.
Avoid for headformard positions and exercises where the heads not kept upright, for example toe
touches.
‘The effectiveness of the clinic treatment cannot be determined for one week.
‘Wat one week after treatnent to test the effectiveness of treatment. Place yourself nthe position tht
usually makes you diz. Be sure to position yourself cautiously and under conditions in which you
cena fall or et your.3. HOME TREATMENT OF BPPY (randt-aroff Exercises)
\When the clinic teatment (ple or Semon fas, when the involved sides nt determined, or when a casos mild
‘the Brandt Daroff xrcises may be recomended. These eecisessuceed in 95 percent of cases but tale Longer to
work than the clinic treatments, You should perform these eer
ss only if instructed todo so by your clinician. I your c=
‘ian performed the Eley or Semont monevvr, yoo must wait
one week ofter thot weotment before you begin che Brand
Daroffevercss,
‘These exercises should be performed on a fat su
face, without a plow, Start siting upright
a ven x
an thee ofthe bed ron the floor (P=
sion 3). Tim your head 48 degres to
the let and ie down on you it side
p ps (Poston 2). When in he Ht ei
4 Pal
position, your head shoud be at a dS-e-
ge ange tured halfway between the fet
surface and the cen, Stay nthe sieving
pesition for atleast 30 seconds Ifyou ae stil dy stay
until the dizziness subsides or one minute, whichever fs
less. Then sit up (Position 3) and stay in the siting psi-
tion for 30 seconds. Tun your head 45 dearest the right
ard Fe dawn on your lft sie (Postion 4), again keeping
your head tured halfay toward the cling for 30 seconds
‘oc unite dzins subsides. Return to Position 1 (sit upright for 30 seconds. This sone repetition Oe set (ve
repetition) takes shut 10 minutes to complete and should be performed each moming,miéday and evering.
Brandt-Doroff exercises
The Brand-Daroff exercises shoul be performed fortwo wees, tte sets each yo for thee wees, two sets each
day (52 sets total), Tn most individuals, complete rele fom symptoms is obtained ar 30 ses, o about 10 ays
{In apprximately 30 percent of patients, BPP wil cur within oe ear. 1 BPPY recurs you may wish to ad one 10
minute exercise (one set) to your diy routine,
4, SURGICAL TREATMENT OF BPPY
1f the maneuvers or exercises donot contol symptoms that have persisted for a year or longer and the agnosis i
‘very clea, sugary may be recommended, The mest common sual procedure, called posterior carl plugang,
blocks most ofthe posterior canals function without affecting the functions ofthe other canal or parts ofthe ea
That is, howoves, a smal rik of hearing Loss This surgery is effective in about 90 percent of individuals Who have
rot responded to ater treatments and when symptoms ae severe and longstanding
ate Neri Uy.
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