Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

1st December, 2020 • 2 min read

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is an ear condition where making certain head movements make you feel like you or the environment around you is spinning – known as vertigo.

Reviewed by
Dr Ann Nainan
In this article

It’s thought that changes in the normal position of particles in your inner ear triggers BPPV, but for most people, there’s no clear reason why this change happens.

Sometimes BPPV can be caused by a head injury or medical condition, like migraines or an ear infection.

Vertigo
isn’t the only symptom of BPPV. If you have the condition, you may feel lightheaded, sick and have trouble keeping your balance.

Do you need tests to diagnose benign paroxysmal positional vertigo?

Most people don’t need tests to diagnose BPPV. A doctor will usually suspect BPPV based on your symptoms. They may ask you to move your head in different ways to help spot the movements that trigger your symptoms.

How is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo treated?

BPPV usually gets better on its own within a few weeks or months, but there are some simple lifestyle changes you can make to help manage your symptoms. For example, you can take care to get out of bed slowly and avoid doing tasks that involve looking upwards.

Because BPPV is caused by changes in the normal position of particles in the inner ear, a doctor may perform or teach you how to do a simple physical manoeuvre (Epley manoeuvre) to help move the particles back into place.

In some cases, they might refer you to a specialist.

Did you find this useful?

Article information

Published on:
07 December 2020
Last reviewed:
01 December 2020
Next review:
30 November 2023
Medical reviewer:
Dr Ann Nainan
Author:
Dr Lauretta Ihonor

We include references at the end of every article, so you know where we get our facts. We only ever take evidence from medically-recognised sources, approved by the UK National Health Service's The Information Standard, or certified by Health On the Net (HON). When we talk about popular health trends or claims, we'll always tell you if there's very little or no evidence to back them up. Our medical team also checks our sources, making sure they're appropriate and that we've interpreted the science correctly.

    1. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo - Symptoms, diagnosis and treatment | BMJ Best Practice [Internet]. Bestpractice.bmj.com. 2020 [cited 3 December 2020]. Available here.

Important: Our website provides useful information but is not a substitute for medical advice. You should always seek the advice of your doctor when making decisions about your health.