Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.(BPPV).

Introduction

The definition of vertigo is quite simple. It is a feeling as if you are spinning, though in reality you are stationary. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is one of the commonest variant of vertigo, which is featured by attacks of severe spinning when you move your head. It can occur ,in lying ,sitting or standing position, or at times when you are looking up the roof. 

It is in precise terms, paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, as it occurs in sudden episodic attack form, from mild to severe intensity. BPPV is mainly concern and caused by disturbances in balancing system of body, control by vestibular apparatus(labyrinth) located inside the middle ear. It just happens to effect you suddenly ,without any reason. It may last for few weeks and then you go in remission.

 Life style factors, Support and Prevention

Life style and home remedies

As the condition of vertigo you are experiencing is diagnosed to be benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, you must take all precaution to maintain a healthy and safe routine life.

The worst case scenario in your BPPV is getting injured while the attack of vertigo comes suddenly. While at home follow these instruction :

Ÿ  During attack sit or lay still as long as the vertigos last.

Ÿ  Always have some family member around when you know you are not completely out of danger of another episode of vertigo. Keep your head raised to some extent, and avoid fall by seeking help to move . Using supporting stick can be a good preventive measure while you need washroom facility.

Ÿ  While in bed drink lot of fluids to avoid dehydration.

Ÿ  Do not drive when you have an attack or operate any machinery or work at heights. All these situation may endanger your life if you get a paroxysm of dizziness/vertigo. Take leave of absence from work of such nature until your doctor advises you to do so, taking all necessary test and examination in consideration for your fitness. 

Ÿ  Keep a good compliance with your doctor’s advise with regards to use of your medication as long as needed.

Ÿ  Avoid sleeping on side of troubled ear.

Ÿ  It is advisable to use two or more pillows when you sleep.

Ÿ    While you wake up in morning try to make slow moments at first, instead of sudden twist or turns of head. That can provoke an attack of vertigo.

Home exercises

These simple to perform exercises are aimed at dislodging the otoliths and reposition them at utricle, which is the main cause of your vertigo. Couple of useful self-to-do exercises are explained for your guidens:

Ÿ  Brandt-Daroff exercise can be done by sitting at your bedside, head turn on one side 45°, quickly lay down on bed opposite to turned side with your nose up.Keep yourself in this position for 30 odd seconds. Sit up and do the same, now beginning on other side. Repeat procedure at least 5 times.

Ÿ  Romberg exercise is carried out while you stand with your feet closed together, and arms by the sides. Hold this position for 30 seconds. Twice daily repeat of same exercise will help build up your balance strength.

Prevention  

Ÿ  If you are frequent motor bike rider, baseball player, use helmet to avoid head injuries and be safe from BPPV, as vertigo due to head injury is very common at younger age group.

Ÿ  At home installing support bars at toilet and bathtub will make you more safe from getting a fall if you have balancing problem due to BPPV.

Ÿ  Try your best to be more active, taking all necessary precautions. This will make your brain more adopted to quick recovery. As it has to learn to ignore false stimuli from your inner ear, the root cause of your HPPV.

Ÿ  Take regular yearly flu shots, as BPPV, may result from post viral complication due viral neuronitis.

Coping and Support

Your  benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is spontaneously receding condition. All you have to manage is, while you let it subside, follow measure to help avoid injuries and complicate, otherwise a benign condition. Take your medication on time as advise. They will minimize symptoms. Take all the support you can get from your doctor and family member during this recovery phase. Understanding the fact that your BPPV, is not life long disorder and will disappear in due time will make you much stronger in gaining confidence.

There is always a positive outcome of joining groups or individuals with BPPV and discussing ways and means to cope the situation in collective way. Sharing difficulties and finding some small details to compensate will help you and your family. As your symptoms start receding, it is advisable to join your job place and become more active and show productivity.

Natural Treatment For Positional Vertigo

CoQ10

One of the best natural supplements that helps treat positional vertigo is coenzyme Q10, also known as CoQ10 ("Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; Phyllis A. Balch, CNC; 2010). This substance is found in body tissues but is accepted to decrease with age. It is an influential anti-oxidant and diminishes brain neuron damage. It helps in restoration of effective circulation to your central nervous tissues. It is one type of energy synthesizer, by acting as coenzyme in ATP production. It is effective anti-aging substance, thereby preventing degeneration of labyrinth apparatus. This have been implicated in age related BPPV. It can be obtained from foods like fish, meat and soybean  and canola oil.

Ginger

Ginger is a very safe alternative for relaxing your vertigo. It can be taken every few hours as per need (National Library of Medicine: Vertigo-reducing Effect of Ginger Root). This root can be consumed in the form of powder and ginger tea. Ginger-ale is also known to do the trick. For years, ginger has been used as an anti-nausea and without a doubt, it is effective on patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo too (Dr. Sharol Tilgner, author of Herbal Medicine From the Heart of the Earth). It also cures motion-sickness (Grontved A et al 1986; Grontved A et al 1988).

Ginkgo biloba

Yinhsing and silver apricot - known to us as ginko biloba - is essentially a living fossil since it’s been around for longer than 200 million years. This Chinese medicine treats vertigo and its many symptoms including dizziness, cerebral insufficiency and cognitive impairment. It contains antioxidant flavonoids, terpenes and polyphenols. Ginkgo biloba hold anti-inflammatory properties too and its terpenes are acknowledged to increase circulation and oxygen flow to the brain and ears (MayoClinic.com; Ginkgo (Ginkgo Biloba L.); Natural Standard Patient Monograph; Staff; July 2011). It also helps overcome the feeling of nausea (American Hearing Research Foundation: Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo BPPV). Ginkgo biloba also lessens dizziness by 65 % (Cesarani A et al 1998).

Vitamin C

You  can get ample vitamin C from citrus fruit, green pepper, broccoli, dark green leafy vegetables. Yet another natural remedy for vertigo, it fights free radicals. Vitamin C, being an anti-oxidant allays the harmful effects of free radicals on DNA, tissues and cell membranes. This vitamin if taken regularly has shown to provide complete remedy from your vertigo in BPPV. One of most important effect vitamin C has that it reduces the risk of peripheral vascular disease that plays significant role in degeneration of nerves and other tissues of body. The susceptibility of labyrinth degeneration is easily overcome if you take this vitamin if you are in older age group.

Vitamin B6

Among the types of positional vertigo happens to be drug-induced vertigo. For that, luckily we have vitamin B6 which helps alleviate it (Claussen CF et al 1988). It alleviates symptoms of nausea vomiting, associated with BPPV. Found in good concentration in beans, banana, walnuts, spinach , peanut butter and avocados. This vitamin has very essential role in building your immune as well as nerve system. It exerts its indirect effect to curb vertigos, by improving your hemoglobin status and anemia , which can aggravate your existing BPPV. If you have been diagnosed suffering from viral neuritis causing BPPV, using B6 supplements will help in restoring the effected nerve strength and functions.

While you have a choice of using all the natural ingredients  as supplements, it should always be after you have discussed the cons and pros associated with them. Some of the ingredients may interact with conventional drugs you  are taking. The role of all the existing and discovered natural elements is undeniable and proved successful in alleviating symptoms in several debilitating illnesses. Your benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is one of them.