There are many causes of dizziness and vertigo and they can be difficult to diagnose. One of them is Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BBPV). Those suffering from vertigo caused by BBPV usually experience a powerful dizzy sensation when they move their head or stand up too quickly. They may feel unbalanced or as if they’re being pulled to one side, even when they’re standing up straight. Individuals who suffer from vertigo also report intense headaches, migraines, feeling of nausea, sweating, and a ringing in their ears or a loss of hearing. These episodes or dizzy spells can last anywhere from a few minutes to up to a few hours depending on the severity of the patient’s condition.
With all of these symptoms in mind, a doctor will begin a series of routine tests to determine the cause of their patient’s dizziness. When checking for vertigo, a doctor will track the patient’s eye movements as the patient turns or moves their head from side to side. The doctor is looking for rapid or involuntary eye movements as well as any sudden waves of dizziness that the patient may experience. The doctor may reach a BPPV diagnosis after a brief physical, but in many cases, the results can be inconclusive and the doctor will still need to conduct more tests.
If the doctor needs more information before diagnosing the patient with vertigo, they will likely move on to an electronystagmography (ENG) or a videonystagmography (VNG). Both the VNG and the ENG are used to test whether the patient’s eye movements are related to vertigo. An ENG uses electrodes while a VNG uses tiny cameras to measure the patient’s eye movements while they move their head in different positions. If the doctor still needs more information, they may decide to perform an MRI in order to rule out any other conditions related to vertigo. An MRI uses a magnetic field to create a cross-sectional image of the patient’s body. This test will help the doctor pinpoint the exact cause of the patient’s vertigo.
What Happens After BPPV Diagnosis
Once a vertigo diagnosis has been reached, the doctor may prescribe medications to alleviate the patient’s dizziness and nausea. More commonly, the doctor will ask the patient to perform a series of head and body exercises known as the Canalith repositioning procedure or the Epley Maneuver. This form of physical therapy helps the patient restore their sense of balance.
These exercises are great (about 80% effective) and can release crystals (Canaliths or small deposits of calcium carbonate) in the semi-circular ear canal, which may be causing the vertigo symptoms. However, until these exercises are successful leaving you with more permanent relief, you can look into other natural methods for vertigo symptom relief. One of these is DiVertigo, an alternative to powerful prescription medications. It quickly relieves the symptoms of vertigo without side effects such as drowsiness, loss of appetite, and nausea. Made with essential oils that naturally calm the nerves in the ear, Di-Vertigo is one of the fastest ways to relieve your symptoms so you can get back to doing what you love most.
