Causes of BPPV:
Timothy C. Hain MD of dizziness and balance.com states The most common cause of BPPV in people under age 50 is head injury . The head injury need not be that direct – -even whiplash injuries have a substantial incidence of BPPV (Dispenza et al, 2011). There is also a strong association with migraine (Ishiyama et al, 2000). BPPV becomes much more common with advancing age (Froeling et al, 1991) and in older people, the most common cause is degeneration of the vestibular system of the inner ear. Viruses affecting the ear such as those causing vestibular neuritis and Meniere’s disease are significant causes(Batatsouras et al, 2012).
Occasionally BPPV follows surgery, including dental work, where the cause is felt to be a combination of a prolonged period of supine positioning, or ear trauma when the surgery is to the inner ear (Atacan et al 2001). While gentamicin toxicity is rarely encountered, BPPV is common in persons who have been treated with ototoxic medications such as gentamicin (Black et al, 2004). In half of all cases, BPPV is called “idiopathic,” which means it occurs for no known reason. Other causes of positional symptoms are discussed here.
Web MD points out tiny calcium “stones” inside your inner ear canals help you keep your balance. Normally when you move a certain way, such as when you stand up or turn your head, these stones move around. But things like infection or inflammation can stop the stones from moving as they should. This unfortunately sends a false message to your brain and causes the vertigo. About half the time, doctors can’t find a specific cause for BPPV.
When a cause can be determined, BPPV is often associated with a minor to severe blow to your head. Less common causes of BPPV include disorders that damage your inner ear or, rarely, damage that occurs during ear surgery or during prolonged positioning on your back. BPPV also has been associated with migraines. In many cases the doctors can’t figure out the cause.
Know The ear’s role
Inside your ear is a tiny organ called the vestibular labyrinth. It includes three loop-shaped structures (semicircular canals) that contain fluid and fine, hair-like sensors that monitor the rotation of your head.
Other structures (otolith organs) in your ear monitor movements of your head — up and down, right and left, back and forth — and your head’s position related to gravity. These otolith organs — the utricle and saccule — contain crystals that make you sensitive to gravity.
For a variety of reasons, these crystals can become dislodged. When they become dislodged, they can move into one of the semicircular canals — especially while you’re lying down. This causes the semicircular canal to become sensitive to head position changes it would normally not respond to. As a result, you feel dizzy. Depending what section of the semicircular canal the problem is in will be a factor with the actual result on the crystals or rocks flowing freely or become stuck together causing a blockage in one of the canals. The other factor that determines this is the etiology for it occuring (ex. Dehydration or blow to the head).
Complications of BPPV:
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo occurs most often in people age 60 and older, but can occur at any age. Aside from aging, there are no definite factors that may increase your risk of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. However, a head injury or any other disorder of the balance organs of your ear may make you more susceptible to BPPV.
Although benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is uncomfortable, it rarely causes complications. In rare cases, if severe, persistent BPPV causes you to vomit frequently, you may be at risk of dehydration. The dizziness of BPPV can put you at greater risk of falling. It is more of a headache in going through the time to resolve the vertigo possibly affecting people in doing their regular activities of living for a week to several weeks. For some it never comes back but for many it does after several months depending on what the cause is.
