BPPV: What It Is, How It’s Treated, and What You Need to Know

When you roll over in bed and the room spins like a washing machine, you’re not imagining it. That’s BPPV, a harmless but terrifying condition where tiny crystals in your inner ear get dislodged and send false signals to your brain. Also known as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, it’s the most common cause of vertigo in adults, especially over 50. It doesn’t mean a tumor or stroke—it means your inner ear’s balance system got glitched, like a phone sensor that thinks you’re moving when you’re not.

The inner ear isn’t just for hearing. It’s packed with fluid-filled canals and calcium crystals called otoconia. When those crystals break loose and float into the wrong canal, they trick your brain into thinking you’re spinning. That’s why BPPV hits when you turn your head, look up, or roll over. It’s not constant. It’s sharp, sudden, and over in seconds. But those seconds feel like minutes. And if it keeps happening, you start avoiding movement—sleeping on one side, skipping the shower, skipping stairs. That’s when it starts affecting your life, not just your balance.

Doctors have known how to fix this for decades. The Epley maneuver isn’t magic—it’s physics. A series of head turns that guide the crystals back where they belong. It works in most cases, often in one visit. Some people need repeat sessions. Others try the Semont maneuver or the Brandt-Daroff exercises at home. There’s no pill that cures BPPV. No fancy tech. Just gravity and timing. And yet, many patients get misdiagnosed as having migraines, anxiety, or even stroke. That’s why knowing the difference matters.

BPPV doesn’t cause hearing loss or numbness. If you have those, it’s something else. But if your dizziness matches the pattern—triggered by position changes, lasts under a minute, comes and goes—it’s likely BPPV. And the good news? It often goes away on its own. But why wait weeks when you can fix it in ten minutes?

What you’ll find here aren’t generic advice articles. These are real-world guides from people who’ve been there: how to recognize BPPV before your doctor does, which maneuvers work best for which ear, what to do if the dizziness comes back, and how to avoid the traps—like taking meds that don’t help or ignoring warning signs that mean it’s not BPPV at all. You’ll also see how it connects to other inner ear issues like Meniere’s disease and vestibular neuritis, and why confusing them can delay real treatment.

This isn’t about theory. It’s about what works when you’re dizzy, scared, and can’t stand up straight. The posts here give you the tools to take control—before your next spin.