WHAT CAUSES BPV?
Benign positional vertigo, or benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, is a simple mechanical problem in the inner ear. Each ear has a small gravity-sensing organ called the “otolith organ” that is able to sense gravity because it has a bed of tiny crystals on it that are relatively heavy. As you tilt your head, the crystals move, signaling the tilting to your brain. Each ear also contains three sensors called “semicircular canals” to allow you to sense spinning. Each spinning sensor is shaped like a ring and is filled with fluid. There is a small opening for each ring near the gavity sensor. Every now and then, some of the crystals from the gravity sensor slip into one of these rings. When that happens, the person will have symptoms of BPV. WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF BPV? You should be able to recognize these symptoms yourself: • You can make a dizzy spell happen by making a certain movement: The movements most likely to cause spells are rolling over in bed, lying down, sitting up quickly,
