Why Does Vertigo Happen?
Vertigo is the sensation that you or your surroundings are spinning or tilting when there is no actual movement. More than 80% of vertigo cases originate inside the inner ear's vestibular balance system, rather than in the brain or neck.
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
BPPV is the single most common inner ear disorder. Tiny microscopic calcium carbonate crystals (otoconia) detach from their normal location in the utricle and become displaced into the fluid-filled semicircular canals. Turning your head or lying down shifts these crystals, creating abnormal fluid waves that confuse the brain with false motion signals.
Treatment with Canalith Repositioning (Epley Maneuver)
Medications like cinnarizine or betahistine provide only temporary symptomatic relief. The definitive cure for BPPV is the Epley Maneuver—a 10-minute series of gentle, guided head and body positions that roll the loose crystals safely out of the canal. Success rates exceed 90% in just one or two clinic sessions.
