Do you ever feel dizzy?
36% of Australians over the age of 50 report having symptoms of dizziness and vertigo. Vertigo is the symptom of the room spinning around you. This can be a very alarming experience. It can interfere with many daily activities such as hanging up the washing, lying down into bed, and rolling in bed.
What causes vertigo?
The most common cause of vertigo is Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (or BPPV for short). BPPV occurs when calcium crystals are dislodged and move into the semicircular canals of the inner ear, which interferes with the brain’s balance system. This can happen after a fall, but also from simple movements such as working under a car or rolling in bed.
How do I fix my vertigo?
Thankfully, physiotherapists are very capable of treating the most common cause of vertigo (BPPV), through sequences of different body and head movements to reposition the calcium crystals out of the canals of the inner ear.
What else can cause dizziness?
Infections, blood pressure issues, and many other conditions can cause dizziness, however, your physiotherapist will screen for these conditions and refer onto the appropriate specialist for you if required.
References:
Inquiry into the Hearing Health and Wellbeing of Australia (Dec 2016) – Australian Society of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Limited, December 2016.
