Stop Your Vertigo from Becoming Untreatable

You may have experienced a common condition called Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV).

While BPPV itself is usually temporary and treatable, for some the dizziness lingers and evolves into a persistent condition known as Persistent Postural–Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD).

An as-yet-unpublished study on the Preprints platform investigated the causes of persistent vertigo and how it can be prevented.

Scientists examined the records of patients at the Ear, Nose, and Throat Department of a tertiary referral center. Of the patients,126 had been diagnosed with PPPD, and another 107 with BPPV, between 2018 and 2021.

Detailed medical histories were obtained from all patients, especially in relation to previous diagnoses of vertigo and dizziness. They also underwent a complete neurological and functional examination.

Scientists were then in a position to compare PPPD patients with those who had BPPV but had not progressed to PPPD.

They found two crucial factors:

1. Older individuals with BPPV were more likely to develop PPPD. The average age of patients who progressed to PPPD was roughly 66 years, while those who did not were around 53 years old.

2. There was a noticeable difference in the time it took to diagnose BPPV in the two groups. For those who developed PPPD, it took an average of 25 days from the onset of BPPV symptoms to receive a diagnosis. In contrast, those who did not develop PPPD were diagnosed in around 13 days.

These findings underline the importance of timely identification and treatment, particularly in older patients. If BPPV is diagnosed and treated quickly, there is a better chance of preventing the progression to PPPD, a condition that lasts much longer and can significantly impact quality of life.

The good news is that all types of vertigo and dizziness, even PPPD, can now be treated using simple home exercises found here…