Do you ever feel as though the world is spinning even though you are standing still? You may suffer from vertigo, a condition whose symptoms range from dizziness to nausea. It can take hours or days to get through an episode. Luckily, you can find treatment for the condition. 

What Is Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo?

Often referred to as BPPV, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo causes dizziness that grows worse when you change the position of your head by getting out of bed, standing up after sitting on the couch or looking down suddenly. The symptoms of vertigo may include: 

• A sense that everything around you is moving.
• Unsteadiness or imbalance. 
• Vomiting and nausea. 

Symptoms usually only last a short time, and they can stay away for quite a while before recurring. While a head position change can spark the symptoms, you may also feel uncomfortable when walking or standing. 

Abnormal rhythmic eye movements may also occur. BPPV is most common among people over 50, and it happens more with women than men. Though you may feel uncomfortable during BPPV, most cases do not have any serious complications. You do need to be careful of falling. 

Be sure to seek emergency treatment if you get a fever, a severe headache, lose your hearing or have trouble walking. These might indicate a more serious issue. 

What Causes Vertigo? 

The cause of vertigo isn't well understood. The condition often happens after you've been hit in the head, but it can also occur because of other reasons. Spending a long time on your back, for example, or in a dentist's chair can lead to vertigo. Disorders that hurt the inner ear can also cause vertigo. 

Your ear contains crystals in the otolith organs, which oversee the movements of your head. If the crystals become dislodged, they may push into the semicircular canals. The movement can make you feel symptoms of BPPV. You feel more sensitive to movements of the head, which you wouldn't usually experience. 

How Can You Get Rid of Vertigo?

The condition usually goes away on its own, but if it doesn't, your doctor may prescribe several vertigo treatments. One option is canalith repositioning. This is when a physician moves the crystals from the semicircular canals to the vestibule where the otolith organs are. It's easier for the particles to be reabsorbed with these movements. It takes a few treatments for this to work, and your doctor can show you how to do this at home.

If repositioning doesn't work, your doctor may suggest surgery. They can insert a bone plug to stop the particles from moving through the ear canal. 

Another potential treatment for vertigo is diphenhydramine, also known as Benadryl. The antihistamine, usually used to treat allergies, can help calm brain structures related to balance and offers many of the same benefits as Dramamine, or dimenhydrinate.