

3 Symptoms generally last from a few seconds to several minutes. 1 Recurrence is common, with rates ranging from 26% to 50%. Age- and sex-adjusted incidence is approximately 64 per 100,000 among young adults, increasing up to 8000 per 100,000 for those older than 40 years. 2īPPV’s lifetime prevalence is 2.4%, with incidence steadily increasing with age. Symptoms of BPPV result from otoconia, or calcium carbonate crystal buildup (called canalith or ear rocks) that becomes displaced into the semicircular canals of the inner ear’s vestibular labyrinth, stimulating nerve endings and creating movement sensations. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common diagnosis. However, vertigo is not a diagnosis, but a symptom of a vestibular or central nervous system disorder. Nausea and vomiting may occur with moderate to severe episodes, along with nystagmus (involuntary eye movements). Onset is unpredictable and episodes range from mild to severe. 1 Symptoms may last from a few seconds to weeks. Vertigo’s hallmark symptom-the feeling that the environment is spinning around following quick head movements or sudden changes in body position-typically resolves and then recurs. This Debilitating Condition Responds Well to Treatment, and Pharmacists Can Help Vestibular disruptions from medications or central nervous system disorders can cause this unsettling sensation.
