what causes bppv

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a problem in the inner ear that causes brief episodes of mild to intense dizziness. It is the most common cause of vertigo, which is a false sensation of spinning or movement. BPPV is caused by little calcium carbonate crystals (otoconia) coming loose within the canals of the inner ear. These crystals are normally held in special reservoirs within other structures of the inner ear (utricle), but injury or degeneration of the utricle may allow the crystals to escape into the balance system and interfere with the fluid flow. BPPV can be caused by head injury, degeneration of the vestibular system in the inner ear due to aging, damage caused by an inner ear disorder, and there is also an association between BPPV and osteoporosis. However, in many people, especially older adults, there is no specific event that causes BPPV to occur. BPPV is almost always triggered by a change in head position, such as getting out of bed, tilting the head back or forward while walking, or lifting the head to look up.