BPPV: What It Is, How It’s Treated, and What You Need to Know

When you roll over in bed and the room spins, or you look up and feel like you’re going to fall, you might be dealing with BPPV, a common inner ear disorder that causes brief but intense episodes of dizziness triggered by head movement. Also known as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, it’s not dangerous—but it can make daily life feel unstable.

BPPV happens when tiny calcium crystals in your inner ear, called otoconia, get loose and drift into the wrong part of your balance system. Your brain gets mixed signals—your eyes say you’re still, but your inner ear says you’re spinning. That’s why turning your head, bending over, or getting out of bed can trigger a dizzy spell. It’s not anxiety, not a stroke, not a migraine. It’s a mechanical glitch in your ear. And the good news? It’s one of the easiest vertigo conditions to fix.

Doctors diagnose BPPV with a simple test called the Dix-Hallpike maneuver. No blood work, no MRI. Just a quick head movement while they watch your eyes. If it’s BPPV, they’ll likely do the Epley maneuver right there in the office—a series of head positions that guide the loose crystals back where they belong. Most people feel better after one or two sessions. Some do it at home with a guide. It’s not magic. It’s physics.

But BPPV doesn’t always go away after one treatment. It can come back. And when it does, people start asking: Is this normal? Why me? What else could be causing this dizziness? That’s where the real questions begin. Some confuse it with Meniere’s disease or vestibular neuritis. Others try supplements, acupuncture, or neck adjustments—none of which fix the root problem. The most effective treatment is movement-based, not pill-based. And while BPPV is common in older adults, it can strike anyone—even after a head injury or a bad bout of the flu.

What you’ll find below are real, practical posts from people who’ve lived through this. You’ll see how certain medications can make dizziness worse, why physical therapy helps more than rest, and how to tell if your dizziness is BPPV or something else. There’s no fluff. No jargon. Just clear info on what works, what doesn’t, and what to ask your doctor next time you feel the room spin.