Suffer from Vertigo? Diagnose and Treat Yourself

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Benign paroxysmal positioning vertigo (BPPV) is the most common cause of vertigo. Symptoms are a brief spinning feeling, lasting a minute or two, and provoked by movement, especially turning over in bed or sitting up from bed.

Responses to three questions out of a 6-item questionnaire were accurate in confirming or ruling out a diagnosis of BPPV in a series of 578 consecutive patients in a dizziness clinic.

1. A spinning sensation?

2. Provoked by head movement?

3. Lasting less than 3 minutes?

80% of those who answered yes to all 3 had an 80% probability of having a diagnosis of BPPV (positive predictive value). 94% of those who answered no to all three did not have BPPV (negative predictive value).

The other 3 questions were designed to determine which ear was affected and what subtype of BPPV was present.

Next, go online and see the diagnostic Dix-Hallpike and the therapeutic Epley maneuvers and try to do them yourself. If you can’t, see a physician who can. You don’t need to waste cash at a fancy balance disorders center.

Refer to:

1. The New England Journal of Medicine website

2. The article by Kim et al in Neurology, March 3, 2020.

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