The Bow-and-Yaw maneuver treats the short arm of both the right and left posterior canals at the same time. Many practitioners are not familiar with this atypical type of BPPV. This type of short arm posterior canal BPPV can cause spinning symptoms while upright, or lying down. This unusual type of BPPV presents with a history typical of BPPV but does not clear with the more common maneuvers for the long arm of the posterior canal, such as modified Epley or Semont maneuvers. When to Use the Bow-and-Yaw Maneuver A practitioner may choose to start with this maneuver if the patient tests positiv ..read more

Have you ever looked up at the top shelf and started spinning? Maybe in a grocery store or in your own kitchen? I’ve had many patients with top-shelf vertigo. Some even experienced this type of vertigo attack while standing on a step stool, which can be extra scary. In this blog, I will discuss two common causes of top-shelf vertigo and what to do. What Causes Top-Shelf Vertigo? The two most common root causes of dizziness or spinning while looking up at the top shelf are BPPV and upper cervical dizziness. BPPV The most common root cause of top-shelf vertigo is BPPV. BPPV is an inner ear cond ..read more

Any active virus in the body can cause vertigo if it affects the inner ear. Bacterial sinus infections may also cause vertigo symptoms. Sinus infections can contribute to dizziness as a stand-alone cause, and sinus infections can co-occur with a new onset of BPPV. Therefore, sinus symptoms should not be ignored or dismissed in patients with dizziness or vertigo. Consult with your doctor if you have sinus congestion, sinus infection, or chronic sinusitis. Addressing the sinus issues may be helpful in preventing acute, chronic, or recurrent vertigo. What to do to Stop Vertigo from Sinus Infecti ..read more

Viral vertigo is one of the most common causes of vertigo, after BPPV. Any active virus in the body can cause vertigo, if it affects the inner ear. If hearing is not affected, then viral vertigo is called vestibular neuritis. When hearing is affected, then viral vertigo is called vestibular labyrinthitis. Causes of Viral Vertigo Herpes Herpes can cause viral vertigo directly if the herpes virus affects the inner ear. The herpes virus is one of the most common causes of viral vertigo from vestibular neuritis. Vestibular neuritis is theorized to be a virus or inflammation attacking the inner ea ..read more

Horizontal canal BPPV is more common than researchers originally thought. This type of BPPV is more common in children than adults and more common after head trauma in patients of any age. Patients with a certain subtype of horizontal canal BPPV more commonly have to go to the emergency room due to the severe intensity of their vertigo symptoms. I have personally experienced horizontal canal BPPV about five times in my life. In comparison to posterior and anterior canal BPPV, I have noticed more severe nausea with onset and more disequilibrium with walking. What Position is Used to Assess for ..read more

Many patients I have worked with seem to have forward head posture and dizziness. In this article, I will discuss possible links between posture problems and dizziness, and what to do. What is Normal Posture? Normal posture is when your vertebrae stack like a column. Within that vertical spinal column, there are natural spinal curves that you can see from a side view. With a normal posture, your head should stack directly on top of the spinal column. Your ear lobe should be directly above your shoulder joint when you are sitting up or standing up straight. What to Do About Posture Problems an ..read more

Some people feel dizzy at night. In this blog, I will discuss seven possible reasons for dizziness that is worse at night and what to do. Possible Reasons for Dizziness at Night Reason 1: Low Blood Sugar If you skipped meals during the day, you may have low blood sugar at night. Low blood sugar can cause you to feel dizzy and lightheaded at the end of the day. What to Do About Low Blood Sugar You should avoid skipping meals during the day. Even if you are busy at work, you must at least have a snack. Avoid sugary breakfast and snack foods as they can cause a rebound dip in blood sugar later i ..read more

Since I have been specializing in treating patients with dizziness and vertigo, I have observed an interesting connection between vertigo and teeth. I have seen multiple patients who experienced vertigo symptoms during daily dental hygiene, at the dentist office, and after oral surgery. Below is some interesting information that I have learned about the connection between vertigo and teeth. Dental Hygiene Can Cause Vertigo for Some People Recently I have seen two new patients who told me that dental hygiene was causing their vertigo symptoms. One patient was feeling a whirling sensation when ..read more

BPPV complications can and sometimes do occur during BPPV treatment. The possibility of BPPV complications is the main reason why I do not recommend that people to attempt to treat themselves for BPPV. If anyone experiences a BPPV complication, I think it is best for a professional to be there to reassess and adjust the BPPV treatment plan as needed on the spot. The symptoms might change in a different way than expected. The nystagmus might even switch directions in the middle of a BPPV treatment session. In this article, I will cover seven examples of BPPV complications. Bilateral BPPV Patie ..read more

I hear the same questions about recurrent BPPV from a lot of people. In this blog, I will cover three frequently asked questions (FAQs) about recurrent BPPV. For each answer, I also included links to check out research that helps to further explain my answers to these frequently asked questions. I typically define recurrent BPPV as a new onset of BPPV that occurs at least one week after the previous episode of BPPV has been successfully treated. Learn more about BPPV FAQ #1:  What can I do to prevent recurrent BPPV? BPPV treatment has a high rate of success. Yet there is also a fairly ..read more