benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

noun

variants or benign positional vertigo

: a condition marked by short, recurrent episodes of vertigo and nystagmus brought about by a change in head position that is caused by the movement of small crystals of calcium carbonate in the inner ear that have become dislodged from the utricle and entered the semicircular canals

Doctors eventually told her she probably had benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, an inner-ear disorder, and gave her head-movement exercises to treat it.

—Sandeep Jauhar

abbreviation BPPV, BPV

see epley maneuver

Examples of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Groups of individuals with vestibular conditions, such as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), are more likely to experience out-of-body experiences. —Conor Feehly, Discover Magazine, 12 Oct. 2023

In benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, crystals in the inner ear canals become loose; physical repositioning, known as maneuvers, can usually treat it. —Shayla Love, The New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2023

The most common cause of dizziness is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, or BPPV, which can cause intense but brief bouts of dizziness, according to Dr. Mandal. —Emilia Benton, Women's Health, 10 Mar. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1961, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

noun

variants or benign positional vertigo

: a condition marked by short recurrent episodes of vertigo and nystagmus brought about by a change in head position that is thought to be caused by the movement of small crystals of calcium carbonate (otoconia) in the semicircular canals

Doctors eventually told her she probably had benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, an inner-ear disorder, and gave her head-movement exercises to treat it.

—Sandeep Jauhar

Benign positional vertigo, the most common type of vertigo, is caused by a clot of free-floating debris, usually in a posterior semicircular canal.

—John R. Hotson and Robert W. Baloh

—abbreviation BPPV, BPV