Therefore, it is a good idea to keep your head slightly elevated during the wee hours. Wedge-shaped pillows and even those intended to be used for travel may be able to provide your head and neck with more support than traditional options.
Treatment is as varied as what is causing your vertigo. For Evelyn, the advice from her doctor to elevate her head on a wedge while sleeping may give some relieve. We strongly discourage elevating her head on two or more pillows… this is a very bad sleep posture and creates too much forward lean on the C-Spine.
Sleep on your back
You've probably heard that sleeping on your back is the best position for your spine, but it is also the sleep position of choice for vertigo sufferers. Sleeping on your back may keep fluid from building up and may prevent calcium crystals from moving where they don't belong.
“In rare cases, people who experience debilitating vertigo might need surgery, but I find that lying down in the dark, avoiding lights, TVs, and other distractions, and just getting some rest can ease my symptoms,” she said.
Over time, ear crystals may dissolve, but bear in mind that this could take weeks or longer, and during that time, a person would have to endure the extreme discomfort of BPPV, where even the slightest head movements would throw their world into disarray.
Bed rest for extended periods of time can cause calcium particles already dislodged by infection or even a blow to the head to shift into the inner ear. Sitting or standing quickly (motion sickness) after long periods of rest can trigger episodes of vertigo.
During a vertigo attack, lying still in a quiet, darkened room may help to ease any symptoms of nausea and reduce the sensation of spinning. You may be advised to take medication. You should also try to avoid stressful situations, as anxiety can make the symptoms of vertigo worse.
For people who are experiencing dizziness when they wake up, dysfunction in the circulatory system or peripheral vestibular system may be the cause. Some medications can also cause morning dizziness, as can alcohol and recreational drugs. Even dehydration or low blood sugar can make you feel dizzy.
Avoid sudden movements or position changes. Ask your provider about using a cane or other walking aid when you have a vertigo attack. Avoid bright lights, TV, and reading during a vertigo attack. They may make symptoms worse.
While other balance disorders may also be prone to exercise-induced dizziness, with BPPV it's the constant change in head positions that will trigger dizziness. This is why dizzy patients often say that yoga, swimming, weightlifting, and even jogging are workouts they avoid altogether.
If you're dehydrated, you may start to feel dizzy. This feeling can cause you to also experience lightheadedness, wooziness, fairness and unsteadiness. You may also experience a very specific form of dizziness called vertigo.
When they are dislodged, the crystals float around in the fluid area of the balance branch of the inner ear, and you will start to feel off balance. The loose crystals will start to make people feel like they are spinning and the room is spinning around them.
Anything that dislodges the crystals from the utricle can cause BPPV. Having a past head injury is a major cause. Other times, BPPV may result from other problems with the vestibular system. These can include Ménière disease or vestibular neuritis.
The Epley maneuver — also known as the canalith repositioning procedure (CRP) — is a method to remove these crystals trapped in your ear's semicircular canal.
BPPV causes brief episodes of mild to intense dizziness. It is usually triggered by specific changes in your head's position. This might occur when you tip your head up or down, when you lie down, or when you turn over or sit up in bed.
Salty foods including chips, pretzels, salted nuts, canned foods, soups, deli meats, pastas, sauces, baking soda, condiments, pizza, baking powder, seasonings, frozen meals, pickles, salad dressings, and cheese can all trigger vertigo.
Antihistamines like dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), diphenhydramine (Benadryl), and meclizine (Antivert) can be useful treatments for vertigo.
Walking is a simple but powerful exercise for vertigo. It can help improve your balance. Walking with greater balance will allow you to function better on your own, which in turn may lead to improved self-confidence.