Many experts recommend that you try and sleep on your back, as the crystals within your ear canals are less likely to become disturbed and trigger a vertigo attack. If you happen to get up in the middle of the night, rise slowly as opposed to making any sudden movements with the head or the neck.
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 relief.
Sleep on your back
Sleeping on your back may keep fluid from building up and may prevent calcium crystals from moving where they don't belong. Sleeping on your side, especially with the “bad” ear down, can trigger a vertigo attack.
Turn your head toward the side that causes vertigo. Quickly lay you down on your back with your head in the same position just off the edge of the table. You will likely feel more intense vertigo symptoms at this point. Slowly move your head to the opposite side.
Start sitting on a bed and turn your head 45° to the right. Place a pillow behind you so that on lying back it will be under your shoulders. Lie back quickly with shoulders on the pillow and head reclined onto the bed.
Sit on the edge of a bed or sofa and quickly lie down on the side that causes the worst vertigo. Lie on your side with your ear down. Stay in this position for at least 30 seconds or until the vertigo goes away.
Stress, anxiety and depression can all trigger vertigo attacks. Do what you can to avoid these pressures or to manage them when they can't be prevented. Talking to a friend, taking time to relax, or using meditation techniques could help.
Peripheral vertigo may be caused by: Benign positional vertigo (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, also known as BPPV) Certain medicines, such as aminoglycoside antibiotics, cisplatin, diuretics, or salicylates, which are toxic to the inner ear structures. Injury (such as head injury)
Vertigo and Sleep
We often change the position of our head when we fall asleep and as we wake up which can trigger vertigo. Attacks of vertigo can make you extremely uncomfortable and delay your sleep.
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.
First, let's address the most common cause of dizziness while lying down: benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, or BPPV. This condition occurs when tiny gravity-sensing crystals in the inner ear mistakenly move into parts of the ear – namely, the parts that detect head motion.
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.
Foods that are rich in amino acid tyramine include red wine, smoked meats, chicken liver, chocolate, yogurt, citrus fruits, bananas, figs, nuts and ripened cheeses. All these foods can trigger vertigo. Tyramine results in blood vessel dilatation that triggers migraine, which can lead to vertigo.
It is best to limit tea, coffee, energy drinks, and soda. Salt: Sodium is one of the main ingredients that can trigger vertigo. Excess intake of salty foods may result in water retention in the body. This can impede the fluid balance and pressure in the body.
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.
If you are dizzy at all or recovering from a vertigo attack, then driving should be avoided.
Although sleep quality does not directly cause a vestibular disorder, it is a trigger. Similar to how stress is a trigger for dizzy symptoms, sleep quality aggravates our systems and triggers symptoms.
Sleep disturbances, including sleep apnea, insomnia, and sleep deprivation, have been linked to an increased risk of vertigo and dizziness. Lack of quality sleep can affect the brain's ability to regulate balance and spatial perception, contributing to these symptoms.
The Semont Maneuver
Quickly lie down on your left side, staying still for 30 seconds. Then, quickly move to lie down on the opposite end of the bed without changing the direction of your head. Keep your head at a 45-degree angle and lie for 30 seconds. Return slowly to sitting and wait a few minutes.
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.
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.