Table of Contents
- Introduction: Waking Up Without the Spin
- Expert Insight: Understanding Your Inner Ear
- What is BPPV? (Simple Explanation)
- The Best Sleeping Position for BPPV
- Identifying Your “Bad Ear” vs. “Good Ear”
- Symptoms & Triggers: Is It Really BPPV?
- Diagnosis: Why Technology Matters (VNG & Posturography)
- Treatment Solutions: Epley Maneuver & VRT
- Lifestyle Tips for the Bangladeshi Patient
- Local Context: Dealing with Dizziness in Dhaka
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Conclusion & How to Book
1. Introduction: Waking Up Without the Spin
Imagine this scenario: It is Fajr time in Dhaka. You wake up to turn off your alarm, roll over in bed, and suddenly, the room starts spinning violently. You grab the bedsheet, terrified. Are you having a stroke? Is it your blood pressure?
Or perhaps you are afraid to go to the bathroom at night because you feel like you might fall on the hard tiles.
The anxiety, the nausea, and the frustration of visiting multiple doctors without a clear cure are exhausting. Many patients in Bangladesh live with this fear for years, thinking it is just a part of aging or “weakness.”
Here is the truth: You are likely suffering from Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). It is not a brain disease, and it is not a mystery. It is a mechanical problem in your ear, and it is 100% treatable right here in Bangladesh.
At Sajib Saha’s Clinic, we specialize in stopping the spin so you can sleep—and live—without fear.
2. Expert Insight: Understanding Your Inner Ear
By Dr. Sajib Saha & The Clinical Team
At our specialized clinic, we follow the same protocols as the Mayo Clinic and the Vestibular Disorders Association (VeDA). We believe that an educated patient recovers faster.
Your balance is controlled by the Vestibular System in your inner ear. Inside this system, there are tiny calcium carbonate crystals (called Otoconia). Think of these crystals like heavy rocks sitting on a sensitive carpet. When they stay where they belong (the utricle), you feel balanced.
However, when these crystals break loose and fall into one of your semicircular canals (tubes filled with fluid), they cause chaos. When you move your head, the crystals crash around, pushing the fluid and tricking your brain into thinking you are spinning when you are actually lying still.
3. What is BPPV? (Definition in Simple English)
BPPV stands for:
- Benign: Not life-threatening (it won’t kill you).
- Paroxysmal: It comes in sudden, short bursts.
- Positional: It happens when you change head positions.
- Vertigo: The sensation of spinning.
In Bangladesh, we often see patients misdiagnosed with “Gastric issues” or “Cervical Spondylosis” when they actually have BPPV. If the room spins when you lie down, turn over, or look up, it is almost certainly an ear crystal issue.
4. The Best Sleeping Position for BPPV
If you are currently suffering from an active episode of vertigo, how you sleep is critical. Gravity is your best friend or your worst enemy.
To prevent the loose crystals from moving into the wrong canal and causing dizziness, follow these sleeping rules:
1. Sleep on Your Back (Supine Position)
This is the safest position. By lying on your back, you prevent the crystals from sliding into the posterior canal (the most common place they get stuck).
2. Elevate Your Head
Do not sleep flat. Use two or more pillows to keep your head elevated at a 45-degree angle.
- Why? This angle ensures that the entrance to the ear canal is higher than the crystals, making it difficult for them to slip back in while you rest.
- Tip: If pillows are uncomfortable, sleep in a recliner chair or use a wedge pillow.
3. Sleep on the “Good Ear”
If you know which ear is causing the vertigo (the “Bad Ear”), do not sleep on that side.
- If your Right Ear has BPPV -> Sleep on your Left Side or Back.
- If your Left Ear has BPPV -> Sleep on your Right Side or Back.
Important: Avoid tossing and turning. If you need to get out of bed, move slowly. Sit on the edge of the bed for a minute before standing up to let your brain adjust.
5. Identifying Your “Bad Ear” vs. “Good Ear”
You cannot choose the best sleeping position for BPPV if you don’t know which side is affected.
How do we find out?
At our clinic, we use the Dix-Hallpike Test. We lower you quickly onto a table with your head turned. By watching your eyes for a specific twitching movement called Nystagmus, we can tell exactly where the crystals are hiding.
- Self-Check Warning: While you can find YouTube videos on how to check this at home, we strongly advise against it. Testing yourself can trigger violent vomiting or make the crystals move deeper into the ear, making treatment harder.
Book a professional assessment with us to pinpoint the problem accurately.
6. Symptoms & Triggers: Is It Really BPPV?
BPPV symptoms are very specific. You likely have BPPV if you experience:
- Short Spells of Vertigo: Intense spinning that lasts less than a minute.
- Nausea: Feeling like you want to vomit during the spinning.
- Imbalance: Feeling “off” or unsteady when walking.
- Triggers:
- Rolling over in bed.
- Looking up (e.g., hanging clothes on a high line or taking dishes from a shelf).
- Bending down (e.g., tying shoelaces or going into Sujud/Sijdah during prayer).
7. Diagnosis: The “Why” Matters
Why do many patients in Bangladesh suffer for months? Because they are prescribed medication (like Betahistine/Serc) without a proper mechanical diagnosis. Medicine cannot dissolve ear crystals.
At Dr. Sajib Saha’s clinic, we use world-class technology to see what the naked eye cannot:
- Video Nystagmography (VNG): We use special goggles with infrared cameras to track your eye movements. This tells us if the dizziness is from the ear or the brain.
- Rotary Chair Testing: Advanced testing for the vestibular system.
- Computerized Posturography: Measures how well you maintain balance under different conditions.
We don’t guess. We diagnose.
8. Treatment Solutions: The Cure is Physical
Once we know the position of the crystals, we can cure BPPV, often in just one or two sessions.
The Epley Maneuver (Canalith Repositioning)
This is a series of specific head and body movements. We guide your head through different angles to let gravity roll the crystals out of the canal and back into the chamber where they dissolve naturally.
Success Rate: The Epley Maneuver is effective in over 90% of cases when performed by a specialist.
Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT)
If you have had dizziness for a long time, your brain might have “forgotten” how to balance. VRT involves custom exercises to retrain your brain. It’s like physiotherapy for your dizziness.
9. Lifestyle & Diet Tips for the Bangladeshi Patient
While BPPV is mechanical, your overall health affects recurrence.
- Hydration is Key: Bangladesh is hot and humid. Dehydration changes the fluid density in your ear, making you more prone to dizziness. Drink at least 2-3 liters of water daily.
- Watch the Salt: If you also suffer from Meniere’s disease (fluid pressure), high salt intake can be dangerous. Be careful with extra salt in rice, dried fish (shutki), and pickles.
- Vitamin D: Recent studies show a link between low Vitamin D and recurring BPPV. Even in sunny Bangladesh, many of us stay indoors. Ask us about checking your levels.
10. Local Context: Dealing with Dizziness in Dhaka
Living with vertigo in a busy city like Dhaka is dangerous.
- Traffic: The visual noise of moving cars and rickshaws can trigger dizziness (Visual Vertigo).
- Uneven Roads: Fear of falling is valid when footpaths are uneven.
You Do Not Need to Travel Abroad.
Many patients feel they must go to Singapore, Thailand, or India for vertigo treatment. Sajib Saha’s Clinic is equipped with the exact same diagnostic equipment found in those countries. We offer world-class care right here in your home country, saving you travel stress and money.
11. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is the treatment available in Dhaka?
Yes! Our clinic is located in Dhaka and is fully equipped with VNG, Rotary Chair, and VRT facilities.
How long does it take to cure BPPV?
For many patients, a single session of the Epley Maneuver provides immediate relief. However, some may require follow-up sessions or VRT exercises.
Do I need surgery for BPPV?
No. BPPV is treated with physical maneuvers. Surgery is almost never required for this condition.
Can I treat this at home with YouTube videos?
We advise caution. If you treat the wrong ear or do the movement incorrectly, you can move the crystals into a different canal (Canal Conversion), making the dizziness much worse.
How much does the treatment cost?
We offer transparent pricing tailored to the tests required. Please contact our front desk for a consultation fee breakdown.
12. Conclusion & CTA
Stop Living in Fear of Falling.
You do not have to sleep sitting up forever. You do not have to fear rolling over in bed. BPPV is a mechanical problem with a mechanical solution.
Knowing the best sleeping position for BPPV is a great start, but it is temporary management, not a cure. The real cure involves putting those crystals back where they belong.
Take the first step toward a balanced life.
Call to Action
📞 Book Your Appointment Today:
Visit us at https://sajibsaha.net/ to schedule your consultation.
📍 Location: Road 35, House 38/A Sanmer Tower -2, Lift 13. Gulshan 2. Dhaka 1212.
📱 Phone: 01711542800
Let Dr. Sajib Saha and his team restore your balance today.
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