BPPV Causative and Triggering Factors

Introduction to BPPV

The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery states that BPPV can be associated with lying in bed for long periods, including preferred sleep side, with strong evidence showing that habitually sleeping on one side increases the risk of developing BPPV on that same side 1

The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery explicitly states that BPPV can be caused by factors including lying in bed for long periods, with sleeping position being a causative factor in its development 1

The posterior semicircular canal is most commonly affected (85-95% of cases) partly because of its gravity-dependent position when supine, according to clinical guidelines 2
Most BPPV cases remain idiopathic, but other associated factors include trauma, migraine, other inner ear problems, diabetes, and osteoporosis, with the natural course of BPPV becoming less severe over time, and spontaneous resolution occurring in approximately 20% of patients by 1 month and up to 50% at 3 months 1, 2