[Stephen]

Stephen asked the Naked Scientists:

Love your show, listen to your podcast all the time here in Kuwait.

Here's my question: My friend was mugged 6 months ago and had injuries to his head. Head Xray and CATSCAN results were negative. Now, he is complaining that when he turns his head quickly, his head spins for about a second and he loses balance. He's done some research and found Benign Positional Vertigo symptoms are what he is experiencing.

Is he right?

He also mentioned an article about Epley Maneuver that might help him, is this true? Thanks

What do you think?

[Sparrowhawk]

I had an episode of vertigo for no apparent reason and was told that it was probably cell debris in my ear canals causing the problem.  The Epley maneuver certainly seemed to help though it took a while.

[Madidus_Scientia]

A mate of mine I used to work with got too dizzy to work now and then and had to take a day or 2 off work probably every 1 to 2 months, he said it was vertigo. But recently they've found that he might have an infected blood vessel in his head that's causing the problems, doesn't sound too good.

[RD]

But recently they've found that he might have an infected blood vessel in his head that's causing the problems

Possibly infarction rather than infection ...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infarction

[Carolyn]

Years ago I was diagnosed with BPV.  None of the medications worked for me and I had the symptoms on and off for years.  Now I see my chiropractor once a month for pain management due to fibromyalgia and she also performs this maneuver on me.  It works great in controlling the symptoms of BPV.

[qazibasit]

well its that when ever a person with BPV suspends his head he starts feeling vertigo and this is benign because this is not because of any pathology but it is just a little imbalance in the vestibular fluid. So no need to worry and avoid jerky movements of ur head. e.g. if someone calls u from behind dont haste and just turn around with a rush but be slow first stop and then turn ur whole body instead of just ur neck.