It isn’t considered normal to feel dizzy when lying down. The most common reason for experiencing this feeling is vertigo.
Vertigo is the feeling that everything around you is spinning, to the point that it affects your balance. It’s more intense than simply feeling dizzy. A vertigo incident can last from seconds to many hours. If you have a severe case of vertigo, it can last several days, weeks, or months.
If you’re wondering why you get dizzy when you lay down, vertigo is most likely to blame. Inner ear problems affect balance and are the most typical cause of vertigo. Common inner ear problems that can cause vertigo are:
Other possible causes of vertigo include migraines and some types of medicines. Make sure to read the label or leaflet insert that comes with any of your prescriptions to see if vertigo is a possible side effect.
There are some cases of vertigo where the cause is unknown.
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is one of the most common causes of vertigo. BPPV usually causes brief instances of mild to severe dizziness. BPPV is most commonly caused when you change the position of your head.
Many people experience BPPV without a clear cause. This is called idiopathic BPPV.
A head injury can also cause BPPV.
Some less typical reasons for BPPV include:
There’s a small organ in your ear called the vestibular labyrinth. This organ includes three loop-shaped structures called the semicircular canals. The semicircular canals contain fluid and hair-like sensors that monitor the rotation of your head.
Other structures in the ear, known as the otolith organs, monitor the movements of your head and its position in relation to gravity. The otolith organs contain crystals that make you sensitive to gravity.
If these crystals become dislodged, they can go into the semicircular canals. This is especially likely to occur when you’re lying down. Dislodged crystals make the semicircular canals extra-sensitive to head position changes that they would normally not react to. This combination of factors can make you feel dizzy.
BPPV is more common in people who are 50 and older; however, it can happen to people of any age. Additionally, women report higher rates of BPPV than men. A head injury or disorder to the balance organs of the ear increases your risk of developing BPPV.
BPPV can go away within a couple of weeks or months. However, to relieve the symptoms of BPPV sooner, a medical professional can offer a few treatments.
A health care provider or physical therapist can treat BPPV with a set of movements known as the canalith repositioning procedure.
This procedure is made up of several straightforward and slow maneuvers for positioning the head. The goal of this practice is to move the particles from your fluid-filled semicircular canals into a tiny bag-like open area known as the vestibule. The vestibule houses one of the otolith organs in your ear. The particles don’t cause problems and are more easily resorbed when they’re in the otolith organs.
Your health care provider will perform the canalith repositioning procedure in their office. Each position is held for 30 seconds after any abnormal symptoms or eye movements stop. Most people see improvement after one or two treatments. Your health care provider can also show you how to do the canalith repositioning movements on your own.
In rare instances, when the canalith repositioning procedure doesn’t improve symptoms, your health care provider may suggest surgery. A surgical procedure known as a canal plugging surgery uses a bone plug to block the section of your inner ear that’s causing the dizziness. This plug stops the semicircular canal in the ear from responding to particle movements or head movements. The estimated success rate for this surgery is about 90 percent.
Some people with BPPV try lifestyle remedies to treat the condition and its symptoms. If you’re experiencing BPPV, here are some things you can try:
Unfortunately, BPPV can return even after successful therapy. While there’s no cure, BPPV can be managed with home treatments and physical therapy.
If you’re experiencing BPPV symptoms, see your health care provider. They may recommend that you see a neurologist or an ear, nose, and throat specialist.
If you’re asking yourself why you feel dizzy when you lay down, you could have vertigo or BPPV. A constant feeling of dizziness when lying down can be frustrating and affect your quality of life. Feelings of dizziness can range from being a harmless side effect to a more serious condition. It’s always best to consult with your health care provider to make sure you don’t have any health conditions that need to be addressed.
