Persistent Postural Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD) is not a psychiatric disorder but is known as a neurological ailment that consists of behavioral patterns. Earlier the condition was described as phobic postural vertigo (PPV) by German neurologists.
Persistent Postural Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD) is a chronic condition that is caused due to disorder in the nervous system. The person suffering from PPPD experiences postural dizziness without having vertigo spells and fluctuating disbalance issues. PPPD is provoked by the surrounding environment or crowds. The condition may trigger even more if a person is diagnosed with a vestibular disorder, medical illness or psychological disorder. The symptoms of PPPD are intensified when patients assume upright postures, especially sitting and standing in an upright position. When a person experiences heavy crowds for e.g. in traffic or while sitting in a crowded place, the symptoms of PPPD start triggering which can be quite threatening. PPPD diagnosis is a must to get the right treatment. Consulting an expert neurologist is recommended for PPPD diagnosis and get the right treatment for PPPD cure.
Symptoms of PPPD may mitigate itself in a fraction of seconds when a person experiences distraction and may pop up without any apparent reason. PPPD symptoms keep on recurring now and then. A person may witness PPPD vertigo spells or unsteadiness of vestibular, neurological or psychiatric disorder.
A person may experience changes in behavioral patterns which include an obsessive-compulsive personality, mild depression issues & increased anxiety levels in a patient. A lot of research has gone to identify the reasons for Persistent Postural Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD) and studies denoted that it is a neurological condition rather than a psychiatric disorder. If we talk about the Persistent Postural Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD) Causes, it is caused due to exposure to crowded or moving stimuli, such as heavy traffic on roads or overcrowded restaurants.
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Symptoms of PPPD
The initial symptoms of PPPD start from continuous sensations of motion where people feels and dizzy unsteadiness but without bouts of vertigo, which lasts for 3 months or even last longer than this. A person suffering from PPPD experience its symptoms regularly, this makes it difficult for one to accomplish daily tasks. A person should undergo PPPD diagnosis to identify the cause of an ailment and get the right PPPD treatment. The symptoms of PPPD may trigger more and become worse under the following conditions:
- Upright postures, whether a person is sitting or standing in an upright posture, triggers the symptoms of PPPD even more.
- When a patient of PPPD is exposed to complex or motion-rich environments, for e.g. Crowds, traffic, etc. the symptoms start getting worse.
- PPPD is caused after the acute vertigo spells, which is caused due to several reasons.
- Some medical issues, such as dysrhythmias and side effects of certain drugs that are used to treat vertigo spells, unsteadiness or dizziness can even trigger PPPD.
- It starts slowly and gradually, but every time the cause of PPPD can’t be identified.
- Anxiety or mild depression may even come along with PPPD or develop PPPD.
- PPPD may come along with other vestibular disorders, which make it difficult to diagnose PPPD in a patient as other symptoms like vertigo are even found in patients if he is having a vestibular disorder.
- Patients with a history of vertigo may suffer from PPPD.
- Behavioral factors contribute to PPPD. It can be a result of behavioral factors in a person. An individual having a high level of anxiety when they have vestibular symptoms triggers PPPD in a patient.
It is suggested to patients who are diagnosed with PPPD, to avoid situations that may erupt the symptoms of PPD and make them worse. As soon as you start witnessing any of the symptoms, seek medical help immediately to get the right Persistent Postural Perceptual Dizziness Treatment. An expert will help you in identifying the underlying cause and suggest the right PPD treatment to cure PPPD completely.
Persistent Postural Perceptual Dizziness Treatment
To treat the symptoms of PPPD, doctors may ask relevant questions about your experiences and symptoms, to diagnose the cause of PPPD and to suggest the right treatment for PPPD cure. Various PPPD treatments are designed to treat the underlying cause. Let’s have a look at some PPPD treatments.
1. Medications
An expert neurologist may prescribe certain drugs with duration of a short course to treat the underlying cause. The initial stage of PPPD is treated well after a few weeks of medications. Medications may include certain adverse effects such as nausea, sleep disturbance, etc. Anxiety levels and depression is resolved in several cases of PPPD. A patient must undergo PPPD treatment from an expert medical professional for at least a year to minimize the recurrence of the same. Benzodiazepines and other vestibular suppressants are not very effective in treating PPPD.
2.Vestibular balance rehabilitation therapy
If the patient cannot find any relief with medications, then doctors may suggest undergoing vestibular rehabilitation therapy to reduce the motion stimuli in a patient. VBRT works best in dealing with balance issues.
Vestibular rehabilitation therapy is a set of physical exercises consisting of movements of eyes, head & body to optimize vestibular compensation. It helps in reducing dizziness and imbalance issues and treat PPPD as well. It should be performed daily for up to 6-12 weeks under expert guidance. Vestibular balance rehabilitation therapy helps in reducing anxiety and depression in patients suffering from PPPD.
Patients of PPPD should continue the therapy for 3-6 months to receive maximum benefits.
3. Counseling
If a person is experiencing PPPD for a very long duration, then Psychotherapy is not very successful to treat the same. It helps in reducing the chances of developing PPPD if used in the initial stage.
Author’s Bio :
Aditi Arora a creative health care blogger and social media marketing manager. Her interest is in researching the latest technologies of medical science and health awareness related topics in the worldwide.
