There are many different types of “dizziness.”

Example - a person can feel “light-headed” or “feeling like going to faint” or “off balance” or “room is spinning”.

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Vertigo is a specific type of dizziness that refers to the type of dizziness where a person feels like the “room is spinning”.

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Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is one of the most common causes of vertigo. It is the sudden sensation that you're spinning or that the inside of your head is spinning. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo causes brief episodes of mild to intense dizziness. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is usually triggered by specific changes in the position of your head. This might occur when you tip your head up or down, when you lie down, or when you turn over or sit up in bed.

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Cause:

Often, there's no known cause for BPPV. This is called idiopathic BPPV.

When a cause can be determined, BPPV is often associated with a minor to severe blow to your head. 

Inside your ear is a tiny organ called the vestibular labyrinth - three loop-shaped structures (semicircular canals) contain fluid and fine, hair-like sensors that monitor the rotation of your head. Other structures (otolith organs) in your ear monitor movements of your head — up and down, right and left, back and forth — and your head's position related to gravity. These otolith organs contain crystals that make you sensitive to gravity. For a variety of reasons, these crystals can become dislodged. When they become dislodged, they can move into one of the semicircular canals — especially while you're lying down. This causes the semicircular canal to become sensitive to head position changes it would normally not respond to, which is what makes you feel dizzy.

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Symptoms:

The signs and symptoms of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) may include:

• Dizziness

• A sense that you or your surroundings are spinning or moving (vertigo)

• A loss of balance or unsteadiness

• Nausea

• Vomiting

The signs and symptoms of BPPV can come and go, with symptoms commonly lasting less than one minute. Episodes of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo can disappear for some time and then recur.

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Red flags of Vertigo - Emergencies:

• A new, different or severe headache

• A fever

• Double vision or loss of vision

• Hearing loss

• Trouble speaking

• Leg or arm weakness

• Loss of consciousness

• Falling or difficulty walking

• Numbness or tingling

The signs and symptoms listed above may signal a more serious problem and should be evaluated Emergently . 

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Treatment:

The inner ear and canalith repositioning - click this link for home exercises -  Brandt Daroff Exercise