When Alfred Hitchcock directed Jimmy Stewart as former detective Scottie Ferguson in the movie "Vertigo," no one knew how to help the cop medically overcome his disorientation.

Now a study published in the journal Neurology says that many who contend with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) — the most common cause of mild-to-intense dizziness — may be able to rely on supplements to ease the nauseating sensations.

BPPV develops when crystals in your inner ear that make you sensitive to gravity become dislodged. That makes it hard to know what's up or down.

Symptoms are usually triggered by changes in your head's position when you lie down or sit up. Around 1.6% of Americans experience BPPV annually.

The current go-to treatments are Epley and Semont maneuvers, which offer around an 80% cure rate. They work by moving the troubling crystal into a more stable location. You can find an experienced doctor at vestibular.org.

Unfortunately, BPPV often recurs. But thanks to researchers at Seoul National University College of Medicine, we know that 500 IU of vitamin D and 500 mg of calcium twice daily can reduce annual recurrence by 45% if a patient has a vitamin D blood level below 10 nanograms per milliliter, and by 14% if his or her D level is 10-20 ng/mL.

And between 10% and 75% of U.S. adults and teens are vitamin D deficient. We think the sedentary, indoor lifestyle of most Americans makes it more likely to be in the higher end of that range.

If you experience ongoing or intermittent dizziness, ask your doctor about the Epley and Semont maneuvers. Then get a vitamin D blood test and start taking supplements if your level is low.