Migraine Associated Vertigo
What Is Migraine
It is fair to say that most people think of migraine as being a severe headache. The truth is Migraine is not really a headache as such. Migraine is migraine. A bad headache just happens to be the most common symptom of migraine. Some people with chronic migraine have other predominant symptoms such as neck pain or facial pain, aura and light sensitivity plus many more. A form of migraine that I am going to focus on here is Vestibular migraine. What astonished me was to learn that many migraine sufferers have no accompanying headache, that's right you do not have to have a headache to experience the effect of migraine. I have heard the term "Silent" Migraine" being used to describe this. The predominant symptoms of vestibular migraine are vertigo and/or dizziness and imbalance as it effects a persons vestibular system. Other symptoms of vestibular migraine are Cognitive issues, Loss of balance, Sensory disturbances, difficulty finding words, short term memory loss, "restless legs", spatial disorientation, visual problems, sudden vertigo attacks, tinnitus and motion intolerance. All of these symptoms may be present all day, everyday for weeks, months or even years. On their quest to find the answers to their balance problem, vestibular migraine sufferers are usually put through the mill by completing medical test after medical test only to find that all results come back normal. It is one of the most difficult of the all the balance disorders to diagnose. Diagnoses is usually given after a long process of eliminating other possible causes. Many develop migraine due to their genetics:
I recall reading somewhere that 35% of people with migraine will eventually experience some degree of vestibular dysfunction (headaches and dizziness). The vestibular symptoms can happen before the headache begins, during the headache, after the headache has past, or at a completely separate time to the headache event. Symptoms may only last the duration of a migraine episode providing relief in the in between stages of attacks. In many cases including myself symptoms of imbalance and vertigo are present 24/7 for years regardless of headache with no relief. |
Migraine Diet
Many foods and drinks are considered to be migraine triggers causing headaches and vestibular issues. It is wise to gradually eliminate the 4 C's:
Combining regular meals, regular sleep and good hydration with appropriate diet modifications and appropriate migraine preventative medications can help clear the migraine and the Vestibular issue. There is also a book i read called heal your headache by David Buchholz which is a treasure trove of valuable information regarding diet and lifestyle changes you can make to help heal your headache and dizziness. A must read. Migraine associated vertigo is the condition I have finally been diagnosed as having. It usually effects people from time to time when they have a bad headache periods. I never used to get headaches until all this started. I found myself having frequent headaches 3- 4 days a week until last year when I began migraine treatment. The headaches are less frequent and I have improved somewhat dizzy wise. |
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