Vertigo & Ear Clinic - What Is Vestibular Migraine?

Migraine headaches are a fairly common condition among many people today. General migraines are characterized by moderate to severe headaches, which are pounding & throbbing in nature.

Vestibular Migraines, on the other hand, are characterized by migraine headaches along with vestibular symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, disorientation, & dizziness.

 

Some of the most common Vestibular Migraine symptoms are:

 

●       Severe, throbbing headache that is usually concentrated to one side,

●       Nausea & Vomiting

●       Sensitivity towards light, smell, & sounds.

 

Other Vestibular Migraine symptoms:

 

●       Vertigo, that usually lasts for a few minutes to hours, & in certain cases, can also last for a few days,

●       Unsteadiness, disorientation, & loss of balance,

●       Sensitivity towards motion & motion stimuli

 

Certain subjective hearing symptoms, such as ringing, fullness, & pressure in one or both ears are also common, although if you suffer from significant hearing loss, you should go for a diagnosis of Meniere’s Disease.

 

Vestibular Migraines often cause a person to experience a range of vestibular symptoms such as visual aura, or sensitivity to visual stimulation & motion at the same, or different times. These symptoms can also occur with headaches, or without.

Vestibular Migraine causes:

 

Most cases of Vestibular Migraine are hereditary. That said, women are also more likely to suffer from Vestibular Migraine. For women, Vestibular Migraine symptoms also tend to worsen at the time of menstruation.

Additionally, people with Vestibular Migraine experience the following disturbances after their migraine episodes; altered sleep patterns, MSG, disturbances in menstrual cycles, etc.

 

Vestibular Migraine Diagnosis:

 

Since a vast majority of people with Vestibular Migraine do not experience vestibular symptoms along with migraine headaches, it can become difficult for doctors to diagnose them with Vestibular Migraine.

The symptoms of Vestibular Migraine can also present as other illnesses such as:

 

●       Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo(BPPV)

●       Meniere’s Disease

●       Transient Ischemic attack, also known as a ‘mini-stroke’

 

It is also quite a common occurrence for these three disorders to exist together, thus making the diagnosis even more difficult.

 

Vestibular Migraine treatment:

 

Vestibular Migraine treatment is similar to that of general Migraines. It includes minimizing the usage of meclizine or any other medicines that suppress the vestibular system, using them only during an active episode.

In case the patient is experiencing recurrent, frequent attacks, your doctor may prescribe certain medications like:

 

●       Beta-blockers,

●       Calcium channel blockers,

●       Tricyclic antidepressants

●       Serotonin or norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors(SSRIs or SNRIs)

●       Topiramate

 

Along with these medicines, patients suffering from vestibular migraines are also advised to maintain a regular sleep & meal schedule, get proper sleep of 8 hours everyday, reduce their intake of alcohol & caffeine,  & avoid known migraine triggers.

Vestibular Migraine patients are also advised to engage in activities that reduce stress, & avoid situations that can trigger an involuntary neurological response, such as harsh lighting, loud, shrill sounds, & engaging in activities that produce an adrenaline rush.

 

To know more about Vestibular Migraine & how the condition affects a person’s everyday life, along with more about its diagnosis, new treatment breakthroughs, & management options, visit Dr. Anita Bhandari’s Vertigo And Ear Clinic, here.

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