A vestibular migraine describes an acute episode of dizziness in a person with a long history of recurring migraines. Those with vertigo often feel like objects around them, or themselves, are moving slightly when they really are not. The symptoms can be extremely frightening. See page for more info about vestibular migraine.
Many people with migraine describe their attacks as a feeling of pins and needles, dizziness, lightheadedness, sensitivity to light or sound, and sometimes nausea. It can be difficult to diagnose vestibular migraine as the root cause because it is not always easily identifiable. This is because the symptoms are so similar to many other conditions that manifest themselves in the body. The vestibular system controls balance in the inner ear. If something is wrong with the vestibular system, the symptoms will manifest.
Many doctors believe that vestibular migraine-related dizziness may be related to hormonal changes. Some women have problems with dizziness and vertigo during perimenopause and other times when estrogen levels drop. Menopause has been known to cause dizziness and some women are sensitive to fluctuations in estrogen levels. It may also be related to certain types of glasses. If a woman wears two or more eyeglasses, the increased pressure on the eyes can aggravate her vertigo and cause a migraine-related dizziness.
Migraine headache is also commonly confused with vestibular migraine symptoms. Migraine headaches are sometimes difficult to differentiate from vestibular migraine symptoms. Headaches are usually felt on one side of the head, while migraine symptoms typically present on both sides of the head. In rare cases, migraine symptoms can manifest on just one side of the head, although this is not common.
The symptoms of a vestibular migraine are similar to those of a normal migraine. The difference lies in the location of the pain. Migraine symptoms typically occur inside the head, whereas a vestibular migraine occurs outside the head. Both types of attacks share several common symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound, and a feeling that you might be going crazy. Sometimes these symptoms can lead to feelings of detachment from your environment and reality. These symptoms are similar to symptoms of vertigo, and many people mistake them for a stroke.
A physical exam, thorough examination and a neurological examination by a neurologist are typically all that are required to make a diagnosis of vestibular migraine. Diagnosis can only be made with additional testing, such as x-rays, magnetic resonance imaging and computer tomography scan. Treatment options are typically decided after these tests, with the use of migraine medication or other non-drug therapies. If the cause is determined to be neurological, treatment options include medications to control symptoms, lifestyle changes to avoid triggering the migraine episodes and other treatments for dizziness. Check out this post for more details related to this article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Migraine-associated_vertigo.
