Is my dizziness due to vestibular migraine?

What's a vestibular migraine?

Vestibular migraine is also known as migraine-related dizziness, migraine with prominent vertigo or migrainous vertigo.

Patients will have vertigo symptoms, dizziness or imbalance, and some migraine symptoms. It is vital to understand that not all vestibular migraine patients will have headaches as the main symptoms. So migraine symptoms can be any of these: headache with or without nausea and vomiting, sensitivity to sound or lights or motion sickness. Each episode can last for minutes to hours.

What causes or triggers a vestibular migraine?

A lot of factors can trigger a vestibular migraine attack.

The most common trigger factors are stress and anxiety, poor sleep hygiene, fasting and dehydration, menstrual cycle and food such as chocolate, cheese and red wine.

How is vestibular migraine diagnosed?

Diagnosis of vestibular migraine solely depends on patients history of symptoms. It is beneficial to record his or her episode in a vertigo or dizziness diary. Things to record for each episode are: any trigger factor, the time it lasted for, headache, photophobia or phonophobia and relieving factors. Making an appointment to see an ENT consultant interested in dizziness and balance is required. The specialist will listen to your history, examine your ears and do balance testing. Most of the time, in between episodes, all tests are negative.

How to treat vestibular migraine naturally?

Lifestyle changes and managing trigger factors can manage most cases. Treatment can be divided into two parts, one manging acute episode and other medications to prevent and decrease the number of vestibular migraine attacks.

Acute episodes can be managed by using regular painkillers as paracetamol or Ibuprofen. In some cases, the doctor may prescribe triptans for you to control the acute attack. To control sickness associated with a vestibular migraine attack, you may need prochlorperarzine (stemetil) or other antiemetic medications such as ondansetron and domperidone.

Preventive migraine tablets used are propranolol and amitriptyline. The doctor will discuss treatment options and how to manage your condition well.

Does vestibular migraine ever go away?

Vestibular migraine is more common in females and most of the time associated with hormonal changes and lifestyle. Most of the studies suggest that it can last up to a few years.

Is vestibular migraine a disability UK?

Migraine can be considered as a disability under the Equality Act 2010. The decision depends on the severity and frequency of the attacks and their impact on the person.

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Helping patients with specialist expertise and kindness

Mr Gaurav Kumar

Consultant Ear Nose Throat Surgeon

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Disclaimer: For general information only, always seek medical advice from your treating consultant.

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