The vestibular migraine is a form of migraine that is similar to many other forms of migraines. There are a few distinct differences which will be discussed throughout this article. Those individuals who have experienced the vestibular migraine often report seeing light flickers or spots and flashes of light, which is similar to the symptoms experienced during several other forms of migraines. This particular symptom commonly appears around fifteen minutes prior to the headache.
Of course, all of the more classic symptoms of migraines exist, such as: throbbing or severely painful headache generally located on a particular side of the individual’s head, most individuals want to go to sleep in a very quiet, dark room due to the extreme sensitivity that they are experiencing to noise and light, and several individuals have reported vomiting or severe nausea. The vestibular migraine can also cause severe dizziness in many individuals which is often referred to as either mild or severe episodes of vertigo depending on how long this symptom lasts. Vertigo is caused by the balance mechanisms inside the inner area of the ear being affected during the vestibular migraine. The vertigo normally passes after several minutes but if it does not, there is a form of medication called meclizine, as well as an exercise that a physician would be able to instruct or prescribe. Individuals also commonly report symptoms that affect the hearing such as: a ringing in the ears, sensitivity to sound, and/or muffled sounds. These symptoms are due to the migraine but are not always experienced in conjunction with pain.
Although migraine headaches can be associated with familial history, it has been determined that women experience these migraine headaches far more frequently than men and their symptoms can often worsen during the time of menstruation. Other factors that are known to be triggers for these types of headaches are: cheeses and MSG, red wine, caffeine, altered sleep patterns, severe stress, the individual’s diet, low blood sugar, and even chocolate. To help curb migraines, it would be wise to stay away from these triggers. A good physician will also be able to prescribe medications and other preventative measures to help the individual cope with these migraines.