Vestibular Migraine (also known as Migraine Associated Vertigo or MAV) can be very challenging to cope with. It can leave you feeling overwhelmed and disorientated, which is something that we want to avoid altogether. It is the second biggest cause of vertigo in Europe and is becoming more and more ubiquitous, where approximately 50% of people are undiagnosed with this condition.
How Migraines affect the Vestibular System
About 40% of those who suffer from migraines have issues that affect their balance, which can cause them to feel dizzy. This dizziness is usually a sensation of vertigo and leaves individuals feeling “spaced out” or as if the room around them is spinning. Migraines can be due to a number of reasons:
- Diet
- Hormonal changes
- The weather
- Your working environment
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Medications
As well as causing migraines, if any of the above are continued over a long period of time, they can lead to more chronic migraines, resulting with other associated symptoms such as muscle tension, pain and blurry vision.
Resolving The Issue
There are several methods that can be used to mitigate Vestibular Migraine and cut down how frequently they occur:
Vestibular rehabilitation
Challenging and training the vestibular system will help to prevent Vestibular Migraine from occurring and reduce the occurrence of vertigo. This can be done with the use of gaze stabilization exercises, which will improve balance, coordination and spatial awareness. It will also train the body to adapt better to Vestibular Migraine and headaches. This is an effective measure that can yield great results.
Cut down stress levels
Eliminating sources of stress can also be very effective. Stress in general can cause our bodies to break down and become unhealthy. When this happens we release excess hormones within our bodies such as cortisol, which can change the internal rhythm of how our body is supposed to function. You may suddenly begin getting up feeling unrested, or become more irritated or startled over the most littlest of things.
Lifestyle changes
Are you working in an environment that could be triggering Vestibular Migraine? The environment that you surround yourself in can have a major impact on migraines. If you’re working in an area with ongoing noise that makes your head throb, or looking at patterns on a wall that make you feel nauseous, then these could be potential causes for your migraines. Your health is your number one priority. Now may be the time for change.
Eating right
Certain foods can cause Vestibular Migraine and vertigo. Keep a journal or log to monitor how you react when you eat at certain times. Pay note of how your body feels after eating these foods and also at later points throughout the day. Your body will show you the signs, if you begin to get a headache or you notice that you may be feeling slightly dizzier after drinking a milkshake, cut it out of your diet and make note of how you feel. This will help your body to recover quicker and more efficiently.
