Vestibular Migraine - Patient Education Animation by F.Learning Studio

Summary

Vestibular migraine is a type of migraine affecting the brain circuits that control balance, leading to symptoms like dizziness, vertigo, and difficulty with balance. Patients may also experience nausea, light sensitivity, and ear pressure. Triggers include stress, hormones, and lack of sleep. Treatment involves lifestyle changes like stress management, hydration, and exercise, along with medications and non-medicinal therapies. Misdiagnosis can occur due to symptom overlap with other inner ear conditions like Meniere's disease. It's important to consult a specialist for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.

Takeaways

• 😀 Vestibular migraine affects various parts of the brain, leading to a wide range of symptoms.
• 😀 Symptoms of vestibular migraine include dizziness, vertigo, and difficulty with balance.
• 😀 The vestibular system, located in the inner ear, controls balance and movement perception.
• 😀 Vestibular migraine can cause sensitivity to motion, especially in situations like walking down aisles or driving by fences.
• 😀 Common symptoms may also include nausea, vomiting, confusion, sensitivity to light/sound, and ringing in the ears.
• 😀 Symptoms of vestibular migraine can vary, being short and frequent or continuous for weeks or months.
• 😀 It’s possible to experience vestibular migraine with or without a headache.
• 😀 Triggers for vestibular migraine include stress, weather, hormones, lack of sleep, dehydration, diet, and smoking.
• 😀 Treatment for vestibular migraine includes lifestyle changes and preventative medications, such as stress reduction and hydration.
• 😀 Non-medicinal treatments like neuromodulation, cognitive behavioral therapy, and vestibular physical therapy can be beneficial.
• 😀 Conditions like Meniere's disease and BPPV can overlap with vestibular migraine symptoms, making accurate diagnosis important.

Q & A

What is vestibular migraine?

Vestibular migraine is a type of migraine where the brain's balance circuits are affected, causing dizziness and other symptoms related to balance, such as vertigo and difficulty with movement perception.

What other names are used for vestibular migraine?

Vestibular migraine is also referred to as migraine-associated vertigo or migrainous vertigo.

How does the vestibular system function, and what role does it play in vestibular migraine?

The vestibular system is located in the inner ear and controls balance and movement perception. In vestibular migraine, there is faulty processing of the brain's signals related to movement, making the individual very sensitive to motion.

What are common symptoms of vestibular migraine?

Common symptoms include dizziness, vertigo, balance difficulties, nausea, vomiting, confusion, sensitivity to light and sound, ringing in the ears, and a feeling of pressure in the ear.

Can a vestibular migraine occur without a headache?

Yes, a vestibular migraine can occur with or without a headache.

What factors can trigger a vestibular migraine?

Triggers for vestibular migraine include stress, weather changes, hormonal fluctuations, lack of sleep, dehydration, diet, and smoking.

What are the treatment options for vestibular migraine?

Treatment includes lifestyle changes, such as stress reduction, hydration, exercise, a healthy diet, and good sleep. Medications like tryptans, antihistamines, and benzodiazepines can also help manage symptoms, along with non-medical treatments like neuromodulation devices and vestibular physical therapy.

What non-medicinal treatments can be used for vestibular migraine?

Non-medicinal treatments include neuromodulation devices, cognitive behavioral therapy, vestibular physical therapy, and supplements like coenzyme Q10, magnesium, and riboflavin.

What other conditions share symptoms with vestibular migraine?

Conditions such as Meniere's disease and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) share symptoms like dizziness and vertigo, which can lead to misdiagnosis.

Why is it important for people with vestibular migraine symptoms to visit a specialist?

Visiting a specialist, such as an ear, nose, and throat doctor or a neurotologist, is important for an accurate diagnosis, as vestibular migraine shares symptoms with other inner ear conditions.