Triggers

Common Vestibular Migraine Triggers

Many triggers may be obvious, while others not so much. Some may have no effect ,while some may be more sensitive to certain triggers. In other articles, I discuss the importance of being in tune with your body and surroundings. This is where it plays the biggest role. Research shows that many patients can prevent vestibular migraine attacks with lifestyle and dietary changes alone. The hard part is finding out what your triggers are.


These triggers include all kinds of sensory stimulations, dietary, sleep habits, stress, hormonal changes, weather changes, and weight control. In this article, I will go over all the triggers previously listed and discuss food triggers in another article as it requires a more in depth discussion.

The goal of discussing these triggers is for you to think about your daily life and where these triggers can play a role. After evaluating the triggers, the idea is to remove them from your life, alternate a habit, or just become more aware of them as they relate to your attacks. The elimination process or behavior changes typically require many weeks to see any symptomatic results. This is where a lot of people resort back to their previous lifestyle because they may just give up too soon. Unfortunately, there is no magic pill to prevent the attacks. Avoiding the triggers can be extremely difficult if they are so rooted in your life. It will take determination, consistency, and patience.


Lets jump into the triggers:

  • visual stimulation of complicated visual patterns on TVs, or 3D movies (especially with movies or video games where camera is constantly moving)

  • Sensitivity to light (photophobia)

  • Artificial lights, laptop, sunlight, flashing lights strobes from screens

  • Sensitive to sound (phono phobia)

  • Exercise (partially lifting heavy weights)

  • Certain smells (such as perfume or cologne)

  • Changes in hormone (puberty, menstruation, menopause)

  • Sleeping habits (lack of sleep-migraine patients usually need more sleep, or irregular sleep cause attacks to happen the next day or classically sleeping in on Saturday mornings)

  • Dehydration

  • Missing meals (try not to go hungry and its better to have 5 meals vs 3 big meals)

  • Foods: there are many triggers noted here. The big ones are caffeine, chocolate, and alcohol

  • Stress

  • Weather changes ( storms, heat, and weather changes can occur prior to a vestibular migraine attack)

  • Allergies (cats, dander, pollen)

  • Anxiety and depression (vestibular migraine can worsen this by placing the person in constant fear of another dizzy attack)



Be mindful going forward. Identifying vestibular migraine triggers is the hardest part in managing attacks but it can be done with persistency and attention to detail. Remember, it can take many weeks, sometimes 3-4 months before you start seeing results. Stay strong and believe in yourself.


Download the top 3 potent vestibular migraine food triggers you may be cosuming every day and some safer alternatives by clicking here.