The Link Between Vertigo and Headaches
What do your symptoms mean, and how our team can help
Have your headaches been accompanied by the sensation of standing in a rocking boat or feeling like the world is spinning around you? If so, you could be experiencing vertigo and headaches, also known as a vestibular migraine.
Experiencing vertigo and headaches at the same time can be overwhelming and confusing, especially if you’re unsure why your symptoms are happening. While in some cases, there can be a link between vertigo and headaches, they can also occur independently for a variety of other reasons.
If you’ve noticed dizziness, headaches, or a combination of the two, it’s important to seek treatment from our experienced physiotherapist. Our practitioners at Physio For Life can help clarify the source of your symptoms and give you the tools to manage and minimize their effects on your daily life.
Call us today to learn more and get started!
What Are the Common Conditions Vertigo and Headaches Share?
Vertigo is feeling off balance or experiencing a sense of spinning. Individuals with vertigo often feel like they, or their surroundings, are spinning or moving. It is most commonly due to an inner ear or brain tissue.
A headache generally refers to pain in any region of the head. They can occur on one or both sides of the head, be isolated to a certain location, radiate across the head from one point, or have a vice-like quality. Headaches can be a symptom of many conditions, from minor issues like stress or dehydration to more serious conditions such as migraines or brain disorders.
Vertigo and headaches can be connected in several ways:
- Migraines: Many people who have migraines also experience vertigo. This is known as vestibular migraine or migrainous vertigo. The exact mechanism is not well understood, but it may involve how the brain processes sensory information.
- Meniere’s Disease: This is a disorder of the inner ear that can cause vertigo, tinnitus (ringing in the ear), hearing loss, and a feeling of fullness in the affected ear. Some people with Meniere’s disease also experience migraines.
- Vestibular Neuritis and Labyrinthitis: These are inflammations of the inner ear usually caused by infections. Both conditions can cause vertigo, and vestibular neuritis can cause headaches.
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV): This condition, one of the most common causes of vertigo, occurs when tiny calcium particles clump up in the inner ear. While it can cause a sense of spinning and imbalance, it is not typically associated with headaches.
- Brain problems: Conditions like stroke, tumors, or multiple sclerosis can cause both headaches and vertigo.
If you’re experiencing vertigo and headaches, it’s important to seek advice from our physiotherapists to identify and treat the underlying cause.
Vestibular Migraines
A vestibular migraine is a type of migraine that is characterized by problems with balance and dizziness. The term “vestibular” refers to the body’s system for maintaining balance, which is primarily located in the inner ear.
Symptoms of vestibular migraines can include vertigo (a feeling that you or your surroundings are spinning), imbalance, unsteadiness, problems with coordination, dizziness, and nausea. These symptoms may or may not occur at the same time as the typical headache phase of the migraine, and some people may not have the headache at all.
The exact cause of vestibular migraines is not completely understood, but it is believed to involve abnormal activity in the brain’s neurons. Risk factors for developing vestibular migraines may include a personal or family history of migraines and possibly certain lifestyle factors such as diet and stress levels.
Symptoms of a vestibular migraine can vary, but they typically involve a combination of vestibular (balance-related) and migraine-related symptoms. It’s important to note that many other conditions can cause similar symptoms to vestibular migraines, so a thorough evaluation by our physiotherapists is necessary to rule out other potential causes and get started on a plan to resolve them.
How Our Physiotherapists Can Help You Find Relief from Vertigo and Headaches
Our physiotherapists at Physio For Life will design a treatment program to address your vertigo and headaches. We will develop your treatment plan according to a comprehensive evaluation of your condition, symptoms and limitations, and other essential health factors.
Your practitioner will likely use a treatment known as vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT). This common technique involves specific exercises such as balance training, gaze stabilization exercises, and motion sensitivity training.
VRT focuses on the following:
- Repositioning inner ear debris (calcium crystals)
- Reducing dizziness, imbalance, and related symptoms
- Minimizing the risk of falls and accidents
- Developing essential mechanisms in the brain through senses such as vision
Your physiotherapist may also teach you exercises to improve your gait (walking patterns) and ability to perform typical daily tasks. The goal of treatment is to enhance your overall physical health and well-being.
Call Us to Learn More About Treatment
Our physiotherapists at Physio For Life provide an active and supportive environment to ensure you receive the care you need. We understand that vertigo and headaches can be debilitating, which is why we offer specialized treatment plans to improve the symptoms of your condition. Call our clinic today to get started!