Dr Kola Tytler MBBS CertHE MBA MRCGPClinical Lead • iatroX
To help patients manage vestibular migraine symptoms through lifestyle modifications, suggest the following:
- Identify and avoid migraine triggers: Common triggers include stress, lack of sleep, certain foods, dehydration, and hormonal changes. Encouraging patients to keep a headache and vertigo diary can help identify personal triggers to avoid NICE CKS.
- Maintain regular sleep patterns: Consistent sleep hygiene can reduce migraine frequency and severity NICE CKS.
- Manage stress: Stress reduction techniques such as relaxation exercises, mindfulness, or cognitive behavioural therapy may help reduce vestibular migraine episodes NICE CKS.
- Encourage regular physical activity: Moderate exercise can improve overall well-being and may reduce migraine frequency, but patients should avoid sudden head movements that might provoke vertigo NICE CKS.
- Limit alcohol and caffeine intake: Both substances can trigger migraines and vertigo symptoms and should be consumed cautiously NICE CKS.
- Hydration and diet: Advise maintaining adequate hydration and a balanced diet, avoiding known dietary triggers such as aged cheeses, processed meats, and artificial sweeteners NICE CKS.
- Safety advice: Patients should be cautioned about activities that may pose risks during vertigo episodes, such as driving or operating machinery, and advised to inform the DVLA if they experience disabling dizziness NICE CKS.
While direct evidence for lifestyle modifications specifically in vestibular migraine is limited, these recommendations align with standard migraine management principles and expert opinion suggesting similar treatment approaches for migrainous vertigo NICE CKS. Recent otolaryngology literature supports these lifestyle strategies as part of a comprehensive management plan for vestibular migraine, emphasizing trigger avoidance and stress management as key components Brooks et al. 2023.