Vertigo and Migraine

April 20, 2009

Vertigo is a common symptom in patients with migraine headaches.  It appears that obverse is also true – migraine is very common in patients with vertigo.  A study just published in Cephalalgia looked at 208 patients with benign recurrent vertigo.  It turned out that 87%, or 180 of these patients had migraine headaches. Of these 180 patients, 112 or 62% had migraine with aura and 38% had migraine without aura. Thirty percent, or 54 patients always had vertigo without any migraine symptoms, while in 70% vertigo occurred with a headache or other migraine symptoms, such as visual aura, sensitivity to light and noise. The duration of attacks of vertigo in most patients was between one hour and one day.

Written by
Alexander Mauskop, MD
Continue reading
July 3, 2026
Alternative Therapies
Essential Oils Can Change Your Brain
The science of essential oils and the brain is still young, but the findings so far are more compelling than many people realize. Brain imaging studies show that common scents like rose, lavender, peppermint, and lemon produce measurable changes in brain structure, brain activity, and pain processing. These studies are small and preliminary, and essential oils are not a substitute for medical treatment. But the evidence suggests that what we smell can influence the brain in real, physical ways
Read article
June 30, 2026
Alternative Therapies
Why I Ask You to Breathe Out When I Inject Botox
Incorporating slow, prolonged exhalation into procedures such as Botox injections offers a practical, evidence‑informed way to reduce discomfort and anxiety. By aligning the injection with the out‑breath, we engage parasympathetic and attentional mechanisms that help the brain process pain signals less intensely. This simple breathing cue does not replace careful technique or other comfort measures, but it complements them and gives patients an active role in their own pain control. As research on breathing and pain continues to grow, integrating this kind of mind–body strategy into migraine care becomes an increasingly important part of modern neurology.
Read article
June 29, 2026
Migraine status
Intravenous treatment for severe migraine
When you need intravenous drugs, in an ER or our office
Read article
Insights from Dr. Alexander Mauskop on headaches and migraines
Subscribe to the Blog.
Subscribe
Subscribe