Vertigo Has Many Causes

Since I had a vertigo attack last week it has been fore front in my thoughts. The trigger was a combination of changeable weather and an inner ear virus. I could not stop the nausea on my own so I ended up in the emergency room. A week later I am still trying to retrain my inner ear equilibrium. I decided it was a good time to republish my article on migraine and vertigo.

Learn to Manage Vertigo Migraine

For many of us migraine and vertigo are related to lifestyle choices. This is not a criticism: it is an acceptance of reality because sometimes we do not even know which choice led to manifesting a migraine. Modern life can be toxic—especially modern chemistry. Migraine triggers include: Foods, Stress, Sensory stimuli, Changes in wake-sleep pattern, Physical environment factors, Changes in the weather, Hormonal changes, and Medications.

I painted my living room—the chemicals in the paint created a feeling of anxiety, my throat and lungs hurt, and my vision blurred. In another case I did not realize that I was hyper-reactive to the nitrites and sulfites used as food preservatives. I was drinking red wine for my health and the next thing I know I have a headache, blurred vision and racing heart. 

I have learned from experience that the toxicity, in processed foods and manmade environmental toxins, has an accumulative effect—especially when mixed with emotional and mental stress. It is the accumulative effect that is never or seldom scientifically researched. Each individual chemical or medication is studied on its own and this skews the information we are given on product usage, or from physicians. For me it is the cumulative effect of food sensitivities along with my individual structural self that creates the “perfect storm” that are my migraines.

Food and chemical sensitivities, and allergic reactions are a huge, complex, and highly individual topic. If you have true allergic reactions, it is essential to understand these thoroughly with the help of a physician, as allergic reactions can be deadly. Many of us are aware of foods, medications, chemicals, and other issues that trigger our migraines. However we also need to be aware that physical body structural issues and concerns can trigger migraines.

Migraine symptoms can be frightening. Some individuals experience extreme head pain while others do not. Others will have very odd visual experiences. I once watched the face of the person I was talking to pixilate into colored lights. I have also had objects disappear from my visual field. It is not unusual for one’s first reaction to be—do I have a brain tumor? Stay calm, to avoid panic and anxiety, as these will worsen symptoms by raising your blood pressure. If you are away from home I recommend you do not drive and be honest enough to call family or friends for help.

 Many people get nauseous, sensitive to light and sound, or have visual disturbances. If your migraine symptoms are severe and include vertigo you may require a trip to a physician. You can learn to deal with migraine and vertigo to limit their severity. 

It is thought that a migraine occurs when swollen blood vessels in the brain press on nearby nerves, causing pain. Migraines can trigger feelings of vertigo. Vertigo occurs when there is a mismatch of information from two or more of these systems in the Central Nervous System. Central Nervous System coordinates and integrates sensory input from the visual, vestibular, andproprioception systems. (Proprioception is the unconscious perception of movement and spatial orientation arising from stimuli within the body itself.) 

It is important to know the difference between dizziness and vertigo. Vertigo is the feeling that you or your environment is moving or spinning. Dizziness is a disturbed sense of one’s relationship in space. To physicians dizziness refers to problems with a variety of body systems including circulation, cardiovascular, eyes, brain, and ears. Vertigo is a hallucination of motion frequently caused by inner ear dysfunction. Unsteadiness is a sense of “falling” and may be due to problems with the ear, brain, or nerves. Lightheadedness typically occurs with rapid changes in position and is usually due to a circulation problem such as low blood pressure.

A vertigo migraine is simply another name for what many medical professionals call a vestibular migraine, which is ultimately a migraine that is accompanied by a sense of vertigo. Cervical vertigo is a vertigo or dizziness that is provoked by a particular neck posture. Misaligned Temporo-mandibular joints can cause migraine because of their proximity to the ear. 

Vertigo Symptoms

•                Visual Aura

Manifests as a flicker in your peripheral vision, spots in your visual field or flashes of light. 



•                Altered Perception

The room may begin to spin around you, or your surrounding may begin to tilt either up or down. 


Dizziness

Caused by that spinning or tilting impression from the vertigo.



•                Instability

An overwhelming sense of instability, wobbliness, shakiness, or lack of coordination that may force to sit back down or find a chair almost immediately. 



•                Nausea

Queasiness which may result in vomiting or retching


•                Head Pain

Vertigo migraine will be the severe head pain, overarching throb or a sharp, piercing pain (not every one experiences severe head pain)



•                Ringing in the ears

30% of the population will experience vertigo symptoms at sometime in their lifetime. Vertigo, which is an inner ear (vestibular) disorder, can be treated with pharmacological therapy, physical therapy, psychotherapy, surgery or a combination. Because vertigo can be caused by problems in the brain or the inner ear it is important to get a specific assessment from a physician.

Vertigo can be caused by:

•                Migraine, a severe form of headache may also cause vertigo. The vertigo is usually followed by a headache. There is often a prior history of similar episodes but no lasting problems. 


•                Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is rarely serious and can be treated. It is characterized by the sensation of motion initiated by sudden head movements or moving the head in a certain direction. 


•                Vertigo may also be caused by inflammation within the inner ear due to a viral or bacterialinner ear infection is characterized by the sudden onset and may be associated with hearing loss.

•                Meniere's disease has abrupt onset of severe vertigo, fluctuating hearing loss, as well as periods in which the individual is symptom-free. 


•                Acoustic neuroma is a nerve tissue tumor that can cause vertigo with one-sided ringing in the ear and hearing loss. 


•                Vertigo can be caused by: 1.) Decreased blood flow to the base of the brain or, 2.) Bleeding into the back of the brain characterized by vertigo, headache, difficulty walking, and inability to look toward the side of the bleed. 


•                Vertigo is often the presenting symptom in multiple sclerosis.

•                Head trauma and neck injury may also result in vertigo, which usually goes away on its own

For certain vertigo conditions a physical therapist will teach the patient the Epley or Semont maneuvers. The Epley or Semont maneuvers movements are designed to help to move calcium debris from any sensitive parts of the inner ear. Gaze Stabilization exercises for vestibular rehabilitation work by improving the neurological connection between the eye and the ear. Balance Exercises are used to improve the neurological reflexes between movement and visual input. Alternative activities such as yoga, Tai Chi or sports like golf and bowling can also improve balance and ease dizziness. 



I developed a personal protocol for dealing with my migraine symptoms. My first step is to take an antihistamine. Antihistamines can be used to short circuit migraine and vertigo symptoms in the early stages by helping to eliminate inflammation. If the migraine is food related I take a digestive enzyme and drink plenty of water.

I once had a strong reaction to food preservatives at a restaurant. I was a little bit panic-ed as I get visual disturbance and should not drive. I ordered a big cup of black coffee and the caffeine worked!

For a migraine put your hands in hot water, as hot as you can stand, to help equalize blood circulation away from your brain—or try a hot pack on you stomach. Homeopathic treatments work quiet well but should be tailored to you as a whole person—check with a homeopathic physician or a good homeopathic website. For visual aura problems homeopathic Belladonna works for me. Cervical vertigo and misaligned Temporo-mandibular joints can be treated by a chiropractor. 

For my particular needs, I have experienced great improvement by taking supplemental magnesium. Also, have found that if I feel dizzy, disoriented, and clumsy this signals avestibuloocular reflex issue. In this case I go to the chiropractor as soon as possible to check  forCervical vertigo (provoked by a particular neck posture) or Misaligned Temporo-mandibular joints.

On occasion I have had a vertigo migraine that caused me to go to the emergency physician and stay in bed for a couple of days. Obviously, my inner ear (balance reflex) was off. When this occurred I found I needed to practice sitting up and walking in order to short circuit the vertigo.

A natural migraine management plan might include supplemental B vitamins, Coenzyme Q10, Magnesium, Calcium, Folate, Omega 3, Vitamin D, Biotin, and Melatonin. If you have a tendency to migraine you might try these lifestyle changes if they are appropriate to you as a unique individual.

1 Rise slowly in the morning to a sitting position at the edge of your bed. Find a spot on the nearest wall to fix your eyes on to steady any dizziness you feel. Stay in bed sitting upright until the dizziness subsides. 



2
 Limit your exposure to bright light and loud noises. Avoid direct sunlight during the onset of this condition for at least three consecutive days. 





3 
Sit quietly away from noise. Sitting with your feet up, comfortably relaxing, will help abate the headache. 



4
 Drink plenty of water, because hydration is a key component to recovery. Avoid alcohol consumption, which will aggravate the condition and/or lengthen your recovery period. 



5
 Eat a balanced diet. Choose foods like sweet potatoes or a whole grain like brown rice, quinoa, barley and oats. Limit caffeine and chocolate intake over the three days following an acute onset of migraine vertigo. 



6 
Breathe in slowly and fully expanding your lungs to ease the headache and the pressure. Inhale through your nose, and then exhale through your mouth five times, repeating three times or more, if needed. 



7
 Move your neck slowly from side to side, shoulder to shoulder. Gently roll your head forward and around while sitting upright in a chair. Do this movement three times with 20 to 30 seconds rest in-between. 



http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3002631/

http://www.ehow.com/list_7172616_vestibular-ocular-reflex-exercises.html#ixzz2LqUY3pJG

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1836134-overviewhttp://ptjournal.apta.org/content/84/4/373.full#sec-19

http://www.ehow.com/how_6854303_remedy-migraine-vertigo.html#ixzz2MQ6vmAAS

http://hpathy.com/cause-symptoms-treatment/vertigo/

Food Preservative Induced Allergy

Remember the "salad bar" syndrome of the 1980’s caused by sulfite sprays used on vegetables to keep them "fresh" longer? How many of us were caught unaware? I was. All of a sudden my throat and bronchial tubes were swelling, my head was throbbing, and my heart racing. Worst of all I didn’t know why.

I knew that I have a tendency to food and environmental sensitivities (allergies) and that drinking strong black coffee would open up my bronchial tubes—which it did.

The FDA banned the use of sulfites on raw fruits and vegetables in 1986. They also require manufacturers to list the sulfite and nitrate compounds used on product labels.

Sulfite and nitrate compounds are completely different compounds but both are still used in food processing as preservatives and to eliminate bacterial contamination. Manufacturers justify their use of sulfites and nitrates by saying these compounds are found naturally in plants. However, natural plants are synergistic and contain balancing components, such as vitamin C.

This allergy isn't actually an allergy to the natural element sulfur, or the nitrate salts. It is a reaction to preservatives in foods. When the body comes in contact with the allergen, it sends a strong inflammatory response known as an allergic reaction. A person can develop sulfite or nitrate sensitivity any time in life.

The FDA estimates that one out of 100 people is sensitive to sulfites compounds. Exposure to sulfites and nitrates creates an inflammatory response that causes an allergic reaction. They produce symptoms within minutes of ingestion in people with chemical sensitivities. Symptoms range from mildly discomforting to fatal.

Symptoms of Preservative Sensitivity/Allergy

Headaches--occur after the consumption of foods that contain nitrates or sulfites

Hives--outbreaks of red or pale bumps or welts on the skin which appear suddenly after consuming nitrates and may show up anywhere on the body, range in size from a pencil eraser to a dinner plate, and subside in a few hours to a day. 



Rhinitis--an inflammation or irritation of the nasal passages, sneezing, itching and a runny nose, or a feeling of blockage or congestion. 



Asthma--inflammation of the lungs or breathing passages due to an allergy. If you experience congestion in the chest with difficult breathing or coughing this points to a sulfite or nitrate allergy. 



Sulfites

Sulfites are counted among the top nine food allergens. Sulfites can be found in a variety of cooked and processed foods. They also occur naturally in the process of making wine and beer. They are also known to initiate migraine headaches.

Sulfite preservatives are used to prevent or reduce discoloration of processed fruits and vegetables, prevent black spots on shrimp and lobster, inhibit the growth of microorganisms in fermented foods such as wine, condition dough, and maintain the stability and potency of certain medications. 

Read labels and avoid foods that are likely to contain sulfites.

Avoid:
wine, baked goods, soup mixes, jams, canned vegetables, pickled foods, gravies, dried fruit, potato chips, trail mix, beer, wine, vegetable juices, bottled lemon juice, bottled lime juice, tea, condiments, molasses, fresh or frozen shrimp, guacamole, maraschino cherries, and dehydrated, pre-cut, or peeled potatoes.

U.S. labeling regulations require products to list the presence of sulfites in foods only when they are specifically added as a preservative. In food processing, added preservative are only required to be listed when there are more than 10 parts per million (ppm) in the finished product. Sulfities may be in processed foods and not listed in the label. Choose minimally processed or frozen foods.

Most beers no longer contain sulfites, although some alcoholic ciders contain them. Although shrimp are sometimes treated with sulfites on fishing vessels, the chemical may not appear on the label. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfite

Nitrates

Nitrate preservatives are used in food processing to prevent botulism, enhance flavor and to preserve and colorize foods. Nitrates are found in cured and processed meats such as hot dogs, bologna, sausage and bacon.

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, individuals with nitrate allergies may experience itchy hives, swelling and redness, fatigue and headache, congestion and asthma complications. Allergy symptoms can be treated with topical and oral antihistamines and inhalers to reduce inflammation and irritation.


However, the best way to avoid allergic reactions is to eliminating nitrate containing and processed foods from the diet.

Nitrate additives are associated with a range of symptoms such as headaches, irritable bowel symptoms, itchy rashes, asthma, children’s behaviour problems, difficulty falling asleep and waking frequently at night according to the Food Intolerance Network.

The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), August 2009, issued a warning and suggestion to parents to limit children’s intake of preservatives to 70 grams of processed meat per week. The WCRF report Stopping cancer before it starts, states there is strong evidence that red and processed meats causes bowel cancer and there is no amount of processed meat that does not increase cancer risk. Nitrates levels are increasing in our food supply due to overuse of artificial fertilizers.

Nitrates are naturally occurring minerals and small amounts are needed for digestion. However, chemically it makes no difference whether these additives are natural or synthetic. Nitrates are not carcinogenic but can be converted to nitrites in the gut and saliva.

These nitrates and nitrites readily combine with naturally occurring food amines to form highly carcinogenic chemicals called nitrosamines. Processed meats that contain nitrate and nitrite additives are naturally very high in amines, which are formed by protein breakdown in foods such as processed meat, fish and aged cheese.

A recent study published by researchers at Rhode Island Hospital in the US reported a link between higher levels of nitrates and increased deaths from certain diseases including Alzheimer's, diabetes mellitus and Parkinson's. “We have become a 'nitrosamine generation”, said lead researcher Professor Suzanne de la Monte. “In essence, we have moved to a diet that is rich in amines and nitrates, which lead to increased nitrosamine production.”



If you have a sulfite or nitrate allergy be sure to read the ingredient label on processed foods. When taking a new medication pay attention for symptoms of allergic reaction. These potentially toxic and harmful substances can cause nausea or diarrhea and precipitate asthma attacks in sensitive individuals. 

http://fedup.com.au/factsheets/additive-and-natural-chemical-factsheets/249-252-nitrates-nitrites-and-nitrosamines

http://www.ehow.com/facts_5531531_dietary-nitrate-allergy.html

http://www.ehow.com/list_6101333_signs-symptoms-nitrate-allergy.html

http://www.foodsmatter.com/allergy_intolerance/miscellaneous/articles/nitrites_bacon.html

http://www.diagnose-me.com/symptoms-of/sulfite-sensitivity.html

http://www.webmd.com/allergies/guide/sulfite-sensitivity