Migraine Topics

Migraine vs Sinus Disease

♦ It is rare that sinus problems are the source of headache.

♦ Studies have shown that up to 80% of patients presenting with a self diagnosis of sinus headache actually have migraine or probable migraine.

♦ In large studies of patients with headache, less than 3% have documented sinus disease.

Vestibular Migraine is established as a subtype of migraine with aura in the International Classification of Headache Disorders – 3 (ICHD-3).

A recent study has shown many patients with migraine do report dizziness as a pre-migraine symptom (prodrome) and not only during the aura phase. This demonstrates that there is a stronger association between headache and dizziness in many patients.

♦ We see many patients with dizziness associated with all phases of migraine.

Many patients present with symptoms of visual changes without headache. They are often and are given a diagnosis of ocular migraine. In most cases what they are describing is better diagnosed as "migraine aura without headache" or "ancephalgic migraine." In the past these events were also     referred to as migraine equivalents.

In some cases these events require no treatment, however it is imperative that a these patients have a thorough work up to assure there is no a more serious or potentially life threatening neurologic problem causing these symptoms.