How Certain Fragrances Can Cause Vertigo Or Migraines?

Migraines are a common condition characterized by severe headaches and nausea, often accompanied by an aversion to unpleasant smells. This sensitivity can be physiological, psychological, or a combination of both. Osmophobia, a psychological symptom, can lead to disgust at the smell of raw food. Vestibular migraines, characterized by symptoms like dizziness, vertigo, and sensitivity to light and sound, may also be triggered by certain odors or fragrances. Common triggers include perfumes, colognes, and strong-smelling cleaning products.

Odors known to trigger migraines include perfume, cigarette smoke, car exhaust, cleaning products, and certain foods. Hyperosmia, the medical term for sensitivity to smell, can also be triggered by certain smells, foods, or weather changes. It is essential to note specific examples of symptoms, such as dizzy spells or visual disturbances, and keep a migraine diary to document daily activities, symptoms, and exposure to triggering smells.

Mechanistically, odor signals are received by the brain through the olfactory bulb, and studies have shown that odors trigger migraines by activating different brain regions. Odors are more likely to induce a migraine if exposed for a prolonged period (more than 15 minutes) and in an enclosed space. Some chemicals are more likely associated with migraine attacks.

Odors associated with migraine attacks can be categorized into six groups, with some chemicals being more likely to trigger migraines. Sensory stimuli, such as bright lights, sun glare, and unusual smells, can also trigger migraines. Environmental factors, such as changes in season and weather, can also trigger migraines. Specific odors known to trigger attacks include perfumes, cigarette smoke, motor vehicle exhaust, cleaning products, and certain foods.

Phantosmia, a rare type of migraine aura, often causes vision problems and occurs before the headache phase of a migraine. Understanding the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of migraines is crucial for managing the condition effectively.

Is sensitivity to smell a migraine symptom?

Migraine, a common primary headache disorder, is linked to various factors such as stress, hormones in women, fasting, weather, and sleep disturbance. A study aimed to categorize odors associated with migraine and explore their relationships with clinical characteristics. 101 migraineurs answered a questionnaire to determine the odors associated with migraine attacks. Factor analysis was performed to explore the common factors of the odors and the relationship between these factors and the clinical characteristics.

Six common factors were estimated: factor 1, fetid odor; factor 2, cooking products; factor 3, oil derivatives and others; factor 4, shampoo and conditioner; factor 5, cleaning products; factor 6, perfumes, insecticides, and rose. Factor 5 also included hair styling preparations, laundry detergent, and fabric softener, usually with floral fragrances. Factor 5 was more likely to be associated with migraine attacks in patients with chronic migraine than in those with episodic migraine.

Why do smells make me nauseous?

Hyperosmia is a condition where individuals experience discomfort and illness due to certain smells, such as synthetic fragrances, perfumes, and cleaning products. This can lead to anxiety and depression. Individual triggers and irritants vary, and hyperosmia can also be caused by migraines. A study found that 25-50% of patients experienced hyperosmia during their migraine attacks, with 11 experiencing it before the actual migraine.

Why do certain smells make me dizzy?

Odors can cause various health effects, including eye, nose, throat, and lung irritation, burning sensations, headaches, dizziness, nausea, mood, anxiety, and stress levels. They come from various sources, including chemical, sewage treatment, food processing plants, paper mills, landfills, dredge spoils, transportation facilities, agricultural communities, indoor activities, scented personal care products, and spilled heating oil or stored petroleum products.

Outdoor odors can be produced by chemical, sewage treatment, food processing plants, paper mills, landfills, dredge spoils, and transportation facilities, while indoor odors can be produced by cooking or cleaning, scented personal care products, and sprayed heating oil or stored petroleum products.

Standard air sampling methods are not designed to measure the wide variety of chemicals that cause odors from most sources. Even when chemicals can be measured, they can be smelled at much lower levels than can be reliably measured. Methods for measuring odors directly using expert odor “sniffers” exist, but understanding the meaning for people exposed to odors can be challenging due to their varying responses.

Why am I triggered by smells?

Hyperosmia is a heightened and hypersensitive sense of smell, often linked to health conditions like migraine, pregnancy, and Lyme disease. It can cause severe discomfort and even illness from certain smells, such as synthetic fragrances, perfumes, and cleaning products. Treatment of the underlying cause may help reduce symptoms, and chronic hyperosmia can sometimes occur without a clear cause. Loss of smell is more common than hyperosmia, and certain shampoo scents can be too strong.

What is the biggest trigger for migraines?

Migraine is a common condition affecting around 70% of people with migraines, with a significant association between daily stress levels and migraine activity. To manage migraines, it is essential to identify undue stress and tension, and work towards reducing these triggers through strategies such as biofeedback, relaxation therapy, meditation, exercise, and maintaining a consistent sleep schedule. These strategies can change the body’s physiological response to stress, reducing the ability for stress to trigger migraine attacks.

Another common trigger is an irregular sleep schedule, as it renews and repairs all body parts, including the brain. An irregular sleep schedule increases the risk of migraine attacks, as nearly half of all migraines occur between 4:00am and 9:00am, increasing the risk of developing a sleep disorder. By addressing these triggers, individuals can better manage their migraine symptoms and reduce the risk of developing a sleep disorder.

Can a smell trigger an ocular migraine?

Chronic ocular migraines can be triggered by strong smells, bright lights, and light exposure. Some people find it difficult to stand certain smells during a migraine episode, such as cigarette smoke and perfume. Bright lights, flickering or pulsating, can also trigger migraines. Wearing a hat and sunglasses can help mitigate this effect. If you experience ocular migraines, it’s important to see a Raleigh optometrist as seeing lights, lines, zigzags, or stars can indicate a major neurological or eye issue. Schedule an appointment with a Raleigh optometrist to better understand and manage your migraine symptoms.

Why am I sensitive to scents?

Hyperosmia, a heightened sense of smell, is often a sign of neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s, autoimmune disorders like lupus, and vitamin B12 deficiency. If hyperosmia is interfering with your life, consult your healthcare provider. It may resolve once the underlying cause is addressed. Coping strategies may include chewing peppermint gum, wearing a mask, using air purifiers, and using air purifiers.

Verywell Health uses high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support its articles. The study clarifies terms and definitions of dysosmia, anosmia, hyposmia, normosmia, hyperosmia, olfactory intolerance, parosmia, and phantosmia/olfactory hallucination.

Can perfume make you dizzy?

The use of perfumes containing synthetic musk compounds has been associated with the potential for neurotoxic effects, including dizziness, incoordination, confusion, difficulty concentrating, and fatigue in some individuals.

How do smells trigger migraines?

It has been proposed that individuals who experience migraine headaches may demonstrate heightened sensitivity to odors, potentially due to increased activation of specific scent and pain receptors within the brain. This heightened sensitivity is attributed to the presence of migraine headaches and pain perception in regions of the brain that process odors. However, further research is required to fully elucidate the mechanisms linking odor to migraines.

Why do I become sensitive to smell?

Hyperosmia can be caused by hormonal changes, such as those during menstruation and pregnancy, thyroid or adrenal hormone changes, toxins exposure, migraines, or medication use. It can result in an overwhelming sense of smell, increased awareness of subtle odors, strong reactions to certain smells, decreased appetite and weight loss due to smell or taste aversion, fear of smells (osmophobia), and mood swings triggered by positive or negative smells. It is crucial to seek medical attention if hyperosmia concerns or bothers you.

Why does perfume give me a migraine?

A person may be allergic to strong odors due to a chemical element or fragrance sensitivity to certain odors that irritate the senses, causing allergy-like symptoms like watering eyes, runny noses, and headaches. Experts estimate that up to 30% of people may have sensitivities to certain odors, which can trigger headaches and other allergy-like symptoms. Fragrance sensitivities are increasing due to the variety of products available, including air fresheners, laundry detergents, dishwasher detergents, and fabric softeners, which can evoke various scents, such as citrus groves or mountain breezes.