I live with vestibular migraine, a condition that affects balance, sensory processing, and the nervous system in ways that are difficult to explain and even harder to live with. My symptoms began during pregnancy in 2018 and were initially dismissed as hormonal shifts, allergies, or sinus issues. It wasn’t until 2023 that I received an official diagnosis. By that time, I had already spent years trying to function while silently unraveling.
Even now, many people don’t realize that for those of us with vestibular conditions, the environment isn’t just background noise. It’s a direct trigger.
We often discuss managing symptoms through rest, hydration, medication, and stress reduction, but what happens when the very air we breathe or the pressure outside is the cause of our illness?
The Overlooked Link Between Climate and Vestibular Health
Climate can have a significant impact on the human body, particularly for individuals with invisible illnesses.
- Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, trap heat and intensify temperature fluctuations.
- Deforestation and urban sprawl reduce the Earth’s natural regulation systems.
- Poor air quality from wildfires and pollution creates inflammatory responses in the body.
- Extreme weather patterns—from pressure drops to heatwaves—are becoming more common and more unpredictable.
For vestibular patients, these environmental impacts aren’t just concerning. They are debilitating.
Vestibular migraine affects up to 1–3% of the general population, and up to 30% of patients who present with dizziness [1,2]. The connection between vestibular conditions and environmental factors is well established, yet rarely discussed.
Extreme weather increases exposure to known triggers: air pollution, barometric pressure drops, extreme heat, and humidity shifts. In fact, studies show that temperature and pressure fluctuations can increase the risk of migraine attacks by 7–15%, and poor air quality (e.g., PM2.5, NO₂, O₃) significantly worsens symptom frequency and severity [4–8].
What This Feels Like in the Body
When the temperature spikes, I feel dizzy. When the barometric pressure drops, my ears feel full and my balance tips. When the air quality worsens, my brain fog deepens. Storm systems throw off my sleep. Mold exposure from humid conditions inflames my entire system.
And I’m not alone.
I’ve heard the same story echoed by others in the vestibular community:
“I’m doing everything I’m supposed to—but I still feel worse.”
We’ve been taught to manage our symptoms. However, we haven’t been equipped to understand the extent to which the outside world impacts our inner stability.
The central sensitization associated with vestibular migraine makes individuals more sensitive to minor environmental changes. When the air thickens or the pressure drops, our systems go into alarm mode. Studies also show that some individuals experience significant symptom flare-ups directly tied to weather changes, while others are less affected, highlighting the need for personalized management and increased environmental awareness [6,12,13].
The Science Is There—But the Awareness Isn’t
Environmental health research is growing. We know that shifts in weather patterns contribute to asthma, cardiovascular strain, and neurological symptoms. But the connection to vestibular conditions remains largely unspoken.
That silence matters. Because when people don’t see their triggers reflected in the literature, in advocacy, or in conversations with providers, they start to doubt themselves. They may internalize blame. They may give up looking for answers.
Why I’m Speaking Up
I became a VeDA Ambassador to help raise this conversation—one that combines my lived experience with the urgency I see around me. I want to help others feel seen and supported. However, I also want us to start expanding our understanding of vestibular health. It’s not just a matter of inner ear dysfunction or migraine patterns. It’s a matter of how our bodies interact with the world around us
I’m not asking for sympathy. I’m asking for attention. For awareness. For action.
A Call to the Vestibular Community
If you’re living with a vestibular condition and find that your symptoms shift with the weather, worsen in the heat, or flare up after a storm—you are not imagining it. You are not overreacting. Your experience is real, and you deserve care that recognizes the full picture.
To advocacy organizations, researchers, and healthcare professionals:
Let’s start by naming the role of weather and other environmental factors in vestibular health. Let’s expand research. Let’s share stories. Let’s create resources that prepare patients not just for their symptoms, but for the triggers they can’t control.
The CDC, WHO, and recent publications in Neurology and The Lancet have emphasized the urgent need to address the climate’s impact on neurological health [5,10]. Yet vestibular disorders remain underrepresented in this conversation.
As VeDA continues to lead in education and patient support, we have an opportunity to integrate climate resilience into care planning, symptom tracking, and public awareness.
Final Thought
For those of us with vestibular disorders, the world can already feel unsteady.
When the world itself becomes a trigger, the least we can do is tell the truth about it.
And once we do—maybe, just maybe—we’ll stop asking patients to adapt to environments that were never made with them in mind.
Environmental Triggers to Watch:
- Sudden changes in barometric pressure
- Poor air quality (PM2.5, NO₂, O₃, CO)
- Heat waves and high humidity
- Mold exposure from wetter, warmer weather
Tip: Use weather and air quality alert apps to anticipate symptom spikes and adjust your plans accordingly.
Author Bio: Cherika Gadson, MS, APRN, NP-C, is a VeDA Ambassador living with vestibular migraine. She is passionate about bridging the gap between environmental health and awareness of invisible illnesses through advocacy, education, and storytelling.
Support
To connect with others navigating vestibular challenges and environmental triggers, you can join Cherika’s Facebook support group: Grace Through the Fog – Support & Encouragement, or view other vestibular support groups available through VeDA’s Support Group Network.
Additional Resources
Read VeDA’s article on the Environmental Influences of Vestibular Disorders.
