Janet Jackson Has Migraines
Welcome, Janet Jackson, to the ranks of those millions of us who have migraines and chronic headaches. You’re in good company. You also are lucky enough to have one of the nastiest types of migraines called vestibular migraines. It is a shame that they had to come along during a highly anticipated tour, but that’s migraines for you.
What Are Vestibular Migraines?
Vestibular migraines are not a one-trick pony. Not only do you get all of the fun of excrutiating head pains and nausea, but you also get vertigo. Vertigo is when the room around you spins, yet you feel pretty much still. (Although some people with vertigo do feel as if they are spinning as well). However, the effect is incredibly disorientating and can lead to danerous confusion. Singing and dancing is not adviseable in this condition, no matter what syle of music you are performing.
Other symptoms that you can get with vestibular migraines can also include extreme sensitivity to light and sound and auras. A persistant ringing of the ear of sudden hearing loss can also happen.
Treatment
There’s not many details about how Miss Jackson is being treated, but it’s common for anyone with migraines and dizziness or balance problems to be referred to a neurologist in order to rule out that the symptoms might be due to other conditions rather than vestibular migraine (such as inner ear disorders or inner ear damage).
As for the actual treatment, it’s the same old song for all of us with migraines or chronic headaches:
- Avoid triggers (such as the weather, certain foods, that time of the month)
- Take painkilling drugs as soon as you realize a migraine is coming
- Perhaps start taking a preventative daily medication, such as some kinds of blood pressure medication like verapamil or proplanalol
- Get as much regular sleep as you can (I’m sure that will be real easy on a pop music tour)
- Get regular exercise (which Miss Jackson does already)
When the attacks hit, you basically have to lie down in a pitch dark, quiet room in order for the painkillers to kick in. That, and start praying frantically.
November 21st, 2008 at 3:51 pm
[...] received some very good reviews. She was sidelined for a while with a very nasty kind of migraine, vestibular migraine, which causes vertigo as well as pain, nausea, sensitivity to lights and [...]
May 8th, 2010 at 7:19 am
I adore Janet Jackson and her departure the music industry will be a big loss. Their family has had a great impact on music from since I can recall.