| Question: | | | | the neck (usually the third cervical vertebra) out |
| I regularly experience flashing lights in both eyes. | | | | of alignment. As a result, the pathway of the |
| These lights can appear at any time but | | | | vertebral arteries is not perfectly straight. If the |
| particularly if I get up quickly or Sneeze- I even | | | | cervical vertebrae are properly aligned, they keep |
| get them when I'm making love. The symptoms | | | | the vertebral canal, which houses the arteries and |
| can last up to ten minutes at a time. I'm a | | | | veins carrying blood from the heart to the brain, |
| 33-year.old man. I have had extensive eye tests | | | | quite straight. But if there is a kink or curve in the |
| but nothing has shown up. It seems to be | | | | canal and the heart rate suddenly goes up there |
| happening more often, and it is getting more | | | | may be turbulence and restricted blood flow to |
| severe. Can you offer any advice? | | | | the brain. It is this reduced blood flow that |
| Answer: | | | | triggers the flashing lights, dizziness and eventually, |
| I have had a number of questions about this | | | | for many people, headaches. Some doctors and |
| subject. What you and my other correspondents | | | | scientists reading this column may disagree, but I |
| are experiencing is really a headache without the | | | | have proven the link to my own (and my |
| pain. People who suffer from migraine type | | | | patients') satisfaction by showing that treatment |
| headaches see flashing lights and/or feel dizzy | | | | to the neck - plus some other simple remedies - |
| just before the severe pain in the head. The lights | | | | solves the problem. |
| are called the 'aura' and are a warning sign. | | | | Here is what I suggest: |
| Your flashing lights may, at some point, develop | | | | * For three to four months (until things, settle |
| into a headache, which is categorized medically as | | | | down), avoid foods that cause tension in the body |
| an 'exertional headache', because it starts soon | | | | - mainly coffee, alcohol, excess salt, monosodium |
| after a sudden exertion. It could be any quick | | | | glutamate and any foods that you know you are |
| action, such as you describe, or, for instance, | | | | sensitive to. |
| moving the head suddenly to the side; or bending | | | | * Drink two liters of still, pure water daily |
| down to tie your shoelaces. Dehydration can | | | | between meals. |
| produce the same effect, so you may experience | | | | * Drink two cups of Relaxation Tea or camomile |
| the lights after along fight. Other triggers are | | | | tea, daily, without honey or sugar (or artificial |
| drinking alcohol and eating a heavy, meal. A | | | | sweetener). |
| Chinese meal that contains the | | | | * Ask a partner or friend to massage your neck |
| additivemonosodium glutamate may also start the | | | | and shoulders twice a week for six to eight |
| reaction since, as with migraine, the lights may be | | | | weeks. If you can go to a professional therapist |
| an allergic reaction to something the body sees as | | | | sometimes, this is beneficial. When the sides of |
| an enemy. The classic migraine triggers are | | | | the neck are massaged, you will find there is an |
| alcohol, cheese, chocolate and citrus fruits. | | | | area (one third of the distance down from the |
| To summarize, I would say that any event or | | | | skull towards the shoulders) that will be quite |
| substance that raises the heart rate or blood | | | | tender. Massage this gently in a rotating |
| pressure suddenly can cause flashing lights, just as | | | | movement until the pain eases. |
| they can induce a migraine-type headache. But in | | | | * Do yoga: the cobra swing, boat, semi bridge and |
| your case, fortunately, the symptoms go as soon | | | | turtle postures are particularly helpful. |
| as the pulse rate and blood pressure return to | | | | * Consult an osteopath or chiropractor for two or |
| normal. | | | | three sessions, if possible. A practitioner should |
| In my experience, most people who suffer from | | | | massage the affected part soften the muscles |
| flashing lights (also migraine and exertional | | | | and then manipulate. One manipulation can fix the |
| headaches) have had a difficult birth that involved | | | | problem temporarily but if your spine has been |
| a neck injury (including a forceps delivery, or a | | | | misaligned for a considerable period, you may |
| whiplash injury, fall, head injury or some similar | | | | need more long-term treatment to deal with the |
| trauma. This event puts one of the vertebrae in | | | | problem muscles, tendons and ligaments. |