You’re beginning to see the aura, and know the migraine is imminent. What is the first thing you think of to alleviate your symptoms? Do you lie down, pop a pain pill, or grin and bear it?
No matter the symptoms you experience with your migraines, there is an alternative treatment.
What Causes a Migraine?
The cause of migraines is unclear, though it involves a change in blood flow to the brain. When triggered, the blood vessels in the body will constrict blood flow, which sets off symptoms such as dizziness, nausea and visual disturbances commonly referred to as “the aura.” When those blood vessels open up again, the brain experiences an increase in blood flow which leads to the headache. Migraines can be a genetic issue, and tend to occur more often in women under 30.
Migraine triggers will vary with each individual, but can include:
- Stress
- Hormonal Changes (especially those experienced during pregnancy, menopause and the menstrual cycle)
- Weather Change
- Emotional triggers include Depression, Anxiety, Fear
- Food containing Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) or nitrates (cured meats including bacon, hot dogs, salami), or elevated levels of caffeine
- Alcohol
- Bright Lights
- Loud Noises
- Lack of Sleep
How Can a Chiropractor Help?
The effects of chiropractic care on headache sufferers has been the source of many studies including one performed by Duke University’s Evidence-Based Practice Center. This study found that chiropractic care provided almost immediate relief for those who were suffering from headaches that started in the neck. This treatment had fewer side effects, and provided longer lasting relief than medication.
Another study, published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found chiropractic care to provide continued benefit to patients who stopped treatment after four weeks. In yet another clinical trial, 22% of patients who received chiropractic treatment experienced a 90% reduction of migraines, and another 49% of those studied reported less intensity of each migraine experienced while undergoing chiropractic treatments.
Whether you are a frequent sufferer of migraine headaches and associated symptoms, or are just looking for ways to avoid headaches in the future, Dr. Knight can help. By learning more about your lifestyle and triggers, Dr. Knight can provide relief from migraines by adjusting your spine and neck to improve the nervous system and decrease stress on the body, give nutritional guidance on foods to avoid, and offer advice on lifestyle changes that can be made to help alleviate the frequency and intensity of migraines.
If you are suffering from migraines, and have tried other treatments that have not provided relief, it’s time to give us a call and let Dr. Knight help you alleviate the symptoms of your migraines!