Migraines are one of the most common chronic health issues – it is the 3rd most prevalent illness in the world. According to the Migraine Research Foundation, there are more than 4 million adults who experience chronic daily migraine. Often times, traditional medicine does not help these migraine sufferers. However, chiropractic care can reduce or rid the sufferer of migraines.
What is a migraine?
Researchers have been studying migraines for many years, but we still do not know the exact cause of the problem. Researchers now believe that migraines are a neurological disorder involving chemicals and pathways in the brain. Contrary to popular belief, migraines are more than just a “really bad headache.”
According to the Migraine Research Foundation, migraines are an “extremely incapacitating collection of neurological symptoms that usually includes a severe throbbing recurring pain on one side of the head…Attacks last between 4 and 72 hours and are often accompanied by one or more of the following disabling symptoms: visual disturbances, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, extreme sensitivity to sound, light, touch and smell, and tingling or numbness in the extremities or face.”
What causes a migraine?
There can be many triggers that cause a migraine. These can include: neck posturing, stress, staying in one position for too long, weather changes, hormonal changes, and nutrition.
The American Chiropractic Association states, “The greatest majority of primary headaches are associated with muscle tension in the neck. Today, Americans engage in more sedentary activities than in the past, and more hours are spent in one fixed position or posture (such as sitting in front of a computer). This can increase joint irritation and muscle tension in the neck, upper back and scalp, causing your head to ache.”
How can chiropractic care help migraine sufferers?
Chiropractic adjustments, particularly on the neck and shoulders, can help alleviate migraines. These adjustments will improve spinal function and alleviate the stress on your nervous system.
In addition, our chiropractors can provide nutritional advice, recommending a change in diet and perhaps the addition of B complex vitamins. We can also provide advice on posture, ergonomics, exercises and relaxation techniques to help alleviate the joint tension in the neck and upper back.
One study found that regularly seeing a chiropractor was effective in treating migraines in as many as 75% of subjects.
If painful migraines are affecting your life, our chiropractor at Blue Mountain Wellness in Lebanon County is here to help. We will provide you with chiropractic adjustments, nutritional insight, as well as advice on posture and relaxation techniques to help you cope with and alleviate the symptoms of your migraines.
