Upper Cervical Chiropractic for
Migraines and Headaches
Migraine is a debilitating health condition that compromises the quality of life of an individual and imposes economic, social, and emotional burdens. Migraine headaches may persist for a variable duration depending on the type of migraine an individual is suffering from. Medications and different home remedies are sometimes used to relieve migraine headaches temporarily. However, effective treatment options to alleviate migraine symptoms require reviewing and treating underlying factors such as nerve compression and compromised blood flow.
As an Upper Cervical Chiropractor we focus on the upper cervical vertebrae as an effective treatment option for migraine headaches.
Schedule a free upper cervical chiropractic consultation today. Discover if upper cervical chiropractic care can help you!
When You Should See a Chiropractor for Migraines & Headaches
Most individuals do not consult a doctor for their migraine headaches and opt for conservative treatment at home. However, certain health conditions associated with migraine headaches require immediate medical attention. These health conditions associated with severe headaches are listed below.
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- Sudden onset of loss of balance and muscle weakness.
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​Seizures, abnormal behavior, and altered personality.
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Vision abnormalities include double or blurry vision.
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Severe headache accompanied by severe nausea and vomiting.
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Shortness of breath.
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The appearance of rash along with the headache.
Characteristics of Migraines & Headaches
A migraine is characterized by the onset of recurrent headaches, with pain levels ranging from mild to moderate. A migraine headache can be triggered by intense light and sounds. Other triggering factors include hormonal changes, weather changes, abnormal sleeping patterns, smoking, and alcohol intake. Migraines arise on one side of the head and are also associated with nausea. Migraine headaches affect more females than males. According to this study published in the British Journal of Anaesthesia, the reason why women are more susceptible to migraine headaches is that women have higher pain sensitivity and lower pain inhibition as compared to men. NSAIDs and other analgesic medications are used for short-term pain relief from migraine headaches.
Occasional vs. Chronic Migraine Headaches – How To Tell Them Apart?
Occasional and chronic migraines are the two types of headaches. The duration of the headache distinguishes them. While occasional migraine headaches last for 14 days, chronic migraines last for 15 days and longer. Chronic migraine attacks are more severe than the occasional migraine attacks. Due to their severity and duration, chronic migraine contributes significantly to individual and economic burdens. Chronic migraines can hinder work productivity and performance. A greater number of missed days at work may lead to poor work performance and getting terminated.
Contributing Factors of Migraine Headaches
Several factors contribute to the onset of migraine symptoms and trigger migraine headaches. These include the following:​
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The most common factors are emotional and mental stress. The onset of depression, anxiety, and rage trigger migraine headaches.
- Hormonal imbalances also increase the severity of migraine headaches. Hormonal imbalances are commonly found in women after the onset of puberty.
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​Sensitivity to sounds is associated with the onset of migraine headaches. Migraine attacks are exacerbated in the presence of loud intensity sounds.
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Sensitivity to light, also known as Photophobia, is also associated with migraine headaches. Exposure to bright light, especially during migraine attacks, aggravates the symptoms.
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Weather changes can be detrimental for individuals suffering from migraine attacks. Extreme weather conditions precipitate the symptoms of migraine headaches. For instance, a study conducted in 2015 revealed that migraine-related emergency department visits increased during hot and dry weather.
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Migraine attacks are also linked with exposure to different types of odors. Strong perfumes and smoke exaggerate the intensity of migraine attacks.
Schedule a free upper cervical chiropractic consultation today. Discover if upper cervical chiropractic care can help you!
How Your Diet and Lifestyle Plays a Role in Migraine Headaches
Diet plays a significant role in the management of migraine headaches. Diets rich in fiber, vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, and probiotics can alleviate the symptoms of migraine headaches. Consuming lesser amounts of fats, gluten, and cholesterol may help manage migraine headaches, as well.
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Living a healthy lifestyle may be beneficial in treating migraine symptoms. A consistent bed-time routine with restful sleep, drinking enough water and maintaining an exercise routine may all help alleviate and treat migraine symptoms. But what about alcohol, tobacco and caffeine? Limiting or reducing alcohol, tobacco and caffeine consumption is recommended to manage migraine headaches.
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Your gut's microbiome and its normal function - which is affected by the foods we eat - is vital to maintaining a healthy relationships between the gut-brain axis. The gut-brain axis regulates the relation between gut health and neurologic function and vice versa.
Which Chiropractic Technique Is Right For Your Migraine Treatment?
When it comes to treating your migraine headaches upper cervical chiropractic care can be an effective treatment technique to manage your migraine headaches. It depends on the underlying causes of your migraine attacks. Migraine attacks that are caused by and unhealthy diet and lifestyle habits can be treated by consuming a well-balanced diet and lifestyle modifications. However, migraines caused by spinal misalignment may benefit from upper cervical care.
Upper Cervical Chiropractic for Migraine and Headache Relief
Upper cervical chiropractors correct your spinal misalignments. The main sites that upper cervical chiropractors focus on are the first and second cervical vertebrae, called atlas and axis. By focusing on these two vertebrae, LIV Chiropractic Center is able to help alleviate migraines and headaches; as well as improve your overall health.
