Live Pain-Free, Stay Away from Migraine Triggers

Millions of people today suffer from migraines, a neurological condition that causes intense squeezing or throbbing head pain. Individuals who suffer from this ailment often have:

• Sensitivity to loud noise and bright lights
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fatigue

Known Causes and Common Symptoms of Migraines

Studies are in progress to pinpoint exactly what causes migraines. However, there is consensus that it stems from problems within the central nervous system, a network that processes brain signals to and from other parts of the body. 

Other possible links to migraine triggers are traced to one’s genetic or family history, age, and sex. Records show that people with migraine and neck pain often come from a family with a history of having the disease. More women have this condition than men. The first migraine triggers attack usually comes during adolescence.

This disease also makes a person suffer from migraine and neck pain, two closely interrelated conditions. Other symptoms of this disease include:

• Stiff neck
• Pain that can be dull, throbbing, or pulsating in one side of the head
• Clogged or stuffy nose
• Dizziness and confusion
• Painful scalp when touched

2 Types of Migraines

Before going into the many ways to manage or relieve pain from this debilitating condition, it is important to know that migraines have two kinds:

1. Classic Migraines (Migraines with Aura)

They usually begin with an aura, a disturbance when a person sees flashing lights, shadows, or line patterns. The aura may also make a person have a temporary loss of sight.

Furthermore, it can come with a feeling of being pricked or burned while experiencing muscle weakness. There are also cases when a person suffering from migraine finds it difficult to speak, become restless, or have a depressed feeling.

As a symptom, the aura could last for at least 15 to 30 minutes. While head pain often accompanies migraines, some people have reported experiencing aura without any kind of painful headache.

2. Common Migraines (Migraines without Aura)

Unlike the classic migraines, common migraines do not involve auras, but intense pain is present in one side of the head. This condition can be more debilitating and disruptive to one’s daily life because the pain lasts longer.  More people have this type of migraine; hence, it is “ common.”

To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and migraines and other headaches, download our complimentary e-book by clicking the image below.

Top Migraine Triggers to Avoid

To live free from migraine triggers, the key is to know the top migraine triggers of the disease.  Avoiding the migraine triggers will definitely help prevent a painful attack. The leading triggers of migraines are:

• Hormonal Change – This can possibly happen during a woman’s menstrual cycle, menopause, or when she uses birth control and hormone replacement therapy products.
• Stress – Incidents or situations that cause anxiety are also triggers.
• Over-Exertion or Excessive Physical Activity – High adrenaline activities or simply getting too tired from playing a sport or hobby is a migraine trigger.
• Illness – Viral infections and even common ailments like the cold can bring on a migraine attack.
• Medication – It is important to inform or consult your doctor about the medications prescribed for your use. Some might have contraindications, causing a migraine episode.
• Certain foods or drinks - While it may vary from person to person, some of the food items and beverages that can cause a migraine triggers include:

• Avocados
• Beans
• Aged cheese
• Caffeine
• Aged, canned, cured, or processed meat
• Chocolates and cocoa
• Brewer’s yeast
• Aspartame or other artificial sweeteners
• Onions
• Lentils
• Canned soup or bouillon cubes
• Figs
• Cultured dairy including buttermilk and sour cream
• Nuts and peanut butter
• Meat tenderizer
• Monosodium glutamate
• Soy sauce
• Papaya
• Pickled, marinated, or preserved foods – pickles, olives, snack foods
• Snow peas
• Raisins
• Peapods
• Red plums
• Sauerkraut
• Seasoned salt
• Alcohol

Minimizing Migraine Attacks Naturally

The most common approach to getting relief from migraines is to take pain relievers prescribed by your doctor. For those who want a natural and safe option, an upper cervical spine adjustment may be right for you.

In a documented study, researchers found that many people who suffer from migraines also had a history of head or neck injury.  Many of them even showed misalignment in their upper cervical spine, that is, in the atlas (C1) and the axis (C2) bones.

Issues can develop if these bones shift out of alignment as they can put pressure on the brainstem, affecting other critical structures such as the trigeminal nerve. Responsible for the sensations to the head and face, the trigeminal nerve has to do with migraines. This nerve regulates the blood vessels that cover the brain. If the atlas and axis bones misalign, the trigeminal nerve may suffer stress, resulting in migraines episodes. 

With our experienced upper cervical chiropractor, gentle adjustments can be made on the C1 and C2 vertebrae, helping restore their correct alignment.

Given the importance of the spine’s health, upper cervical chiropractic aims to remove any blockage or misalignment and, in the process, pave the way for natural healing in the body.

To know more about this unique form of care or experience migraine relief, visit our office for an upper cervical adjustment.

To schedule a consultation with Dr. Uribe, call our Rochester office at 585-413-1202. You can also click the button below.

If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.