MIGRAINE TREATMENT

SERVICES

If you have experienced a migraine, you are definitely not alone. According to the Migraine Research Foundation, 38 million people suffer from them in the United States alone, and over 1 billion people worldwide. Migraines refer to recurring attacks of pain on one or both sides of the head, which can range from moderate to severe, and even incapacitating in some cases. Sufferers may experience visual disturbances (auras, tunnel vision), speech impairment (similar to stroke symptoms), nausea, vomiting, extreme sensitivity to light and sound, and sometimes tingling or numbness in the face or extremities.

While migraines can be debilitating, chiropractic care can provide relief – free from the use of pharmaceuticals. Our patents often report a drastic reduction in the number and severity of their migraines, and in some cases they are eliminated all together.

Causes

Migraine headaches are a bit of a mystery to the medical community. Researchers have identified possible causes, but they have not settled on a definitive explanation. Potential theories include:

An underlying central nervous disorder may set off a migraine episode when triggered
Irregularities in the brain’s blood vessel system or vascular system
A genetic predisposition
Abnormalities of brain chemicals and nerve pathways

The body is a perfect organism in its natural state. Disease results from interference in the body’s ability to properly transmit messages to and from the brain. This restriction in your neural pathways affects the body’s healing capabilities in fighting off illness and disease. Chiropractic adjustments correct subluxations, which are misalignments in the spine that cause nerve pressure. People suffering from migraines often experience significant relief from symptoms with regular chiropractic care. Your chiropractor can also offer help in discovering possible triggers of your particular migraines and suggestions how to prevent them naturally.

Common Triggers of Migraines

Misalignments of the bones in the upper neck
Dehydration
Foods containing tyramine (such as aged cheese, chicken livers, red wine, figs, smoked fish and some types of beans), MSG (monosodium glutamate), nitrates (hot dogs, bacon and salami), and artificial sweeteners (aspartame)
Loud noises, bright light, strong smells: bright sun, flashlights, cigarette smoke, perfume, paint
Hormonal triggers: menstrual cycles, pregnancy, menopause, birth control pills, hormone replacement medications
Sleep cycle changes
Emotional, mental, or physical stress
Alcohol or caffeine
Skipping meals or fasting
Drugs
Chocolate
Exercise or exertion

Symptoms

Migraines are extremely incapacitating collections of neurological symptoms, and tend to be more severe and last longer than other types of headaches. The pain caused by migraines tends to be more localized, most often affecting only one side of the head and concentrated behind one single eye. Approximately 25% of migraine sufferers experience an aura prior to the headache beginning, which may include lines with vivid colors, flashes of light, or double or tunnel vision. Some people may also experience speech impairment which can include slurred words, saying different words than what they are thinking, or an inability to get words out at all. Migraines are often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and hypersensitivity to noise and light, and can increase in intensity by bending over or moving. Migraine sufferers will often have to lie still in quiet, dark rooms and avoid any kind of stimulation.