this is what migraine headaches can feel like!

 

 

 

 

Most people experience headaches sporadically through their lives and are not too adversely affected by them. However, there is a severe type of headache called a migraine that can keep returning and be incredibly debilitating. It is estimated by the NHS (UK stats) that around one in every five women and around one in every 15 men are affected by migraines, which usually begin in early adulthood.

Defined as recurring head pain due to changes in the brain and surrounding vascular use. They can occur with an Aura (changes in visual and sense of smell most commonly).

Often with a throbbing pain in the front or sides of the head. Some people have other symptoms including nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light, sound or smells. Migraines can last from a few hours to a few days.

There are also many different possible triggers for migraines. These can include, stress (and how stress is handled), food and drink triggers, sleep patterns, hormones and tension; especially in the neck.

 

It becomes more complex.. as there are multiple types of migraine! Yes multiple!

Chronic, Menstrual, Hemiplegic, Brainstem Aura, Vestibular, Abdominal, Cyclical Vomiting, and others which can occur simultaneously with Migraines too.

In order to manage migraines in a regular sufferer, identification of a specific trigger is essential. Having a diary ? kept is essential in understanding your Migraines, as everyone can experience and deal with their migraines differently. Doing this may help you become aware of certain patterns.  Behavioural or lifestyle changes playing an important part in the treatment, such as avoidance of certain foods or maintenance of a regular sleep pattern. Chiropractic treatment also has the ability to alleviate some contributory factors or after effects including relieve of restriction in movement of the neck, muscle tension in the neck, upper back and shoulders and helping correct any postural issues that may influence the occurrence of both migraine and tension headaches.

There is a lot of support out there : from organisations such as

?? Migraine Trust, British Association for Study of Headache disorders,

?? American Migraine Foundation, National Institute of Health, MayoClinic.

Check out those pages as there are a trolley full of resources on each site, taken from collaborating experts.

Understanding as much as possible about your migraine diagnosis it imperative in healing manage symptoms.

 

Trying treatment which focuses on upper body, neck and head massage, hydrotherapy, manual therapy joint mobilisation, traction, acupunture and even dietary changes and botanicals may in some cases work. The go to treatment options are currently prescription medications.

 

 

Chiropractors have been identified as able to help treat certain types of headache arising from the neck (cervicogenic). When in doubt come get it checked out.

Small Tip ?

When you’re stressed, have too much sugar, alcohol or caffeine, your body uses up a lot of magnesium. Apparently 2/3 of British adult females are deficient in magnesium and it has implicated in headaches and increased muscle tension. A good source of magnesium are nuts and you can get supplements, but choose one with an absorbable form of magnesium, such as Cal Apatite with Magnesium supplied by Back-in-Action.