Get Natural Migraine Relief with Chiropractic Care

Migraines.  The throbbing headaches that can cause eye and neck pain, blurred vision, nausea, and other debilitating pain for more than 37 million Americans. Migraines are often chronic, and the pain can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days. Anything from a bright screen, loud noises, or lack of food or water can all be triggers for migraines and tension headaches, or make them worse.

Many people believe that frequent migraines are normal. While common, they are not normal. If you experience migraines about 4 times a year due to stress or dehydration it’s not a reason for concern, but many people have much more frequent episodes.

If you go weeks or months between migraine attacks, you may have episodic migraine. If you’ve gone 3 months or more experiencing migraine symptoms on 15 days or more per month, you may have chronic migraine. Those with chronic migraine may also experience longer episodes.

When you feel a migraine headache developing, your first thought might be to take an over-the-counter pain reliever. But have you considered a more natural alternative to treat headache pain? Research shows that chiropractic care, without medication, can be an effective treatment for a variety of headaches but especially for those that suffer from episodic or chronic migraines. Active Spine and Joint Institute is here to tell you more about what can trigger a migraine headache and some ways our practice can help treat them with a natural approach.

What is a Migraine Headache?

Migraines are a recurring type of headache. They cause moderate to severe pain that is throbbing or pulsing. The pain is often on one side of your head. You may also have other symptoms, such as nausea and weakness. You may be sensitive to light and sound.

There are also a number of factors that can trigger a migraine. These factors vary from person to person, and they include:

• Stress, Anxiety

• Hormonal changes in women

• Bright or flashing lights, or Loud noises

• Strong smells

• Too much or not enough sleep

• Sudden changes in weather or environment

• Overexertion (too much physical activity)

• Tobacco

• Caffeine or caffeine withdrawal; Skipped meals

• Certain Medications or Medication overuse (taking medicine for migraines too often)

• Certain foods or ingredients (examples include alcohol, chocolate, aged cheeses, MSG, fermented or pickled goods, or cured or processed meats)

Who is more likely to experience a migraine?

Migraines can affect anyone, but you are more likely to have them if you

• Are a woman. Women are three times more likely than men to get migraines.

• Have a family history of migraines. Most people with migraines have family members who have migraines.

• Have other medical conditions, such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, sleep disorders, and epilepsy.

How can Chiropractic Care help with migraines?

Chiropractic care can be a great way to manage and relieve pain caused by migraines and tension headaches. Spinal manipulation and functional movementment are effective headache treatment option for many sufferers. Chiropractic adjustment can improve acute and chronic neck pain, which can reduce the number of headaches you’ll experience — whether you suffer from migraines, tension headaches, or something other kind.

A chiropractic adjustment can reduce joint restrictions or misalignments in the spine and other joints in the body in an effort to reduce inflammation and improve function of both the affected joint and the nervous system.  This allows your body to function more normally and reduces risk of stress and tension building until headache pain develops.

Seeing one of our chiropractors at Active Spine and Joint Institute can help counteract the stress you face in daily life. Our team believes in a multifaceted approach to headache treatment, which includes understanding your triggers. We’ll work to understand your unique situation to help you find the root cause of your headaches.

Some common causes of headache pain are:

• Stress

• Long hours at a computer or looking at your phone

• Certain foods

• Your environment (noise, light, etc.)

• Insomnia

When we determine that certain foods or environmental triggers seem to bring on your headaches, we can help you make small changes in your lifestyle to ward off these triggers.

The next time you suffer from a headache, think twice about taking a pain reliever. Instead, call our offices in Rio Grande, New Jersey, and Marlton, New Jersey, or request an appointment with our convenient online booking tool.