During the warmer season, migraines often cause worse pain. The attacks also become frequent, leaving you at risk of canceling your planned trips and other events. So, whether you have only recently experienced a migraine attack or have been enduring it for years, you might find it helpful to check out some of the tips provided by our chiropractor for migraines.

But, before that, let's help you get acquainted with the effects of the summer season on migraine symptoms.

Heat and Migraine

Migraine is a condition often caused by stress, an imbalance in the production and distribution of natural brain and body chemicals, poor blood flow, and trigeminal nerve irritation. Notably, all of these factors can quickly get worse during the summer due to high humidity, extreme heat, dry air, and the glaring rays of sunlight for the longer part of the day. In short, as lovely as the summertime is, its heat and excessive light spell bad news for migraineurs. 

Thankfully, you do not have to hate this beautiful season. You can still enjoy it with a bit of caution and initiative and our list of helpful tips below.

How to Deal with Migraine During Summer

For most people, extreme weather conditions cause an imbalance in brain chemicals leading to the severe throbbing pain of migraine. To cope, you have plenty of choices, including taking over-the-counter medications, seeking a chiropractor for migraines, and drinking enough water.

#1. Keep yourself hydrated

Never forget adequate hydration if you suffer from migraine, as dehydration is a specific risk factor for migraine attacks. 

As you sweat more when it is hot, you lose a lot of water in your system. This phenomenon gives way to low blood pressure. It also causes contraction of various tissues in the body, putting pressure on your nerves and causing you pain.

A solid eight glasses or two liters of water a day will help you steer clear of migraine during summer. But, you can take more, especially if you plan to do physically demanding activities.

Adding a bit of honey or lemon to add sweetness or zest is also a good idea as these two add a bit of vitamin and nutrients to your drink. 

If plain water is too much for you, you can take advantage of isotonic water and herbal infusions such as ginger and peppermint tea. These drinks can also hydrate, replenish your electrolytes, and provide a soothing effect on your nerves that help keep migraine at bay.

#2. Eat a balanced diet

A balanced diet is something migraineurs should be keen and consistent about. A good diet assists in replenishing your body's nutrients in fighting off various illnesses, including migraine.

For migraine management, opt for low sodium, lean meat with a good amount of healthy fat, whole grains for more fiber and vitamins, and balance that with a plateful of fruits and vegetables.

#3. Have enough restorative sleep

Many people take the value of regular, consistent, and sufficient shut-eye for granted. Not knowing how much it can do for their migraine and overall health. Having a great sleep allows one to revitalize one's body, which gives the body enough energy and strength to take on the following day's activities and combat any issue that may arise in the body better.

#4. Try massage, therapy, or meditation

Migraine is a stress-related condition, so one fantastic way of managing and preventing it from becoming a full-blown attack is stress reduction. Luckily there are many ways available to reduce stress nowadays in the form of:

• Massage
• Meditation
• Yoga
• Breathing exercises
• Aromatherapy
• Temperature therapy

These techniques allow stress reduction through mind and body relaxation, which reduces the contraction or swelling of nerves involved in migraine episodes. Being calm and relaxed lets your body take in enough oxygen, ensuring sufficient blood flow, resulting in your body's smooth operation.

#5. Seek Upper Cervical Care

All the suggested lifestyle changes and techniques are effective. The best part about them is that you can integrate them into your upper cervical chiropractic care plan. This tandem can potentially reduce your attacks while increasing the intervals between occurrences, making way for more lasting migraine relief.

Unbeknownst to many, migraines can result from an underlying problem in your upper cervical spine, possibly due to an injury from some years ago that you may or may not be aware of. 

If that is the case, you'll notice that your migraines occur after feeling stress from neck or back pain. This is often because of a spinal misalignment that interrupts proper communication with your brain. The postural problem can also lead to reduced blood flow or drainage of cerebrospinal fluid.

Fortunately, you can negate these adverse side effects of cervical spine imbalances with the help of cervical chiropractic. The technique is decades old, making it one of the country's most reputable sources of migraine relief. 

It also uses a sophisticated diagnostic methodology to ensure that you receive ample neck bone adjustments to correct your posture and relieve pressure on your nervous system and the rest of your body parts.

Finding a Certified Chiropractor for Migraines

Locating a nearby chiropractor for migraines is not as difficult as it used to be, especially if you live in the United States. Upper Cervical Awareness has partnered with hundreds of upper cervical clinics in the country to help patients gain access to natural and holistic care, regardless of which state they live in.

You may access the UCA Doctors' Portal to find a doctor near you. We encourage you to book your appointment as soon as possible to get started on a migraine relief plan and avoid chronic migraine symptoms for your next summer vacation.

to schedule a consultation today.