Do you feel powerless to combat your migraines? Many people are struggling with the same condition as you. But do not give up hope! Not only can you combat migraines effectively, but there are a number of natural things you can do to put those pain relievers aside and keep medication overuse from causing even more migraines. Here are the top 5 ways to combat migraines for 2019.

#1 Exercise Every Day

This may have been the last thing on your mind for fighting migraines, especially if your migraines are sometimes induced by overexertion. However, exercise can play a key role in lessening the frequency of migraines in two very important ways:

• Stress relief – Exercise releases hormones that make you feel good about yourself. These hormones counteract stress hormones. Since stress is a major trigger from most migraineurs, this is a great way to reduce stress hormone levels and stop migraines before they can start.
• Improve blood flow – Regular exercise can widen the blood vessels and improve circulation. This is an important factor when it comes to migraines because researchers have found that some migraines are caused by a lack of sufficient blood flow to certain parts of the brain.

In the end, the key to using exercise to fight migraines is to know your limits. Try starting with just 10 minutes of stretching per day and work your way up to more moderate forms of exercise.

#2 Find Ways to De-Stress

Again, stress is the number one trigger for migraines. Because it has to do with hormone fluctuations, migraines can hit you both coming and going. Not only do people get more migraines when stressed out, but there is also an uptick during the relaxing stage following stress when the stress hormone levels drop rapidly. Some people call these let-down migraines.

While you should try to avoid as much stress as you can, it’s a part of life. That means you need to have positive coping mechanisms, such as exercise, which we mentioned in our first point. What if exercise isn’t enough to make all the stress melt away? Here are a few more tips for managing stress:

• Talk to someone – When you can get out your feelings, it is easier to cope with stress. For some, this just means having a spouse or friend to talk to. For others, you may want to consider a therapist to talk out your feelings in a professional setting.
• Take a break – Take short breaks throughout the day when you need it. Just stretch a little, go for a walk, or eat something healthy. When you are home, take time for yourself to exercise, enjoy family time, and engage in hobbies. Be sure to take a vacation once in a while. All work and no play is the recipe for more migraines.

#3 Drink More Water

A lack of sufficient hydration can result in more migraines. Here are a few tips for increasing your water intake:

• Track your water intake – The biggest problem may be that you think you are drinking plenty of water but in reality, need more.
• Get an app – There are plenty of smartphone apps that can give you an alert at set intervals to keep you drinking enough.
• Change your beverage of choice – We drink a lot of things that actually dry us out. If your beverage of choice is coffee, tea, or cola, then you may need to switch some of your drinks to plain water.

#4 Have a Good Sleep Schedule

Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day is important for a migraineur. Any change in sleep schedule can be a trigger for an attack. You may find, however, that falling asleep is difficult, especially if you are in the midst of a migraine. Here are some tips for creating the best sleep environment:

• Keep it quiet – Unless you need white noise to sleep, try to keep the room as quiet as possible.
• Keep it dark – There should be no lights in your bedroom. Watch out for flashing lights on a router or lights on chargers that can keep you awake.
• Keep it tech-free – Don’t use mobile devices in bed at night. They can keep you up well past your bedtime and leave you fighting a migraine the next day.

#5 Try Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care

Migraines have several possible causes that relate to the top two bones in the neck. Therefore, upper cervical chiropractors have found success in helping migraine patients.  One factor is blood flow. Misalignments of the C1 and C2 vertebrae can affect how much blood is reaching the brain. Correcting the misalignment is vital for improving the blood flow and relieving this underlying cause of migraines.

Other complications of a misalignment include pressure being placed on the brainstem or cerebrospinal fluid drainage problems. Again, these can be a factor when it comes to the onset of migraines. Upper cervical chiropractors specialize in detecting and correcting misalignments of the C1 and C2 in a safe and gentle manner.

If you are suffering from migraines, some of the things we mentioned on our list today may help you to have fewer or less severe episodes. However, upper cervical chiropractic care may be able to help you conquer migraines for good. To learn more, contact an upper cervical chiropractor in your area today to schedule a no-obligation consultation.

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