Migraines are seemingly harmless compared to other life-threatening conditions. But, in truth, they leave a noticeable impact because they can influence every aspect of a patient’s life. But unfortunately, even with their crippling effects, many people know very little about migraines. This often leads to challenges in finding options that can provide lasting migraine relief. With this in mind, we gathered eight essential facts on migraine episodes to help you set your expectations and explore potential options such as Upper Cervical Care.  

1. Migraine symptoms are unlike any other.

Headaches are the first thing that comes to mind when people mention migraine attacks. That’s because it’s one of it’s most commonly reported symptoms. However, it’s worth noting that migraines can cause a string of other equally crippling symptoms such as:

• Sensory aura
• Vertigo episodes
• Nausea and vomiting
• Lethargy and tiredness
• Brain fog
• Temporary memory problems
• Food cravings
• Muscle weakness

Notably, the crazy combination of migraine symptoms traces its roots to nervous system imbalances. As studies explain, migraines are likely the result of brain chemical imbalances and communication problems between the brainstem and trigeminal nerve. 

2. It can make you tired and weak.

Unknown to most patients, migraine attacks don’t just happen in one day. Instead, the symptoms progress within a 4 to 72-hour timeframe. That’s 4 to 72 hours of rapid brain cell activity! So naturally, the excessive amount of activity in the brain can expend your energy resources, causing you to feel tired and weak after the symptoms gradually disappear. You might also have impaired cognition because your brain cells and nerve tissues have yet to recuperate from the attacks. 

3. Never underestimate a silent migraine.

Don’t be fooled by silent migraines! While “silent” might suggest that its a milder version of a typical migraine attack, it actually causes equally worrying problems such as:

• Visual and sensory auras
• Extreme sensitivity to bright lights
• Dizziness and vertigo attacks
• Loss of balance
• Poor body coordination
• Confusion
• Numbness
• Tingling sensation

4. Migraine attacks have no age limits.

Thousands of patients seek Upper Cervical Care for their migraine attacks. And noticeably, they come from a broad spectrum of age groups. While most are young adults and working professionals, upper cervical chiropractic doctors also attend to seniors, teenagers, and school-aged kids. This trend alone proves that migraines don’t come with age limits. It can leave debilitating impacts on anyone who has risk factors such as: 

• Increased exposure to stressors (school work, office politics, financial problems, underlying illnesses, death of a loved one, etc.)
• Family history of migraine attacks
• Hormonal changes throughout the menstrual cycle
• Lack of estrogen production because of menopause
• Consumption of food triggers (aged cheese, condiments, aspartame, deli meats, etc.)
• Excessive or lack of caffeine intake
• Sleeping pattern changes due to travel, stress, and other factors
• Physical overexertion 
• Food allergies or sensitivities
• Weather fluctuation in your area

5. Sensory overload is terrible for migraineurs.

Speaking of migraine triggers and risk factors, did you know that sensory overload can set off an episode? Louds sounds, bright lights, and even strange or overwhelming scents can sometimes trigger a migraine attack. That’s why physicians and providers of Upper Cervical Care advise migraine patients to stay in a calm, quiet, and dimly-lit space during an attack. 

6. Coffee intake can be a double-edged sword for migraineurs.

Over 150 million Americans drink coffee a day. Most of them have a cup to start their day and a few more doses in the afternoon and evening. Sadly, if you’re a migraineur, you might have to give up or at least lessen your caffeine intake. That’s because caffeine affects your blood pressure and the size of your blood vessels in the brain. If you drink too many or fewer cups, you might experience sudden blood pressure fluctuations and increase your risk for worse migraine headaches and other symptoms.

7. Migraines affect people differently.

Migraine symptoms greatly vary from one patient to another. Some might have migraine episodes for a few hours, while others might experience the symptoms for five days. The triggers can also be different because some migraineurs have specific food sensitivities. On the one hand, others have photophobia, which can significantly worsen their migraine episodes.  

8. You can stop a migraine episode with Upper Cervical Care.

Constantly worrying about an impending migraine attack can affect your overall wellbeing. Thankfully, you can manage your risks better with the help of Upper Cervical Care – a leading and scientifically-backed migraine remedy that has redefined patient care for many Americans. So, what is it exactly?

Upper cervical chiropractic hinges on the importance of maintaining postural balance. The principles of Upper Cervical Care explain that any structural changes to your cervical spine – no matter how big or small -  can tip the balance in your nervous system. 

The bone shifting can affect brainstem function, cerebral blood flow, and cerebrospinal fluid drainage. In addition, cervical subluxation can compromise your spine and trigger additional problems. 

Naturally, correcting these imbalances can cancel out the adverse effects and help the body recover and heal. It can also help you eliminate signal interferences so your brain can function correctly and avoid misfiring signals to your trigeminal nerve. 

Upper cervical chiropractic uses precise measurements to restore your C1 and C2 bones. Depending on the technique used by a neck chiropractor, your cervical spine manipulation might involve applying adjustments manually or with the help of specialized tools. 

Find out if Upper Cervical Care applies to your situation by setting an appointment with a nearby migraine chiropractor.

to schedule a consultation today.