We’re going to look at a common issue, migraines, from a different angle. All of the following 9 “facts” about migraines are actually lies. As you read through, see how many of these migraine fallacies you may have been fooled by previously. Spoiler alert: The last one will provide hope that drug-free relief may be a reality.

Myth 1 – A Migraine Is a Really Bad Headache

In order to see past this misconception, you need to understand that there are many migraine symptoms and a headache is just one of the very common ones. Not all migraines present with a headache, and migraines rarely involve a headache alone without a host of other symptoms. In fact, migraines are classified as a neurological condition.

Myth 2 – I Can Cure My Migraines by Changing My Diet

In very rare cases, migraines may be related to a food sensitivity such as may occur with gluten. However, it is rare that all of a person’s migraines will go away simply because he or she makes some dietary changes. Eating healthy is beneficial for everyone, especially migraine patients, but it’s not a cure.

Myth 3 – Supplements Are the Safest Way to Care for My Migraines

We’re not knocking supplements, but you need to hear us out. The problem with supplements is that most people start on them without consulting their physician. That could mean drug interactions, overdoses, allergic reactions, or a host of other dangerous side effects. Supplements can be beneficial, especially if you have a deficiency, but you want to be careful about “self-medicating.”

Myth 4 – Medication Doesn’t Help Migraines

We’re not knocking medication either. In fact, there are times when you just have to take something for the pain to get some measure of relief. That having been said, recognize that most medications have limits when it comes to migraines. One, you can’t take them every day. In fact, headaches are a side effect of many migraine medications, so taking them too often just creates an endless cycle. Second, medications have unwanted side effects in general. Third, different medications seem to have varying effects on people so what worked for a friend may not help you at all. Finally, most medications just cover over symptoms. They don’t stop the next migraine from happening. That said, we completely understand why you have a bottle of acetaminophen or ibuprofen in the medicine cabinet.

Myth 5 – I Need to Stop (or Start) Drinking Coffee

Can having too much caffeine trigger a migraine? Yes. Can not having enough caffeine trigger a migraine? Yes. However, caffeine itself is not the cause of your migraines. Regulating your intake can help you to have fewer episodes, but you still need to identify the underlying cause of your migraines if possible.

Myth 6 – Migraines Are a Genetic Condition

Before you text “thanks a lot” to mom and dad, just know that they didn’t cause your migraines. It’s true that a predisposition to migraines is passed on. That’s why a person with one migraineur parent has a 50% chance of developing migraines, and the odds jump to 75% if both your parents get them. However, many people with the genetic predisposition never get migraines, so it isn’t all about inheritance.

Myth 7 – Your Neck Pain Isn’t a Symptom

Have you noticed that when you read lists of migraine symptoms, there are always a few things that come up?

• Moderate to severe headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• Sensitivity to lights and sounds

What’s missing from that list? The third most common migraine symptom! That’s right – neck pain is more common before and during a migraine than nausea. Yet, for some reason it is usually discounted as being separate from the migraine.

Myth 8 – It Has Nothing to Do with Your Accident

If that’s true, why do migraines so often begin following head or neck trauma? Sure, it may have just been a fender bender. You didn’t hit your head. You didn’t even get a whiplash diagnosis. That doesn’t mean you’re completely healed or that you miraculously didn’t suffer any damage in the first place. Even a mild injury to the neck can cause a misalignment of the top bones of the spine. This, in turn, can lead to migraines. It is no wonder then that many people see the onset of migraines following an accident or injury.

Myth 9 – There Is No Way to Get Natural Relief from Migraines

This myth is primarily pushed by pharmaceutical companies that make a fortune from millions of migraine sufferers needing to take a daily pill (or several). However, there is something natural that has been effective for many migraine and headache sufferers in case studies. That is upper cervical chiropractic care. What is it and how may it help with migraines?

If the top bones of the spine are out of alignment, this can cause problems with cerebrospinal fluid drainage, blood flow to the brain, and brainstem function. All of these factors can be underlying causes of migraines. As a result, it makes sense to try and correct this misalignment as a means of providing long-term benefits. For some migraine patients, such a correction has meant fewer and less severe migraines. For others, it has resulted in the complete resolution of the condition.

To learn more about upper cervical chiropractic care and how it may benefit you, contact a practitioner in your local area. A no-obligation consultation may be your first step down the path to better overall health and well-being.

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