All About Migraines: A Comprehensive Q&A Post

May 2, 2021

All About Migraines

What Are Migraines?

Migraines are a condition where the affected individual may experience moderate to severe headaches on one side of their head, including throbbing pain in the lower back of the head. This neurological disorder is relatively common and may affect anyone regardless of age. 

Migraines can be episodic or chronic. When a migraine is episodic, attacks only last less than 15 days in a 30-day period. It is chronic if it lasts more than 30 days. Regardless of the migraine type, migraines can get in the way of any affected individual’s daily routines.

What Causes Migraines?

Migraines may stem from different factors aside from fluctuating hormones. Genetics can also be a contributor to the onset of migraines. Hence, if one of your parents suffers from migraines, you have a higher risk of experiencing them.

Other factors that may cause migraines can be environmental, physical, and sometimes emotional. Medical experts have determined that migraines can be neurological. This means that the onset of attack may result from issues in the central nervous system. For example, a delay in circulation due to the inflammation of blood vessels in the brainstem or brain may cause migraines.

Who Are at Higher Risk of Migraines?

According to Migraine Research Foundation, 39 million people in the United States experience migraines. During childhood, young boys might get more migraines than girls. However, this changes when they hit the adolescence stage. According to a study, hormone fluctuation in connection to menstruation may cause migraines. As a result, women might get migraines three more times than adult males.

What Triggers Migraines?

If you suffer from migraines, learning what triggers your condition is vital to prevent or anticipate another attack. Some might experience pain in the lower back of the head or top of the skull. Others might have more severe symptoms. Hence, it’s safe to admit that everyone that suffers from migraines might have different triggers. 

Migraines may occur if you are exposed to any of these triggers:

  • Sleep deprivation
  • Chemical imbalance
  • Certain smells
  • Food additives and some processed foods
  • Caffeine
  • Fluctuating hormones
  • Depression
  • Certain medications
  • Bright lights
  • Weather changes
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Smoke

migraines, pain in the lower back of the head

What Are the Symptoms of Migraines?

People tend to confuse migraines with severe headaches. However, these are different conditions. Headaches may cause some pain in the lower back of the head, face, and neck. Migraines are a disorder that is more intense, more debilitating, and more painful than regular headaches. Some attacks can last anywhere from 4 to 72 hours. Migraine attacks can be so severe and frequent that they get in the way of the sufferer’s chores, work, and overall quality of life. 

Some of the symptoms that migraine sufferers experience are as follows:

  • Intense, chronic, and throbbing headaches
  • Head pain in only one side of the head
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Seeing visual disturbances (auras)
  • Sensitivity to bright lights, loud noises, and strong odors
  • Numbness or tingling in the arms or legs, or face
  • Dizziness
  • Vertigo

If you suffer from migraines, you should be aware of your symptoms. Knowing your symptoms helps in determining what can help you get relief. One helpful tip to get relief is to consult headache specialists, neurologists, and chiropractors for your condition. 

What Care Options are Available for Migraine Patients?

Fortunately for migraine sufferers, there are plenty of options to choose from to help them get relief from their condition. Here are some of the methods:

Taking over-the-counter medication

Certain medications are made to treat migraine symptoms. Painkillers and anti-inflammatory medication can provide sufferers a temporary solution to the painful headaches. Medicines like aspirin, Tylenol, ibuprofen, and Triptans can help reduce pain in the lower back of the head, face, and neck. 

However, be sure to consult a physician first before taking any medicine.

Getting a Botox treatment

The toxins injected in a Botox procedure contain properties that relax receptors in the face to stop the pain signals in the brain. This method can potentially put a stop to migraines.

Sticking to dietary changes

Dietary changes include drinking enough water, eating foods that do not trigger migraines, and reducing the intake of salt and processed foods. Discipline always pays when it comes to health.

Some of these care options might work for you; some might not. Now, let’s discuss the all-natural migraine care option available for anyone.

How Does Upper Cervical Chiropractic Help Migraine Sufferers?

The goal of chiropractic care is to heal the body from symptoms that get in the way of the individual’s daily life. Many conditions, including migraine, may stem from an underlying issue in the spine, specifically the upper cervical spine.

One branch of chiropractic care focuses mainly on this area. Upper cervical chiropractic care targets the top part of the spine that connects the base of the head to the neck. The atlas vertebra protects the brainstem, and due to its position at the upper part of the neck, it is more prone to misalignment. 

Even a tiny misalignment in the atlas may cause pain in lower back of head, neck issues, and migraines. This is where upper cervical chiropractors come in. They use a gentle, safe, and natural technique to guide the atlas back to its original position. This adjustment can lead to long-lasting relief from migraines and other associated symptoms as it encourages better and faster healing.

If you want to enjoy the benefits of upper cervical chiropractic care, don’t hesitate to visit the nearest chiropractors from your home.

Find An Upper Cervical Doctor in Your Areato schedule a consultation today.

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