Migraines can be a debilitating condition to deal with, as anyone who lives with this neurological issue knows well. One of the few natural ways to combat the frequency of your migraines is to learn what triggers them and to avoid those triggers. We will begin by addressing some of the most common migraine triggers. Then we will present a natural therapy that may also help you to reduce the frequency and severity of your attacks.
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Stress! You are probably not surprised by that. Stress seems to be a trigger for just about every chronic health condition. Perhaps it is because stress releases hormones into the body that create changes in the central nervous system and other bodily functions. In fact, stress can trigger a migraine even when it ends and those hormone levels rapidly decrease.
How can you avoid this trigger? The fact is that we cannot wholly destress our lives. However, we can change how we manage stress. Dealing with stress the right way can help to level off those hormone levels. Since as many as 70% of responders to surveys call this one of their primary migraine triggers, learning stress management techniques may help you reduce the frequency of your episodes.
Among the most insidious migraine triggers include changes in weather conditions. For example, one person may experience migraines when barometric pressure suddenly drops. Another may get a migraine when there are lightning strikes in the surrounding area. There are many weather changes that seem to trigger this condition.
What can you do to avoid weather-related migraine triggers? We’re certainly not going to recommend that you move. After all, the climate seems to be changing in many places, so the location you move to may not be any better for your migraines in the future. Instead, try to avoid planning major events when you know the weather changes that trigger your migraines are most likely to occur. For example, if storms trigger your migraines and you plan on getting married, scheduling the wedding during your area’s dry season would be wise.
This is particularly common when it comes to the use of over-the-counter drugs. You may feel like taking a few pills is the only way to get through your day when a migraine strikes. Just be sure to pay attention to the label. The majority of these drugs are not intended for long-term or frequent use. Some of your migraines may actually be rebound headaches from taking the pills too often.
If you think this may be the case for you, try going without the meds for a couple of weeks. You may experience extra pain, but if you get your migraines less frequently, it would undoubtedly be worth it. Then try to use the pills only when you absolutely have to so that the rebound headaches do not return.
Any interruptions to your sleep schedule may trigger a migraine. This includes going to bed later than usual, not sleeping a full 7 to 8 hours per night, waking up repeatedly throughout the night, or even oversleeping. How can you maintain a sleep schedule that prevents a migraine episode from being triggered?
For one thing, it is always best to go to bed at the same time every night and wake up at the same time every morning. The times you choose should allow you to sleep 7 to 8 hours. Having a regular schedule trains your body to go to sleep at a set time, stay asleep throughout the night, and wake up at a set time.
Creating the right environment for sleep is also essential. Most people sleep best in a room that is both dark and quiet. You may need to create some white noise with a fan if your neighborhood is noisy. The right temperature can also have an impact. Finally, be sure to avoid using your mobile devices in bed and place them on a setting that will not wake you if you get an alert during the night.
While these are some of the most common migraine triggers, you may also be dealing with several triggers we didn’t have room for in today’s article. For example, sensory overstimulation, monthly hormone fluctuations, missed meals, dehydration, or coming in contact with something you are allergic to may all play a role in when your next migraine strikes.
It is impossible to avoid all migraine triggers all the time. You also need to take some preemptive steps to try and control migraines at their source. We would like to introduce you to one potential therapy that has helped a number of patients in case studies – upper cervical specific chiropractic.
If you are looking for a natural way to get your migraines under control, upper cervical chiropractic may be right for you. This specific form of chiropractic care involves precise and gentle adjustments of the top two bones in the neck. This can help the central nervous system to function optimally and improves blood flow to the brain.
If you have been struggling with migraines, especially if you have a history of head or neck trauma, you may have just found the solution. Contact a practitioner in your area today and scheduled a consultation to learn more.
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TV show host Montel Williams describes how specific chiropractic care has helped his body.
The content and materials provided in this web site are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to supplement or comprise a medical diagnosis or other professional opinion, or to be used in lieu of a consultation with a physician or competent health care professional for medical diagnosis and/or treatment. All content and materials including research papers, case studies and testimonials summarizing patients' responses to care are intended for educational purposes only and do not imply a guarantee of benefit. Individual results may vary, depending upon several factors including age of the patient, severity of the condition, severity of the spinal injury, and duration of time the condition has been present.
