Ask anyone suffering from migraine just how debilitating the episodes can be once the symptoms start showing. If you ask different migraine patients, you will learn that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to managing migraine pain and discomfort. Some are satisfied with taking pain-relief medication, others rely on home remedies, while there are patients who generally feel relief from upper cervical care.
Because the leading cause of migraine remains unknown, studies about this common health concern are continuously taking place. A new study reveals a promising method to test for migraines. This direction can lead to a potential method that can assess a person's risk for developing migraines by looking at specific blood proteins that might influence or even cause migraine.
According to the Global Burden of Disease study 2019, migraine is the second cause of disability worldwide and the first among young women. So this promising study is good news, especially for people suffering from chronic or occasional migraines.
By examining the blood and focusing on specific proteins, the study's findings showed specific protein markets likely associated with migraines. This is believed to help a person's migraine risk and support a diagnosis.
However, further studies need to be made as they currently have limitations. First, the participants who participated in the study were mainly European. Therefore the collected data may not apply to other groups. They will also need to analyze possible migraine-specific proteins in tissue further.
Despite limitations, the researchers see this as a promising pathway that can lead to developing new therapeutic medications. Therefore, the researchers will continue to pursue the direction of this research and further investigate this area. Hopefully, future researchers will help confirm these findings.
While waiting for the study involving blood proteins and migraine to achieve completion, there are natural ways you can explore to help manage your migraine symptoms. However, as we said, migraine is different for everyone, so finding the best one that works for you may require trial and error.
Some people tend to feel more stressed when pressured to manage stress, but it can work wonders when done correctly. As you may know, elevated stress levels can trigger and aggravate health conditions, including migraines. So finding an effective stress reliever may be vital in reducing your migraine pain. Avoiding stressful incidents can also significantly benefit you.
Migraineurs often find it helpful to make a few lifestyle modifications to prevent additional health concerns that might worsen their symptoms. Some of these lifestyle changes include drinking enough water, scheduling a regular workout routine, eating an anti-inflammatory diet, wearing protective eyewear, and limiting alcohol and nicotine consumption.
While migraine's cause remains unknown, many rely on identifying triggers to manage migraine. Some will be affected by certain scents, food, sound, and other stimuli, which can lead to an attack. Knowing what triggers your migraine can help you deal with the situation better. Keeping a journal can help you track your migraine triggers better.
Gently massaging your migraine pressure points can help reduce pain and discomfort. If you are unsure where to massage, an acupuncture therapist can help tell you the pressure points, which you can eventually learn to do by yourself.
Many people find relief by using essential oils such as lavender, chamomile, rosemary, and peppermint. These oils are believed to help soothe your migraine pain and are good stress relievers when inhaling them. Essential oils can be applied topically or by diffusing the oils.
For a more long-term relief option, you may consider upper cervical chiropractic care, a natural and non-invasive procedure that provides migraine relief. Experts have discovered a connection between migraines and neck bone misalignment. Hence, upper cervical adjustments are recommended.
Your neck is critical in getting rid of your usual migraine-related headaches and other symptoms. This is because a misalignment in the upper cervical spine can lead to chronic migraines and other severe symptoms. Unless you correct and address the misalignment, your symptoms will continue and potentially worsen.
Your C1 and C2 bones, the atlas and axis, make up your upper cervical spine. These bones are highly susceptible to moving out of alignment due to their position. Injuries, physical trauma, excessive pressure, and stress can all trigger their misalignment. When it remains misaligned, the rest of your spine will eventually compensate to keep your head balanced and upright. This can subject your muscles, tissues, ligaments, and joints to excessive stress and pressure. However, it's not an immediate incident, so you won't probably notice symptoms right away. These things happen gradually.
There is also no other way to confirm an upper cervical misalignment unless you consult an upper cervical chiropractic doctor. If you don't know where to find a trusted one, you can refer to our upper cervical doctors' directory and find someone near you.
Upper cervical adjustment is generally safe and gentle in correcting the misalignment in your upper cervical bones for migraine relief. Paying attention to your upper cervical spine and getting regular care can also help address other conditions related to your migraine episodes.
Living with migraine is tough, and it's exciting that new research paving a possible way to assess migraine risk is underway. While more studies are needed before we know if this blood protein-based approach is effective, it offers hope that we may soon have more options to help patients with migraine, such as upper cervical chiropractic adjustments.
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.