Do you notice worse migraine attacks after a hectic work week? Are your symptoms more painful when you spend too much time computing your monthly budget for your family? Are you worried that your stressors will soon get the best of you and cause long-term problems like job loss and relationship conflicts?

It's not surprising that you have this issue because stress can most certainly worsen headaches and migraines. Studies have found that stress can trigger the release of chemicals known as hormones that affect blood pressure and your brain cells and tissues. These hormones can also interfere with the normal transmission of brain signals, causing you to become more prone to painful headaches and other migraine symptoms. 

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to manage this type of headache without drugs or other medications. Read on to learn about the two natural approaches to migraine relief – deep breathing exercises and upper cervical chiropractic.

How Breathing Exercises Help with Migraines

Deep breathing exercises are quite simple, yet they provide heaps of benefits, especially to people who struggle with constant headaches and migraines. According to studies, this simple migraine relief technique can help you achieve the following:  

• Regulate your heart rate and lower blood pressure
• Relax muscles in the neck, shoulders, jaw, and face
• Improve oxygen supply to your brain
• Reduce stress and anxiety and enhance the quality of sleep
• Increase your energy levels
• Improve your mood and sense of well-being
• Lessen muscle tension, stiffness, and spasms

Best Migraine Breathing Exercises

Below are some of the most effective deep breathing exercises you should try to eliminate or diminish the effects of migraines.

Belly Breathing

This exercise involves taking a deep breath through your nose, holding it for the count of four, and then exhaling through your mouth for the count of four. Belly breathing is one of the best ways to find relief from migraines. It can also help ease anxiety and stress by calming your body’s fight-or-flight response system.

Deep Rhythmic Breathing

This technique involves breathing in deeply through your nose while counting to four, holding that breath for another four counts, then exhaling slowly while counting four more times. You should repeat this process several times until you feel relaxed and ready to continue with other relaxation techniques, such as meditation or yoga.

Balloon Technique

Many migraineurs reduce the pain they experience by doing the balloon deep breathing technique before they start their day. As the name suggests, it involves visualizing blowing a balloon with long and deep breaths. This technique works quite well, especially for those who drive or sit at work all day long without breaks!

The Roll Technique

This technique is one of the most effective breathing exercises for migraines. It's also quite simple, but it requires you to lie down on your back for a few minutes. Headache sufferers use this exercise by rolling their heads from side to side 10 times, holding each position for about 5 or 6 seconds to benefit from the movement. This will help relieve tension in your neck and shoulders and reduce swelling around these areas that may be causing pain during a migraine.

Compliment Your New Routine with Upper Cervical Chiropractic

Your upper cervical spine is the topmost section of your neck and head, and it's crucial to maintaining good health. This is because the brainstem, spinal cord, and nerve roots that control numerous vital functions pass through this area. If they're compressed or irritated, they can cause a variety of problems.If you’ve been having headaches and migraines that just won’t go away, there might be something wrong with your neck! It’s also crucial to check if you have had a history of whiplash, concussions, and other types of neck and head injuries because these likely caused ligament tears that prevented your neck bones from aligning in place.Fortunately, you can fix this problem: upper cervical chiropractic care! It’s an excellent remedy you can add to your care regimen, like deep breathing exercises. The process works by applying gentle atlas bone adjustments to address seemingly undetected changes to your posture after you hurt your neck or head. The technique prevents your head from tilting, so the neck bones don’t twist away from their normal position and help the spine maintain its neutral alignment.Consequently, it can help release the tension on the neck and shoulder muscles as well as essential nerves and blood vessels. Once your neck bones start shifting back into their proper places, your can potentially have less frequent and less severe migraine attacks. So if you’ve were in an accident several years ago and hurt your head and neck, we strongly recommend consulting with a nearby upper cervical chiropractor. Locate one in your city by using comprehensive Doctors Directory. You can decrease your symptoms, have more energy every day, and spend more time with your family and friends. You can be free of worries caused by your recurring symptoms. Book an appointment with a cervical chiropractor today!

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