Can Fasting Cause Migraines?

January 23, 2022

fasting, migraine and neck pain

Have you ever come across “fasting headache” while researching an effective way to get rid of migraine and neck pain? Chances are, you already know about it or have experienced it once in your life. But unfortunately, when you noticed the symptoms, you did not know how to manage them. You also likely don’t understand why they happen and how to prevent another one from happening. 

With this in mind, we thought of creating our guide on fasting migraine and neck pain. Hopefully, our discussion can help you create a better patient care plan.

 

What is Fasting Migraine?

Whether you’re fasting for religious or fitness purposes, you might have noticed a few adverse effects on your body. For example, you might have worse headaches during and after your fasting session. Studies explain that the throbbing headache happens because of the insufficient supply of glycogen-derived glucose. Besides the lack of blood sugar levels in the body, fasting migraines can also occur because of the following: 

Stress or dehydration

People commonly associate stress with mental health problems. However, it’s crucial to understand that it can also affect the physical aspects of your health. When you are stressed out, your body releases excessive amounts of cortisol, a hormone that can trigger headaches, high blood pressure, and increased inflammatory response. 

Caffeine withdrawal

Some studies link caffeine withdrawal with fasting migraines. That’s because they cause similar effects to the body – worse headaches and increased blood sugar levels. Both problems can also trigger more severe migraine and neck pain because they can cause massive changes to blood vessels.

 

How to Avoid Triggering a Fasting Migraine

The most obvious way to address a fasting-induced migraine is to avoid skipping your meals. You should grab a hearty meal and drink enough fluids to sustain your body’s everyday physiological processes, even during a busy day. 

If you don’t have a choice because of your religious beliefs, we recommend skipping your usual dose of caffeine. This will come in extra handy in reducing the effects of a fasting headache. 

Additionally, it would help if you had a few pain relievers in your home medical kit. You can take a dose when you experience the symptoms to cope better.

fasting, migraine and neck pain

 

 

 

 

 

Other Tips to Cope with Fasting Migraines

So, now that you know a thing or two about fasting-induced migraines let’s check some of the other tips that patients use to cope with their symptoms. 

Check your medications 

NSAIDs can help prevent worse headaches and soothe neck pain. However, it still pays to ask your doctor about the best types of medication to use. It would help if you also asked about the dosage and how long you need to take the drug. 

Practice stress management tactics

Explore new things like creating art or building furnishings for your home. You can also try breathing exercises, yoga, or guided meditation. Whatever stress management techniques work for you, we recommend doing them regularly.   

Avoid sleeping long hours in the morning

If you sleep for extended hours during the day, you can potentially mess up your sleeping pattern. Unfortunately, you will likely develop worse headaches and stiffer neck muscles and joints when this happens. Instead of sleeping in during the day, why not spend our leisure hours on productive activities. 

Work on things that affect your sleeping patterns

Besides avoiding long naps during the day, you might also find it helpful to address health complications that impact your sleep. These things can include bruxism (teeth grinding), restless leg syndrome, and fibromyalgia. Additionally, we strongly suggest making a few improvements to your bedroom. You can change the lighting, switch to comfier pillows, and adjust the thermostat setting. 

Enjoy a soothing neck massage

Sometimes, fasting-induced headaches or migraine attacks stem from a stiff and sore neck. The tension from the stiff neck muscles tends to affect various parts of the nervous system, including the spinal cord and brainstem. By massaging your neck, you can release the pressure and help your body prevent the onset of a chronic migraine attack.

Work on your postural problems 

Migraine and neck pain can sometimes develop because of postural issues. If you have abnormal neck curvature, then chances are you have an oversensitive brainstem. And because of that, you have a higher chance of developing chronic migraine symptoms like neck pain and headaches. 

If you notice tightness in your neck area and unevenness in your shoulders and legs length, you likely have cervical subluxation. Once you correct the postural imbalance, you can eliminate your symptoms and enjoy a healthier life. 

 

Eliminate Fasting Migraine and Neck Pain with Upper Cervical Care

Thousands of ailing patients who complain about an achy neck and severe migraine attacks have found massive relief thanks to upper cervical chiropractic. Essentially, it aims to address the postural imbalance in your cervical spine and provide additional benefits, including: 

  • Improved blood flow to the brain 
  • Better cerebrospinal fluid drainage 
  • Improved brainstem function and health 

So, how exactly can neck bone adjustments help turn the tide for people suffering from migraines?

The initial session with an upper cervical doctor will help you assess your condition and your neck bone’s structure. So, during your initial visit, you might have to undergo several diagnostic procedures like 3D bone scans, MRI tests, and physical examination of your neck and limbs. 

Once your doctor understands the severity of your neck bone misalignment, you can begin receiving upper cervical chiropractic adjustments. Then, gradually you can release the tension on your neck and experience less pain and headaches. 

Are you ready to explore natural and holistic migraine and neck pain relief? Locate a local upper cervical clinic today!

 

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

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