There are about 39 million people in the US alone who get migraines. It’s about 12% of adults and 10% of kids. So the idea that most people believe a lot of incorrect information about migraines is difficult to conceive and yet is true. We’re going to bust some of the most common migraine myths so you don’t end believing them.
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For someone who gets migraines, the start of every headache may bring on the dread that a migraine is occurring. However, not all headaches are migraines, even for a migraineur. For example, if you eat your ice cream too fast and get a headache, it’s just an ice cream headache, not a migraine. That means you shouldn’t get all of the other symptoms.
You can also have a migraine without a headache. All of the other symptoms from aura to sensory sensitivity can appear without a headache setting in. Ocular migraines, in particular, frequently occur without a headache. You may have blurred vision or even temporarily lose your vision in just one eye. Headache is still the most common migraine symptom with about 85-90% of migraines having a headache phase, but it is not every migraine.
There may be some times when you need to take an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever to get through the day, especially if a migraine springs up at work. However, you can’t always rely on pain pills to help. Here are a few of the reasons:
Migraines with aura make up less than one-quarter of all migraines. If you don’t know what aura is, it is a series of symptoms that occur about 20-60 minutes before the headache phase (although you can also have aura without the headache). Most of the symptoms are visual and include seeing bright flashing lights, zig-zag lines, or other visual hallucinations. If you do experience migraines with aura, be sure to discuss any feelings of depression with a doctor. Suicide is more common among migraineurs in general and most common if you get migraines with aura.
Has your doctor tried to convince you that your neck pain is unrelated to your migraines? Neck pain is actually one of the most common migraine symptoms. In fact, it is one of the most common symptoms of just about any type of a headache. Surveys reveal that about 75% of migraineurs suffer from neck pain either before or during an attack. It may actually be part of your migraine triggers since stress can trigger migraines and the body stores stress in your neck and shoulder muscles. However, the real issue may be related to a misalignment of the atlas, the bone that balances the skull, and the effects that such a subluxation can have on the central nervous system. Here are three things an atlas misalignment may be causing:
As you can see, an atlas misalignment can very well be at the heart of your migraine problems. If this is the case, then we would like to introduce you to a natural therapy that has helped many patients in case studies. It is a chiropractic subspecialty called upper cervical chiropractic.
If you suffer from migraines, upper cervical chiropractic care may be the natural remedy you’ve been looking for. Precision measurements allow the practitioner to develop a custom adjustment for each patient that is very gentle. There is no cracking or popping of the spine. These adjustments are long-lasting and are safe for patients of varying health levels and ages.
Especially if you have a history of head or neck trauma that could have caused a misalignment, we encourage you to seek out an upper cervical practice near you. A no-obligation consultation may be your first step down the path to getting your life back. Some patients have even been able to say goodbye to migraines for good, right from the first visit or two. We hope you enjoy similar results.
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.