Is yawning a symptom of migraine? Yes, repetitive yawning is one of the possible symptoms of migraines. It frequently happens during a migraine attack. Learn more about common signs and symptoms of migraines including repetitive yawning below and common underlying causes.
Before we look at a safe and natural pain relief method for migraine, let’s first run-through its most common signs and symptoms:
Yawning is the body’s natural way of taking in more air or oxygen that the body needs. When people are tired or sleepy, the body reinvigorates itself by making us open our mouth to exhale forcefully before we unconsciously breathe in deeply. Sometimes people with migraine and neck pain tend to yawn frequently because of a misalignment in the spine. Their breathing suffers when their head, neck, and body have alignment problems. Posture and spine stability, by nature, affect our respiratory functions.
The most common sign or symptom of migraine is an intense throbbing, squeezing, or pulsating kind of headache. The pain is often hard to bear and debilitates a person, preventing one from working or doing routine activities until the symptoms disappear or lower in intensity.
People with migraines are also sensitive to bright lights, loud sounds, and even strong smells.
People who suffer from migraines are also prone to sudden changes in mood. Before an attack, they suddenly show anxiety, irritation, or depression.
Intense attacks of migraines are known to cause a form of temporary blindness. An “aura” is also common or having a very blurred vision. At times, a person may see bright flashes or flickering lights. Others claim that they see geometrical patterns or unusual shapes.
Aside from an intense headache, a person with migraines may also have sinusitis-like symptoms. The nostrils feel clogged while the eyes well up with tears or become watery.
People with migraine and neck pain may also experience bouts of nausea and vomiting. During a migraine attack, even their digestive functions are affected. They can also feel like the world is spinning, and this dizzy spell makes them vomit.
Migraine can also lead to insomnia or sleeplessness. People who suffer from this ailment find difficulty sleeping since the pain can be really intense. Even when they do get some rest, it is only temporary because the pain interferes with sleep.
Aside from their pain, people with migraines may also experience difficulties in speaking, making their situation all the more debilitating.
About 7 in 10 people experience neck pain and stiffness right before or during a migraine attack. Migraine and neck pain almost always come together. There is, however, another type of ailment called “silent migraine” that may also affect a person with several symptoms yet feel no headache at all.
Despite the long list of signs and symptoms of migraine and neck pain, there is hope for individuals who suffer from this debilitating problem. While many grow accustomed to taking prescription painkillers, those who are tired of the side effects and want to find the underlying cause frequently look to the neck.
An upper cervical chiropractor performs many techniques to detect and correct imbalances in the head and neck. Using upper cervical spine chiropractic adjustments, they can perform natural, gentle, and drug-free solutions to pain and discomfort due to misaligned bones inside the neck. The focus of adjustments is on the atlas (C1 vertebra) and the axis (C2 vertebra). When these two bones are in alignment, a person with migraine may find that much-longed-for relief. For over 100 years upper cervical chiropractors have been helping people find hope and healing.
The C1 and C2 bones help protect the brainstem and the flow of cerebrospinal fluid or CSF. This fluid flows around the head, neck, and spine. Measuring only around 2/3 of a cup per person, the CSF is nevertheless essential because it carries out waste products from the brain, carries fuel for the brain including oxygen, and acts as a cushion for many organs in the head and upper neck region.
When these bones are misaligned, many brainstem functions and processes in the spinal cord are affected. CSF can become stagnant in the brain and create neuroinflammation leading to migraines.
The research suggests that upper cervical chiropractic care may be effective in treating migraines:
A case series of 3 patients illustrates an integrated model of care for migraine that combines standard neurological care with chiropractic care. The patients experienced improvements in pain scores, increase in pain-free days, decreased medication usage, and reduced anxiety/depression after receiving chiropractic treatment as part of their overall care plan.
A pilot study investigated the effect of Atlas (C1 vertebra) realignment using the NUCCA technique in 50 subjects with migraines. The study found statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in headache intensity and frequency after an average of 2.4 upper cervical adjustments, with no serious adverse events reported.
Several case studies have reported improvements in migraine symptoms, including reduced intensity and frequency, in patients receiving upper cervical chiropractic care, including those with migraines related to head/neck trauma or Meniere's disease.
The research also suggests upper cervical chiropractic care may be beneficial for other conditions that commonly co-occur with migraines, such as seizures, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome, though more research is needed.
In summary, the available research suggests upper cervical chiropractic care may be a promising non-pharmacological approach for managing migraines by addressing potential underlying musculoskeletal and neurological factors.
Yes, yawning is a common symptom of migraine. Yawning is a frequently seen behavior and a unique and reliable symptom in patients with migraine. Studies have shown that excessive yawning can occur hours before an impending migraine attack as part of the prodrome or premonitory phase. This is related to changes in dopamine levels in the body during the early stages of a migraine attack.
Yawning is considered a dopaminergic symptom of migraine. During the early prodrome phase of a migraine attack, low dopamine concentration can trigger excessive yawning. As dopamine levels increase, other prodrome symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and food cravings may appear.
Patients typically experience excessive yawning 2-3 days before the actual migraine attack occurs, as part of the prodrome phase.
Besides yawning, other common premonitory symptoms include recurring neck pain, exhaustion, mood swings, sensitivity to odors and sounds.
Migraine attacks can be triggered by problems with cervical spine alignment. Upper Cervical Chiropractic Specialists can help address these underlying issues and provide treatment to prevent or manage migraine episodes.
In summary, yawning is a well-established symptom of migraine, particularly during the early prodromal phase, and can serve as an important warning sign of an impending attack. Understanding the connection between yawning and migraines can help patients better anticipate and manage their symptoms.
The good news is that after a few upper cervical spine adjustments, people may experience relief from pain and a renewed sense of wellness. Many practitioners of this natural pain relief method have helped thousands of people get rid of migraine symptoms around the world today.
You, too, can discover this natural pain relief method by visiting an upper cervical chiropractor. Browse for a practitioner today and find hope for your migraines and other health issues.
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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.
