The pain and discomfort from migraine hangovers can be pretty debilitating. Fortunately, you have several options for relief. And we have gathered all the best remedies and techniques you can try in our discussion below. Read on to find a suitable choice for you, including upper cervical chiropractic care.
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Migraine hangovers are the same as migraines, but they can be more painful and annoying. Worse, they can be very uncomfortable and last for hours, days, or even weeks. Essentially, migraine hangovers are also referred to as rebound headaches because they tend to come after a migraine attack ends. Sometimes they're referred to as post-migraine headaches or post-headache syndrome (PHAS), which may sound like something that only affects people who suffer from severe attacks of migraine pain on an ongoing basis. Well, this isn't true because studies explain that you can still get PHAS even if you have infrequent episodes of moderate pain.
Migraine hangovers are often triggered by the same things that caused your migraine in the first place. These triggers can be:
Whatever the trigger is, it's best to avoid them if you want to prevent migraines and migraine hangovers from happening more often than they already do.
You can tell if you have a migraine hangover by the symptoms you experience. These include:
You may be tempted to go for your usual migraine remedies like pain pills and an ice pack. But, it might help to tap into other ways to ease the pain. Here are five options that may help you get back to normal faster and better control your condition.
A good night's sleep is always the best remedy for a migraine hangover. You need to get enough sleep every single day. Additionally, you must have a regular sleep schedule. That means you should try sleeping and waking up at around the same time every day. It's also vital that you don't let yourself stay in bed too much. If you're lying in bed for more than two hours after waking up, your body might think that it’s nighttime again. This can potentially prevent your brain from recovering from your migraine episodes.
Some food items can trigger migraine hangovers, even if they don’t cause migraines. A few examples of these include:
One of the best ways to avoid migraines is to eat regularly and healthily. This will help prevent a migraine hangover by giving your body the nutritional support it needs for proper functioning. Eating small meals throughout the day can assist you in maintaining your energy levels, which can be low when you're feeling sick from a migraine. You should aim for foods that are high in protein and complex carbohydrates—both are easy for your body to digest, so they'll give you sustained energy without causing nausea or diarrhea (which also makes it easier to stay hydrated). Good protein sources include eggs, lean beef, and chicken breast, while the best complex carbohydrate sources include brown rice and whole wheat bread (although these aren't necessarily low-fat).
Reducing your stress levels can help with migraine hangovers. Stress is a significant migraine trigger, and it's worth taking steps to reduce stress. This may seem impossible, but there are many ways you can manage your stress levels more effectively. Eating healthily, getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and avoiding food triggers are perfect examples of ways to de-stress and recharge.We also recommend minding your caffeine intake. When you're under pressure at work or home, it's easy to reach for caffeine as a pick-me-up. Unfortunately, this can create more issues, so you must try reducing the amount of coffee or tea you drink during stressful times.
If you're looking for lasting relief from your migraine hangover, upper cervical chiropractic care is a proven and effective method. Upper cervical chiropractors are trained to recognize and treat the underlying cause of migraines — which is often a misalignment of the topmost vertebral bones. Notably, postural misalignments can occur after a traumatic injury like whiplash or concussion. The sheer force from these events can push the bones to fuse and compress nearby structures like your brainstem, nerves, and blood vessels. This results in a disrupted flow of nerve signals and blood to and from the brain. Naturally, restoring proper spinal alignment can help relieve pressure on nerves and lessen the intensity of your headaches and other symptoms.
Of course, the best way to avoid a migraine hangover is by taking preventive measures before an attack. This approach can be very effective at keeping migraines at bay while helping you recover from them more quickly when they occur. The best way to go about this approach is through chiropractic care. Misalignments can happen in many ways, so you must have a go-to chiropractor in your area.We have a great tip for you if you are yet to find one! Visit our Find-a-Doctor directory page so you can gain access to a comprehensive list of credible upper cervical chiropractors in the United States!
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.