Migraines are a complex neurological disorder, and coffee is one of its known dietary triggers. Coffee lovers all look forward to a cup of this caffeine-rich beverage every morning or any time of the day.
However, it remains debatable whether coffee is good or bad for people experiencing migraine headaches. So, what’s the real deal with coffee? Does it help or make episodes even worse? Let’s set the record straight in this post.
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Migraines are one of the most disabling medical disorders in the world. Triggers are different elements that may bring about an attack. Every migraineur has their personal triggers. Some of the leading migraine triggers that patients report are as follows:
As you notice, caffeine is at the top of the list of migraine triggers. It is a compound often found in beverages we consume, such as coffee, tea, soft drinks, and energy drinks. Caffeine is also in chocolates and several over-the-counter medications.
The National Coffee Association reported that 64% of people in the United States drink coffee. Many people are coffee drinkers, yet very few know about the role that caffeine plays when it comes to triggering migraine headaches. It’s a little complicated as caffeine may prompt an attack, but it could also offer a pain-relieving effect. Whether coffee can ease or spark migraines depends on the frequency and dose of caffeine consumption.
In short, coffee can both trigger and treat an episode.
Coffee is the most vital dietary trigger factor of migraine and tension-type headaches, according to a study.
There is what doctors refer to as a “caffeine rebound,” which happens when a person takes too much of the substance. The National Headache Foundation explains that people may likely get a caffeine rebound headache once they withdraw from taking caffeine after continually consuming too much of it.
A recent study published in the American Journal of Medicine found that drinking three or more cups of caffeinated beverages – such as coffee – a day can bring about an attack that day or the following day in people with episodic migraines. Those with episodic migraines experience up to 14 headaches days per month.
The team of researchers observed 98 adults with episodic migraines. For six weeks, all patients made entries in an electronic diary twice each day. They recorded their intake of caffeinated drinks, lifestyle activities, and the timing and descriptions of their attacks. At the end of the study, researchers concluded that people who drink three or more cups of coffee a day are more prone to get migraine headaches.
They added that the dose and frequency of caffeine intake are the two deciding factors on the effect of coffee regarding migraines. Those who had less than three cups did not get attacks.
On the other hand, coffee isn’t all harm. Before an episode of a migraine or headache, our blood vessels expand. According to a study, caffeine includes “vasoconstrictive” components that help the blood vessels to narrow and limit blood flow, which reduces symptoms of migraines or any type of headache.
Also, caffeine is in a lot of medications that doctors prescribe to relieve headaches. These medicines are more effective in alleviating pain when fused with caffeine.
As researchers in the study above have pointed out, migraineurs should be mindful of the dose and frequency of their caffeine intake to avoid future attacks. Limit your coffee consumption to less than three cups each day if you have episodic migraines. If you drink coffee every day, do not miss your daily cup of coffee, or drink later than your usual time of drinking to prevent caffeine rebound headache.
Keep a migraine journal to track your intake of caffeinated beverages and other lifestyle factors that can trigger your attacks.
Above all, you need to address the root cause of your migraines to achieve long-term relief. For many migraineurs, the underlying cause of their attacks is a misalignment in the topmost bones in their upper cervical spine – the atlas and axis vertebrae.
These bones are just beneath the skull and protect the brainstem. The brainstem controls many important functions of the body. If misalignment exists in this area of the spine, the brainstem will have to suffer from undue stress. The misaligned vertebrae can also restrict the flow of blood and cerebrospinal fluid toward and from the brain. This contributes to the onset of migraines.
A natural therapy that can help with these issues is upper cervical chiropractic. Upper cervical chiropractic doctors locate and correct the specific misalignments of the upper cervical spine. Once the required corrections happen, your body can start to heal and restore its normal functions.
In many cases, resolving the stress on the brainstem results in improvement in the frequency and severity of migraines. This can mean a return of good quality of life for migraine patients. If you look forward to breaking free from the debilitating pain of migraines, start seeing an upper cervical chiropractor in your area. Click the button below to search for an upper cervical doctor near your city.
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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.
