Each year, about 39 million people in the US alone will experience a migraine. Most people realize that stress is the number one trigger of a migraine. What most people do not realize is the effect that chronic stress can have on migraines both when stress hormone levels rise or drop suddenly. That’s right – the reason you get a migraine when you finally take that much-needed vacation may be all the stress that you had up until that point!
We’re going to take a closer look at let-down migraines – what they are and why they occur. Then we will look at some natural ways to control your stress levels. Finally, we will conclude with a natural therapy that has helped many migraine patients in case studies, especially those who have neck pain as a migraine symptom.
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Also, sometimes referred to as a weekend headache, let-down migraines occur when your stress hormone levels suddenly drop following a prolonged period of elevation. So the same situation that often triggers your migraines, stress, may trigger another episode when you finally get that much-deserved chance to rest up. Why does stress cause this?
Stress hormones are actually beneficial in the right situation. They tense up your muscles, increase your blood pressure, and get you ready to react to an emergency situation. Unfortunately, when you deal with stress on an ongoing basis, this can lead to everything from stiff and sore muscles to migraines.
According to one study, there is a 500% increase in the risk of a migraine occurring during the first six hours after a stressful situation ends. This shows just how prevalent let-down migraines really are. It also reveals how important it is to learn to manage stress properly if you suffer from migraines, especially if you know that stress is one of your triggers. Let’s look at some vital stress relief techniques.
Remember that the stress that is causing migraines is chronic stress. So you need to do more than just take a vacation to cut back how much stress is in your life. Plus, it won’t help your stress if every time you take a break, you get a migraine. So instead, these tips are lifestyle, attitude, and mentality adjustments to make that will reduce stress long-term in your life.
One of the things that have people so stressed out is that mobile devices and the ability to work remotely have blurred the lines between home and the office. Keeping work in its proper place in life starts by remembering that money is a means to an end, not the primary thing in life. Spend time relaxing, and make sure it’s not always in front of the TV, which has limited benefits for stress relief. Don’t stay tied to work messages and emails when you are with family and friends.
Poor time management can add a lot of stress to a person’s life. If you don’t leave early for work or appointments, then the slightest traffic delay can create a tremendous amount of stress. If you procrastinate on work or school projects, this can also cause stress to mount. Maintaining a workable schedule is one of the critical factors in reducing how much stress you combat daily.
You may not be able to change everything that happens in your life, but you can control how you respond to it. For example, when someone does something that could potentially cause you stress (cuts you off in traffic, doesn’t hold a door for you, talks during a movie), try to give that person the benefit of the doubt. Some people are just rude, but believing that most people don’t go out of their way to cause problems for you is sure to keep your feelings in check.
Some problems are significant, and others are minor. Think about your life as a whole and where you will be in a year. If something that happened today won’t matter then, leave it in the past now instead of carrying it with you for days or weeks. Finally, try to look on the bright side when things get stressful. If work is stressful – at least you have a job. If you are stressed because a loved one is ill – at least you have people in your life that you love enough to worry about.
Another way to reduce your stress is to improve your health. The two work hand in hand, really because managing stress will improve your health. Another thing you can do to improve your health naturally is to try upper cervical specific chiropractic. Why is this form of chiropractic effective for many migraine patients?
When the top bones in the neck become misaligned, this can affect brainstem function, blood flow to the brain, cerebrospinal fluid drainage, and more! All of these factors can contribute to the onset of migraines. By correcting this underlying problem, you may see fewer or less severe migraines. Some patients even become completely migraine-free!
To give this chiropractic specialty a try, contact a practitioner in your area today. You may find that your neck pain had a lot more to do with your migraines than you initially expected!
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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.
