Migralepsy is not an official medical condition. It is a term coined by combining the words migraine and epilepsy. Migraines and seizures can go together, which is probably why some people came up with the term migralepsy.

Understanding Migraines and Epilepsy

Since these two often go hand-in-hand, it is vital to know the basics.

• Migraines

Quite a common condition, migraines cause intense headaches that most people find overpowering. Someone who deals with a migraine attack does the following:

• Opts to stay stationary – a migraine attack triggers vertigo or the spinning sensation. Nausea often comes at the heels of vertigo. As such, staying still is often a logical choice. 
• Stays in a dark room – migraines make people more sensitive to light, so keeping the curtains shut can help. At the very least, doing so does not aggravate the situation. 
• Misses meals – moving can aggravate migraines. Eating can make the stomach queasy. A person who has migraines likely skips meals, which leads to hunger pangs and dehydration. These two things can worsen the primary condition.

• Epilepsy

Most people think that epilepsy is a physical condition because of the resulting seizures. It is not. It is a brain-related disorder caused by irregular brain activity. Aside from the jerking movements, someone having an epileptic seizure may experience any of the following:

• Muscle stiffness – this happens abruptly and can cause the person to collapse.
• Unconsciousness – some people experience brief episodes of losing consciousness and then immediately recover. Some need urgent medical care to regain awareness.
• Urinary incontinence – an epileptic seizure can cause a person to pee uncontrollably.

Common Factors

Migraines and epileptic seizures share similar points:

• Risk factors

They have similar risk factors like stress levels and quality of lifestyle. The most vital is that someone with migraines has a higher risk of experiencing epileptic seizures. A person who has epilepsy is also more prone to migraines.

• Symptoms

Intense headaches, diarrhea or constipation, lethargy, nausea, and muscle tension are some of the symptoms that can manifest in both migraines and seizures.

• Aura

Working as the body’s warning signal, an aura can precede both migraine and epileptic attacks. The manifestations are similar, including tingling muscle sensation and sensitivity to external factors like light and noise.

• Causes

Genetic indicators increase a person’s susceptibility to migraines and epilepsy. Head trauma can also trigger either a migraine or a seizure.

• Effects

Most people dealing with either migraine or epileptic attacks go through bouts of depression. Missing work during a migraine or an epileptic attack is a common occurrence. Seeking medical care can also be costly.

• Prescription medication

Some doctors prescribe anticonvulsants to some of their patients who complain of migraine attacks. These are the same medications given to people with epilepsy to lessen the twitching. 

Key Differences

Although migraines and seizures share a lot of similar factors, there are also notable differences:

• Headache

A person dealing with a migraine attack deals with intense and throbbing pain in the head that can last for a few days. Someone with epilepsy might experience headaches that do not linger.

• Occurrence

Migraines are common and can affect a lot of people. As such, they can have far-reaching economic effects. Epileptic seizures are not as expected, so they might not have a significant business impact.

• Physical manifestation

Although a person with migraine can incessantly complain about the pain, there are no other visible, physical manifestations of this discomfort. An epileptic seizure, on the other hand, is easily recognizable with the jerky movements or flailing arms.

• Awareness

Someone with a migraine attack is usually aware for the most part unless the person sleeps it off. Epilepsy can cause loss of consciousness, so a person might not even know he had an attack until he regains cognizance.

Precautionary Measures

Here are the things people do to lower their risks of migraines and seizures.

• People who have both migraines and epilepsy can get prescription medicine. Some doctors can even prescribe medication that might address both altogether.
• Some people work towards improving their lifestyle to lessen the instances of migraine attacks and seizure episodes. Eating healthy and staying hydrated helps the body perform at its best. Getting enough rest aids the body in recovering from the daily rigor. 
• One great way to lessen the risk is to manage stress. Stress induces and aggravates migraines and seizures. Managing stress through activities like yoga and sports might help.

Managing Your Migraines and Seizures Naturally

People with migraines and epilepsy often take prescription medication to manage their episodes. If you are looking for another way to address your attacks, you might want to consider seeking upper cervical chiropractic care. 

Upper cervical chiropractors can determine the presence of misaligned bones in the neck. When this happens, it can increase the pressure in some parts of the neck. The additional tension can lead to headaches or abnormal activity in the brain.

Upper cervical chiropractors help people with misaligned cases to restore bone alignment in their neck. Once accomplished, a realigned neck no longer deals with additional tension. This allows the body to start performing optimally. A well-aligned upper cervical spine may lead to fewer migraine episodes and epileptic attacks.

We have a directory of upper cervical chiropractors all over the states who can evaluate if a misalignment causes your migraines or seizures. In such a case, it might help if you seek chiropractic care.

Check our list and schedule an appointment with your local upper cervical chiropractor. It might help improve your condition. 

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