You would think that 39 million Americans getting migraines is enough to prevent the stigma attached to the condition. However, this is not the case. As a result, a person who gets migraines may view this neurological condition as a sensitive topic. How can you help your loved one to cope? Here are some tips that help to explain why migraines are such a tough subject. We will also introduce you to a drug-free therapy that is helping migraineurs get a natural solution.
If a person has MS or Parkinson’s disease, no one gives them a hard time about needing a day off from work. So why do migraineurs get flak? It’s because most people don’t realize that they are a neurological condition, just like those other serious health conditions. Comparing migraines to just one symptom, a headache, minimizes the condition and makes it tougher to cope with.
When it comes to most neurological conditions, there are visible signs that the person is sick. For example, a multiple sclerosis patient may be suffering from some degree of paralysis or a Parkinson’s patient may be dealing with visible tremors. Because a migraineur doesn’t look sick, they may feel like others don’t understand or are judging them. As a result, a person who gets them may be extra sensitive to criticism regarding what he or she is able or not able to accomplish.
You’re not going to find the word migraines on a person’s death certificate. When a disease is not considered fatal, it causes many people to look at it as not being that serious. No one would criticize a terminal cancer patient who decided to spend a day alone in a dark room. But if you want some alone time in the dark to deal with a migraine, it can seem like you are being unreasonable or are overreacting.
This concept that migraines are not dangerous also discredits the fact that depression and suicide are more common among migraineurs, especially those dealing with chronic migraines or migraine with aura. If hearing about how non-dangerous migraines are convinces a patient to avoid seeking proper care for associated health concerns, the problems can escalate quickly.
This causes a stigma for both men and women. For men, the stigma is that migraines are perceived as a female disease (despite the fact that about 6% of adult males have this condition). Men, therefore, often try to hide the fact that they get them. They may also face additional criticism for suffering from migraines.
The stigma for women stems from the fact that fewer men have the condition. Therefore, it fosters the idea that women are more prone to health problems. Keep in mind, however, that the discrepancy can have a number of different causes. For example, men may avoid diagnosis and treatment due to the stigma. Also, hormone fluctuations can trigger migraine attacks. Thus, it may just be more obvious when a woman has migraines because she has them more often due to the natural hormone changes that take place in the body from month to month and during pregnancy or menopause.
Most people who get migraines are sick of hearing about what worked for someone else. This can make it tough to offer a suggestion. However, the feeling is understandable because there is little evidence that shows the benefits of most natural remedies such as a diet to relieve migraines. Even medicines designed for migraines have very different results from person to person and may just be an expensive way to end up with unwanted side effects.
We mention this because we are about to share natural therapy that has been having great results, but you may want to be cautious about how you bring the topic up with a migraine sufferer. For example, you can mention that you were reading an article to help you understand more about migraines and why a person who gets them may suffer unjustly due to the attitudes of others toward this disease. Then you can mention that it discussed a drug-free therapy that has had positive results in dozens of case studies. This will show that you are doing research because you care and are not just looking for the next quick fix for migraines.
What upper cervical chiropractors have discovered is that many of the patients who come into the office with migraines also have a misalignment of the atlas (C1 vertebra). When this bone is even a fraction of a millimeter out of place, it can affect brainstem function, blood flow to the brain, and cerebrospinal fluid drainage. Any of these factors can lead to migraines.
By correcting this misalignment with precise and gentle adjustments (no popping or cracking), the underlying issues that lead to migraines can be corrected. For many of our patients, this has led to fewer or less severe migraines. Some are even completely migraine-free. If you would like to learn more, contact an upper cervical practice in your area. You may have just found the chiropractic subspecialty that can help you or a loved one to get necessary help for migraines.
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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.
