Migraine headaches affect millions of people on a daily basis. Females are affected twice as often as males and headaches usually begin around the onset of puberty but can vary. There does seem to be a genetic predisposition in families especially seen in females in a family. This category of headaches is typically broken down into to subcategories: Migraine headaches accompanied by an aura (Classical Migraine), and those without an aura (Common Migraines). Common migraines constitute the overall majority of migraine sufferers with about 80% of the cases whereas classical migraine sufferers make up the minority with about 20% of the cases.
The aura leads up to the headache and is a nervous system reaction that typically involves the sensory system. Auras can be visual, auditory, sensory, and even motor. The most common visual aura is a visual change known as a scotoma which appears as a hazy spot. The second aura is called paresthesia, which is the pins and needles sensation. Other common associated conditions include sensitivity to light (photophobia) and sound (phonophobia). The pain associated with the headache itself is usually graded as moderate to severe and is usually described as throbbing.
The most common theories behind the cause of migraine headaches include trigger factors, vasoconstriction/vasodilatation, and autonomic nervous system overreactions. Scientists have identified a number of these triggering mechanisms. These include physical activity, stress, tension, poor posture, hormonal changes related to menstruation, changes in blood sugar, allergies, and certain foods. The most commonly identified foods include coffee, tea, alcohol, caffeine, MSG, niacin, processed foods, histamine, chocolate, cheese, and red wine. The first step for anyone suffering from migraines is to keep a diary in order to identify triggers or patterns. The diary should include: diet, hormonal cycles, activities, interactions, medications, and any other environmental factors as well as timing, duration, and severity of headaches. This will allow patients to identify possible triggers in order to avoid them in the future.
Chiropractic care offers patients relief from recurrent migraine episodes using a wide variety of proven treatments. Soft tissue myotherapy in the areas of the upper back, neck, and head help to reduce muscle spasms. Gentle spinal manipulation has been proven to reduce nerve pressure by correcting spinal misalignments that normally leads to poor posture and tension.
Patients experiencing severe, frequently occurring migraine headaches should consult a medical professional and those taking any medication should consult with their physician before attempting any nutritional supplementation. Migraines can run your life if they are left undiagnosed or untreated. There are a number of alternative and traditional medical treatments available to migraine sufferers so seek help today. Chiropractic doctors have had great success with migraine headache treatment.
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Tags: adjustment, alternative care, aura, Chiropractic, Chiropractor, Classical Migraine, Common Migraine, Headache And Vomiting, headaches, Michael Pritsker, migraines, misalignment, paresthesia, phonophobia, photophobia, scotoma, subluxation