We have all experienced headaches set on by stress, lack of food, or other external factors. It can start as mild discomfort in your head, then the throbbing pain begins.
That throbbing pain is an indication of more than a simple headache. According to the Migraine Research Foundation, migraines are “affecting 39 million men, women, and children in the U.S. and 1 billion worldwide”.
We must understand a few things about migraines like:
- What is the difference between a headache and a migraine?
- What are the causes of migraines?
- What treatments can help with chronic migraines?
What is The Difference Between a Headache And a Migraine?
Many people believe that a headache and migraine are the same things. But migraines are a more complex condition, which includes headaches as a symptom.
Some distinguishing facts about a migraine include:
- Location. Headaches can affect either side of your head, but migraines can concentrate on only one side of your head.
- Auras. In most cases, migraines are onset with an aura. Visual auras are caused by an electrical or chemical wave that moves across the visual cortex of your brain. You can also experience sensory auras that start as a tingling or numb feeling that spreads up your arm to the face and tongue.
Other common symptoms. Those who suffer from migraines also experience nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light.
What Are The Causes of Migraines?
Headaches and migraines can both have various triggers, but with migraines, the triggers can be consistent. Therefore it’s important to pinpoint what can be setting off your migraines.
The tricky thing with migraines is that a trigger for one person’s migraine won’t set off migraines in another person. Some triggers include:
- Food triggers. Certain foods or additives like artificial sweeteners, MSG, cured meats, fermented foods, alcohol, and caffeine
- Environmental triggers. Bright or flickering lights, strong smells, or motion sickness
- Medications. Some medications can have migraines as side effects. Overusing pain medications can also trigger migraines.
When migraines occur 15 or more times a month, then you could be suffering from chronic migraines.
What Treatments Can Help With Chronic Migraines?
When a migraine is triggered, you experience a change in your nervous system as cranial blood vessels expand and affect the surrounding tissue. This tissue in the brain becomes swollen and leads to muscle tension and irritated nerves controlling blood flow to this area.
The best treatment is to understand your triggers and avoid them. But in the case of chronic migraines, additional help might be necessary.
A Chiropractor Can Help
When you visit a chiropractor, they will perform physical tests, test for allergies, perform a dietary examination, and do a blood analysis. These tests will determine the cause of migraines and treatment through soft tissue therapy, spinal decompression, and exercise rehabilitation therapy.
Part of your treatment will include chiropractic adjustments that help to reduce restrictions on joints or spine misalignments. This will help reduce inflammation and improve the function of the affected joints and the nervous system.
The chiropractors at Spinal Health & Wellness are ready to provide the treatment that will help your body better manage pain. Contact us today to get on the road to better health.