Are you looking for a long lasting migraine relief? You’re not alone. A recent publication by the Migraine Research Foundation shows that about 36 million Americans suffer from migraines. What does this mean? Literally every household in America has at least one migraine sufferer. It’s further estimated that the economy loses between $5 billion and $17 billion per year due migraines.
Migraines are very painful, recurring headaches that are sometimes accompanied by nausea or visual disturbances. There are two major types of migraines: migraines with aura, and migraines without aura. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, this problem involves (to some extent) changes in the flow of blood in the brain. Let us see how a chiropractor can help bring migraine relief.
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Chiropractors work with the belief that the problem of migraines originates in the spine due to misalignment of the vertebrae. This condition induces chemical imbalances in the brain leading to pressure that eventually results into severe headaches. They focus on the brain-body balance to address any discrepancies in attempt to contain the underlying problem.
Chiropractors look beyond external symptoms, they spend the bulk of their time analyzing the integration of functional immunology, neurology and endocrinology to find and address core issues.
Chiropractors recommend that in between therapies you avoid sudden body movements. To avert further problems as you advance through this care step, they advise that you pay close attention to your posture. In particular they advise that you sleep on your side or back. All these recommendations aim at one thing, re-directing pressure away from the spine.
What do studies say?
A 2000 study posted in the Journal of Manipulative and Psychological Therapeutics looking at two groups of migraine patients showed that those who sought migraine relief from chiropractor clinics showed great improvement in migraine severity. 90% showed significant improvement. This is contrary to what the second group posted (this group consisted of people who chose amitriptyline treatment).
Dr. Frederick G. Freitag (Associate Director of a Chicago based Headache clinic) says that, “Manipulative therapies (such as those applied by chiropractors), along with physical exercises can go a long way in addressing the underlying problem.”
In addition to applying spinal manipulation therapy, chiropractors recommend that you adopt a healthy lifestyle to keep migraines at bay. They recommend that you keep a migraine diary to take note of any significant changes that in one way or another may be related to your problem. They advocate against cigarette smoking, alcohol and excessive consumption of caffeinated drinks. They recommend that you get adequate sleep and that you take short breaks during the day to relax.
They’re also on the forefront when it comes to recommending the right diet for meaningful migraine relief. For instance, they recommend eating regular meals to sustain a constant flow of energy to the brain and other essential body organs.
If migraines are affecting your happiness and productivity and you feel like you can’t take it anymore, it’s time to approach a chiropractor for comprehensive migraine relief.