Headaches throughout life are extremely common, with every person experiencing them at least once. However, not all people experience migraines, though some may be experiencing them without actually being aware of them.
So what’s the difference between a headache and a migraine?
Migraines are generally far more debilitating than a headache and are generally characterized by their severity and often nausea. Women are three times more susceptible than men.
A typical migraine generally only affects one side of the head at a time and is commonly reported to be of a pulsating nature, lasting anywhere between four and 72 hours and usually occurring multiple times in a month. Different from a normal headache, symptoms of migraine can include nausea, vomiting, light and sound sensitivity, and are aggravated by regular activity. Other common symptoms include blurred vision, loss of appetite, paleness, fatigue, dizziness, and “aura” (this is the sensation of seeing bright flashing lights, dots, blind spots, wavy or jagged lines – usually prior to onset).
The triggers of a migraine are varied and not always clear. The foods we eat, hormonal levels, monthly cycles, genetics, medicines, or even stressors can have a massive effect on whether we suffer migraines and the treatment options.
Traditional medicine has always veered towards preventing and treating the condition with medications, however alternative therapies have been shown to be just as effective.
Abnormal movement patterns within the joints of the vertebral column can often activate neurological pain pathways that travel the length of the spine to the brain, causing distorted joint and muscle control, and resulting in inflammation and pain through the body.
Chiropractors use spinal adjustments to address and correct these issues, which can in turn help to support pain relief and prevention of severe headaches and migraines long-term.
Further to this, our chiropractors are able to provide you with genuine advice to promote general health and wellbeing through diet and exercise and prevent any further problems.
If you have chosen to have chiropractic care as part of your strategy to treat your pain and symptoms coming from your musculo skeletal system, but you have questions or concerns about other aspects of your health and physiology that may pertain to your headaches, please do not hesitate to ask at your next appointment. Chiropractors are trained to have a thorough understanding of physiology and may be able to explain to you some of the mechanisms of what is going on, and make some suggestions in terms of what might be suitable avenues to explore for improvement.
