You may benefit from visiting your chiropractor for migraines if you’re one of the over 37 million Americans that experience the crippling effects of these headaches. Migraines cause over 250 million missed workdays a year, leading to the loss of billions of potential earnings. Jenny is one of the millions of migraine sufferers in the United States.
Did You Know You Can Visit Your Chiropractor for Migraines?
She started having one headache a month- intense, pounding pain in right side of her head that spread to her forehead. It quickly became a growing problem, to where Jenny had at least one migraine a week. She couldn’t be around any bright light or loud noises; the only thing she could do was lay in a dark, quiet room. This was starting to run her life and none of the treatments seemed to work. Many others share this same story, with relief just out of reach. Luckily, Jenny found out about using a chiropractor for migraines and has decreased her headaches to once every six months. Receiving chiropractic care, even for those who have seen improvement from medication or other treatments, holds many benefits that unlock healing from the inside out.Advantages of Seeing a Chiropractor for Migraines
Migraine headaches, as a condition, can not be cured by conventional means. Most treatments available are aimed at decreasing the severity, duration, and frequency of the attacks. The primary asset seen is that in visiting a chiropractor for migraines, you get to the root of the problem instead of just covering up symptoms or trying to prevent an attack. This provides lasting relief while decreasing the need for medication (which actually doesn’t treat the migraine itself). In a randomized clinical trial, 72% of patients experienced either ‘substantial’ or ‘noticeable’ improvement after a period being treated by a chiropractor. Here are the ways chiropractic care can help provide relief:-
Proper alignment
Misalignment of the spine (subluxation) is a major cause of migraines. This also makes a person prone to chemical imbalances in the brain, increasing pain sensation. When spinal joints are put back into alignment, it allows for proper movement, takes pressure off of the nerves, and restores proper nervous system communication.
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Decrease nerve irritation
Compression of the canal that holds the brain stem and the spinal cord irritates and inflames nerves that send pain signals to the brain. Manipulation takes pressure off of these nerves.
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Reduce muscle tension
Tight muscles in the neck and back contribute to nerve pressure, restriction of circulation, and can cause tension headaches. Regular chiropractic care loosens muscles and decreases tension.
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Restore circulation
A major theory behind migraines is the vascular theory. In this, blood vessels are constricted and blood flow to the brain decreases. The brain senses this drop and compensates by stimulating the widening of arteries in the brain, which causes the headache. Chiropractic restores normal blood flow.
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Increases body’s ability to heal itself
When put into proper alignment, communication pathways in the nervous system are corrected, and the body’s healing potential is unlocked.
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Retrain and strengthen muscles that support the spine
This allows for continuation of proper alignment and correct movement so that the body is able to better hold itself in proper alignment.
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Identify triggers and plan to avoid them
Through working with a chiropractor for migraines, he or she may identify movements or painful areas (along with many other stimuli) that induce your migraine. By finding what these triggers are, your chiropractor can help you put a plan in place to avoid them.