Almost everyone has had a headache at one time or another. However, migraines are not headaches. Yes, they have headaches as one of their symptoms. They are actually a condition that manifests itself with a number of neurological symptoms. These include the following:
- Throbbing and pounding head pain on one side of the head in two-thirds of the cases
- Attacks lasting for 4 to 72 hours
- Visual disturbances
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Dizziness or vertigo (a spinning sensation)
- Extreme sensitivity to light, sound, touch, and certain smells
- Tingling and numbness in the face or the extremities
These symptoms are different for each person and are sometimes different with each migraine in the same person.
Migraines are a very little understood condition. Advances in technology have helped researchers to begin to understand how the brain and nervous system work. It was previously thought the constriction and dilation of blood vessels was the source of migraine pain. In fact, early medications targeted the blood vessels to try to ease the pain. However, new information has come to light, and it is now believed that migraines actually involve chemicals in the brain and nerve pathways. It has also been observed that migraines have a genetic component to them because half of all sufferers have a family member who suffers as well. This is not the complete story though. The other 50 percent do not have this as a source of their migraines. This means environment plays a huge role as well.
Triggers for Migraine
Triggers can be confusing, and they are different for each person. It is important to understand that triggers do NOT cause migraines; they set them off. Each person has to figure out what his or her personal triggers are because they are different for everyone. What triggers your mom’s migraines may be entirely different than what triggers your migraines.
A good way to think about triggers is to view them as risk factors. Several risk factors can bring about an attack. The more risk factors you have, the more likely you are to have a migraine occur. One thing that is suggested by many migraine specialists is to keep a migraine diary. Some things you will want to include are what you were doing just before the attack occurred, what foods you ate that day, what the weather was like, what exercise you did, and how much stress you were under. Keeping a detailed diary can help you see a pattern develop that will pinpoint your personal triggers. Then you can work to avoid them if at all possible. This can lead to fewer migraines, and when they do occur, they may be less intense.
There are no universal triggers, no one size fits all. But here is a list of some of the more common triggers.
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Fasting or skipping meals
- Dehydration
- Alcohol
- Over-exertion
- Exercise
- Stress
- Strong odors
- Bright or flickering lights
- Smoke or pollution
- Altitude
- Air pressure changes (airplane travel)
- Motion sickness
- High and low humidity
- Sudden or big changes in temperature
- Barometric pressure changes
- Bright sunlight
- Changes in hormone levels
- Pregnancy
- Menstruation
- Menopause
- Hormone replacement therapy
- Oral contraceptives
- Overuse of pain medications
- Medication side effects
- MSG
- Artificial sweeteners
- Nitrates
- Tyramines
- Caffeine — too much or too little
Serious Implications for Your Brain
Now that we understand a little more about migraines, let’s look at how they impact your brain. A study was done aimed at seeing how certain parts of the brain were affected by migraines. The objective was to compare the brains of those with migraines to those without migraines, using the upright MRI machine invented by Dr. Raymond Damadian. Were there actually abnormalities in the brains of those with migraines? The study was performed to answer this question.
Previously, some testing had been done that indicated that migraines were progressive brain diseases. An increase in white matter hyperintensities was observed with each attack.
Observing 28 people who had migraines, they identified particular sites of brain abnormalities in those with migraines in the frontal lobes, brainstem, and cerebellum. They found that both attack frequency and disease duration are indicators for damage in those who suffer from migraines. This further shows migraines may actually be a progressive brain disease.
Finding Help for Migraines
After reading the above information, you probably are more anxious than ever to find a way to relieve your migraines. The good news is that help is available. One area of care seeing great success in helping those with migraines is upper cervical chiropractic care. Migraines have been shown to be connected to a misalignment in the top bones of the neck. The C1 and C2 vertebrae are especially susceptible to misaligning due to their mobility and location. It doesn’t take much more than a trip and fall or mild whiplash to cause these bones to move out alignment. When this occurs, the brainstem is impacted. These bones were designed to protect the brainstem, but if they move out of place, they put the brainstem under stress. This can cause it to send improper signals to the brain. The muscles of the neck can also become irritated by a misaligned bone here. In addition, the flow of cerebrospinal fluid and oxygen-rich blood can be hindered from reaching and exiting the brain. All of these things can lead to migraines.
We use a gentle method allowing the bones of the neck to move back into their original position without the use of force. We do not have to pop or crack the neck to get positive results. After just a few adjustments, many people see a big improvement in their migraines. Some people see them go away and not return.
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