Migraine Awareness Week is running from 3rd – 9th of September this year. Migraines and headaches of all kinds can bring misery and, as Winchester Chiropractor Max Atkinson knows all too well, the problem can have a severe impact on the lives of those affected.
The theme of this year’s awareness week is ‘Breaking migraine stigma together’. Migraine can carry a stigma – as many people still do not understand the condition. This results in those affected feeling alone, isolated and left to cope with the condition as best they can.
The dual aims of Migraine awareness week are:
- To help those suffering from Migraine to get the help, support and treatment that they need
- To raise awareness of the problems faced by Migraine sufferers in the rest of the population in order to help them to be more supportive
Max Atkinson supports both these aims, underlining how important it is that no one feels fearful or isolated because of the debilitating symptoms they are experiencing and that everyone should have the opportunity to receive the help that they need.(1)
What is Migraine?
Migraines are usually experienced as a very intense and painful headache. This can often be on one side of the head only and may come with a raft of associated symptoms including throbbing, aura (blurred vision or lights), nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light.
Chiropractors can often help in the case of migraine arising from misalignments in the spine and especially in the cervical spine (neck). This can cause irritation and compression of the nerves that pass through the head and face. It can also result in residual pain in the frontal region of the head, around the forehead, in the orbital region, affecting the eyes as well as the ears and temples.
Because these misalignments are biomechanical in nature, Chiropractic care can be beneficial as gentle Chiropractic adjustments can correct the problem and the associated nerve irritation and compression.
Chiropractic For Migraines
The holistic approach of Chiropractic can be very helpful as Migraines are complex, often presenting with several different systems and, after investigation, are discovered to have more than one trigger. Holistic Chiropractic care focuses on the body as a whole. In the case of migraines, it looks at how triggers and pain symptoms can be relieved.
If a biomechanical problem is the cause or a contributory factor for a patient’s Migraines, Chiropractic adjustments and other techniques can improve the alignment of the spine and relieve the pressure on surrounding soft tissues and joints.
Holistic Chiropractic care also looks at other dietary, health and lifestyle factors that may be triggering a migraine. For example:
- For those spending most of the day working at a desk, posture while sitting and the stresses of a demanding job may both be contributory causes. Your Winchester Chiropractor can help improve your posture and help you learn techniques that will aid in managing stress.
- Dietary factors may also be triggers, certain foods such as chocolate, cheese and citrus fruits are among those that can be triggers for migraine. Alcoholic drinks, particularly red wine and beer can also be culprits.
- Many migraine patients are low in a variety of nutrients, the chief among which are, Vitamin D, Coenzyme Q10 and Riboflavin (one of the B-Group vitamins).
So, learning how to improve posture and manage stress, avoiding the food triggers that affect migraine and correcting any nutritional deficiencies with improved diet and/or supplementation, if necessary can all be beneficial.
As you can see, Chiropractic treatment for migraines can positively affect the quality of life for migraine patients, helping them with relief of symptoms and understanding the triggers. It can also result in a reduction in the number, frequency and severity of attacks. To find out more and to arrange an appointment, please contact your Winchester Chiropractor today at the Bradford House Clinic on 01962-861-188 today. We are always ready to help.
(1)Bradford House Chiropractic supports the aims of Migraine Awareness Week but would like to make clear that it is not affiliated with this event or endorsed by it.
