Manage Migraines Naturally: Know Your Triggers

If searching for natural ways to manage migraines has you considering chiropractic migraine treatment in Kittanning, PA you’re one step closer to lasting relief!

Read on to learn how we can help you get and stay out of pain, naturally.


The Bottom Line

There's hardly anything as disruptive to your daily life as a headache, especially when it's a migraine.

Migraines often seem to arrive uninvited, although they may signal their impending attack with visual disturbances and nausea.

Regardless of the symptoms, a migraine is one guest you'd rather not have.

As the go-to provider of chiropractic migraine treatment in Kittanning, PA we’re here to help you understand how to identify the onset of a migraine and understand natural ways to manage migraines.

This knowledge is crucial to enhancing your quality of life.

Let's explore the four stages of a migraine headache.

The Four Stages of Migraine

Migraine sufferers typically experience four distinct phases:

Premonitory Phase

This phase serves as a warning sign that a migraine is imminent.

Common symptoms include mood swings, neck stiffness, and constipation.

Aura Phase

Approximately one in four migraine sufferers will experience an aura.

Migraine auras often involve visual or sensory disturbances that precede the headache.

Visual auras may result in flashing lights or blurred vision, while sensory auras can affect speech and cognitive clarity.

Vision disturbances usually begin 20 minutes to an hour prior to the headache.

Even in the absence of an aura, the headache itself can lead to vision issues.

Headache Phase

The actual migraine headache can range from moderate to severe and often affects only one side of the head.

Migraine sufferers will find that their headaches worsen with physical activity, making rest essential.

Postdrome Phase

The postdrome is the final phase in the migraine cycle, occurring after the headache has subsided and leaving the individual feeling drained.

Why It Matters

We know that many individuals suffering from migraines do not receive effective care.

In fact, in countries like the United States and the United Kingdom, it's estimated that only half of chronic migraine sufferers seek assistance from a healthcare professional, despite the substantial disruption caused by symptoms such as:

• Throbbing, moderate to severe headaches on one side of the head.
• The onset of nausea and vision changes.
• Recurring episodes that can last from a few hours to several days.

The majority of migraine sufferers rely solely on over-the-counter medications, despite the lack of guaranteed relief from migraines.

Likewise, about half of those experiencing chronic or occasional headaches attempt self-treatment with over-the-counter painkillers, despite the increased risk of rebound headaches due to overuse.

When it comes to migraines, this risk is particularly associated with combinations of aspirin, acetaminophen, and caffeine.

We will say, given the symptoms and stages characteristic of migraines, it's no surprise that many people are unaware of non-pharmaceutical approaches to managing their attacks.

This lack of awareness often leads many of our friends and neighbors to delay seeking chiropractic migraine treatment in Kittanning, PA

Natural Ways to Manage Migraines

Rest assured, the recurrence of a headache is reason enough to consult a healthcare professional.

As with cervicogenic and tension headaches, it's possible to reduce the frequency, intensity, and severity of your migraines through a blend of lifestyle modifications and chiropractic care.

While the exact cause of migraines remains unclear, there are specific triggers often associated with their onset.

Identifying these triggers and proactively modifying any daily habits linked to them

is key to achieving long-term relief from migraines.

Recent studies have shown a considerable reduction in the number of migraine days for participants who underwent chiropractic care.

Next Steps

You can start to alleviate your migraines effectively by being proactive with your daily habits.

Opting for regular chiropractic care is one crucial step towards relieving migraine pain, so don't miss your next (or first!) adjustment.

And if you're new to the idea of natural ways to manage migraines and are interested in exploring chiropractic migraine treatment in Kittanning, PA our doors are always open, and we're eager to help you find relief!

Now, what about those triggers we mentioned?

Here are some of the most common:

• Consumption of alcohol, caffeinated beverages, or tobacco
• Periods of stress
• Exposure to intense lights or smells
• Periods of intense physical activity
• Changes in sleeping or eating patterns
• Certain medications
• Consumption of aged, salty, or processed foods and certain food additives

As you can see, preventive measures such as dietary changes and stress reduction strategies make sense for migraine sufferers.

And if you need help identifying which triggers contribute to your headaches, don't hesitate to ask us during your next visit.

To ensure you're on the right path towards lasting relief from migraines, it's wise to consult with a healthcare professional.

Remember, "Dr. Google" doesn't have a degree!

Our empathetic team has personally experienced migraines, and we're here to support you.

From advice to chiropractic adjustments and beyond, let us help you with some natural ways to manage migraines so you can leave those frequent migraines behind for good.

Science Sources

Chiropractic Therapy for Migraine. Eur J Neurol. 2017.
Headache Disorders. WHO. 2016.
What is a Migraine? Web MD. 2022.