We’ve been in business as migraine chiropractic specialists in Manila for many years now. And as much as possible, we advise our patients to go for natural relief options.
Fellow experts have classified three primary categories of non-medicated relief options for migraine patients. These options are suited for everyone, especially those who have adverse reactions to specific drugs.
In addition, we will discuss a fourth option, which has been successful for bringing relief from migraines in some people. This option is one that is likely off your radar, but definitely worth looking into.
If you’re reading this article, you might be part of the 14% of the world’s population suffering from migraines. We aim to provide you with information to help you deal with your condition better. At the very least, you can pass this information along to others who need it.
Lifestyle Changes for Migraine Relief
Self-care is always an option for those suffering from a chronic illness. Simple lifestyle changes can sometimes help prevent migraines from occurring.
Here are some of the ways you can help curb your migraine attacks:
Keep a migraine journal: Having a journal to keep track of your migraine episodes helps in determining all possible triggers. This is most vital because symptoms and attacks vary from one person to another. Some attacks are due to unavoidable weather changes. Keeping track of triggers will ultimately help in prevention by making necessary lifestyle adjustments to avoid your personal triggers.
Eat on a regular schedule: A common migraine trigger is missing meals. But sticking to regular meal times is one effective way of prevention. Doing so may help in reducing the frequency of migraine attacks.
Keep a consistent sleep schedule: Similar to missing meals, having an inconsistent sleep schedule may cause migraine attacks to ensue. Make sure to sleep at the same hour every night to get your body adjusted.
Sudden changes in sleep schedules will disrupt your circadian rhythm. In turn, you are more susceptible to disorders such as migraines.
Maintain a healthy body weight: Experts see a connection between the frequency of migraine attacks and a person’s body mass index (BMI). Keep the excess weight down through proper diet and a regular exercise regimen.
Other helpful lifestyle changes include reducing alcohol consumption and not smoking cigarettes. Alcohol and cigarettes are likely migraine triggers that are entirely avoidable.
To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and headaches download our free e-book Natural and Drug-Free Ways to End Your Migraines by clicking the image below.
Exercise and Migraines
We’ve briefly touched on exercise as a way to maintain healthy levels of the body mass index. But there are many other ways regular workouts prevent migraine attacks from happening.
For one, consistent workouts help the body’s ability to regulate pain levels and produce endorphins, also known as “feel-good hormones.” At the same time, cortisol levels don’t get too high.
But then, you may ask, “Isn’t too much exertion bad for migraines?” For these cases, light to moderate workouts is the better option. Focus on low-impact exercises like light stretches. Indeed, exercising during a migraine episode may worsen the migraine, so keep things easy during this time.
Graded exercises are also an option, especially if you’ve stopped working out for a long time. It allows your body to start easy while increasing the intensity bit by bit.
The Non-Drug Option for Migraine Attacks
Now, let’s dive right into the main topic, the non-medicated options for migraines. This is a more holistic approach that revolves around physical therapy, acupuncture, and similar types of care. But for this particular article, we will focus on upper cervical chiropractic care.
Upper cervical chiropractic care is a subspecialty of chiropractic, with several differences. The most significant one, however, is that it focuses on the top two vertebrae of the spine.
There are three main focuses of upper cervical chiropractic care:
Focused Care – Upper cervical chiropractors do not adjust the entire spine. Instead, they focus on the top two bones on the neck, known as the C1 and C2 vertebrae. These vertebrae are also called the atlas and axis, respectively.
Gentle Relief – Adjustments for upper cervical chiropractic care are low-force. An upper cervical chiropractor does these corrections using his or her hands or using an instrument. It all depends on the preference of the chiropractor performing the technique.
As-Needed Adjustments – Upper cervical chiropractors do not perform adjustments after every examination. The atlas can hold gentle adjustments for an extended period. That said, this relief option is often a more cost-effective approach.
But that may beg the question, “How is the atlas a contributor to migraines?” Here are the possible ways:
Impediment of cerebrospinal fluid – Misalignments may inhibit the proper drainage of the cerebrospinal fluid. In turn, it may lead to pooling and intracranial pressure.
Impediment of blood flow – Like the cerebrospinal fluid, the slightest misalignment of the atlas can impede blood flow to and from the brain. That also affects the oxygen flow to the brain, leading to more significant repercussions.
Brainstem malfunction – The primary purpose of the atlas is to protect the brainstem. However, a misalignment of the atlas puts pressure on the brainstem, which can lead to several disorders including migraines.
As migraine chiropractic specialists in Manila, we recommend upper cervical chiropractic care as a great option for migraine relief. Our patients have positive feedback for our methods.
If you or a loved one needs an effective care option, visit our clinic, N8 Upper Cervical. We will do our best to answer any questions you may have. You may also call us at (02) 8553-6218 to book a consultation.
To schedule a consultation with N8 Upper Cervical Chiropractic clinic, call (02) 8553-6218 or just click the button below.
If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Chiropractor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.