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How To Relieve Cluster Headaches and Migraines



Unknowingly, cluster headaches are among the most common causes of pain among patients seeking migraine relief in Makati City Metro Manila. This happens because many patients confuse their cluster headaches for migraine attacks.

If you’re stuck in the same situation and want to learn the difference between the two, our comprehensive discussion below can help you. Hopefully, our guide can help you determine whether you have a migraine attack or a cluster headache and find the best remedy to use. 

 

Cluster Headaches vs. Migraines

As we provide migraine relief in Makati City Metro Manila, we hear countless unfortunate stories from our patients. Some only notice their cluster headaches or migraines symptoms for a few months. On the one hand, others have been suffering in silence for years. We also have patients coming from a broad spectrum of age groups. There are school-aged children, young professionals, and seniors. 

Notably, most of these patients share a few things in common. First of all, not all of them can confirm right off the bat if they have migraines or cluster headaches. This is because these two health problems share several similarities, including:

  • They usually affect one side of your head

  • They occur in distinct episodes and can have well defined recurring patterns

  • They cause immense pain and discomfort to the affected patient

Meanwhile, you can differentiate these two conditions by spotting the following symptoms: 

  • Sensory sensitivity, nausea, and vomiting - Many patients diagnosed with migraine attacks often experience these three symptoms and throbbing headaches that can linger for a few hours. 

  • Runny nose and watery eyes – Individuals with cluster headaches tend to have these two symptoms instead of nausea or increased sensitivity to sensory stimuli.

  • Presence of aura symptoms or sensory disturbance – The American Migraine Foundation reports that aura symptoms like temporary blindness or seeing bright lights are hallmark symptoms of a migraine attack.

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.

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Cluster Headache and Migraine Risk Factors

Now that you know the similarities and differences between migraine attacks and cluster headaches, let’s look at their risk factors. This might come in handy in preventing or minimizing the impact of your episodes.

Cluster headaches 

  • Age - While cluster headaches can develop at any point in life, it mainly affects individuals aged 20 to 50. 

  • Alcohol - As much as possible, you should minimize alcohol consumption when you frequently experience cluster headaches. 

  • Sex – Cluster headaches are quite rare as they only affect 1 out of 1000 individuals. Unfortunately, most of these people are male. 

  • Smoking - The nicotine content of cigarettes can cause the blood vessels to narrow, increasing your risk for painful headaches.

  • Family history – Patients with family members who have cluster headaches have a higher chance of experiencing worse bouts of pain during an episode.

Migraine attacks

  • Hunger – Forgetting to eat your meals can potentially trigger or aggravate your migraine attacks. That’s because this behavior causes your blood sugar levels to fluctuate.

  • Sex - Notably, while cluster headaches primarily affect males, migraines predominantly occur in females, especially during their menstrual period.

  • Emotional stress - When you get stressed out, your body releases cortisol. Essentially, it's a stress hormone that activates the fight or flight response, affecting your blood vessels and stimulating an inflammatory response in various body parts.

  • Certain food and drinks - Caffeinated and alcoholic beverages and food products rich in sodium or preservative tend to trigger worse bouts of pain for migraineurs.

  • Sleep pattern changes - Studies have proven that lack of sleep can negatively impact the nervous system. It also reduces your pain threshold, making you more susceptible to pain and discomfort when you have a migraine episode.


Caring for Migraines and Cluster Headaches

Seeking care for migraine attacks and cluster headaches is no simple feat. As a provider of migraine relief in Makati City Metro Manila, we highly recommend getting your condition diagnosed by your physician as soon as possible. 

This way, you can determine the root cause of your symptoms and pursue a procedure that specifically works for your situation. Here are some of the usual remedies that patients tap into to cope:

Cluster headaches 

  • Trying oxygen therapy to minimize the effects of a cluster headache

  • Using local anesthetic drops for the nose such as Lidocaine

  • Glycerol injection near the trigeminal nerve

  • Injecting Octreotide, a synthesized version of a brain hormone

  • A surgical procedure to remove pressure on the trigeminal nerve

Migraines

  • Taking pain medications, muscle relaxants, or anti-inflammatory drugs

  • Taking prescription drugs like sumatriptan and rizatriptan to block the effects of pain

  • Getting Botox injections every 12 weeks to prevent attacks

  • Trying relaxation techniques and mindfulness exercises

  • Avoiding common migraine triggers

  • Keeping a fit and active lifestyle

  • Getting your neck bone alignment checked for subluxation


Experience Lasting Migraine Relief in Makati City Metro Manila

If you strongly suspect having migraines or cluster headaches, you can try booking a consultation for upper cervical care. It’s a popular natural and holistic approach to managing migraine attacks and painful headaches. 

Patients from various parts of the globe have tried and tested upper cervical chiropractic care and experienced massive relief from their symptoms after receiving a few neck adjustments. If you are keen on experiencing a new and unique method to healing or managing your debilitating neurological symptoms, we suggest seeing our neck chiropractor here at N8 Upper Cervical chiropractic. 

We will check your neck’s curvature and provide ample adjustments over a brief period to restore your spine’s natural balance and alignment. This, in a way, can help address migraine or cluster-headache-causing problems such as:

  • Nerve pressure 

  • Brainstem irritation

  • Poor fluid drainage in the head 

Want to experience life-changing migraine relief in Makati City Metro Manila? Talk to us and schedule your appointment today.


To schedule a consultation with N8 Upper Cervical Chiropractic clinic, call (02) 8553-6218 or just click the button below.

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If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.