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Migraines: Its Causes and How to Deal With Them

5/3/2022

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It is estimated that more than 10% of people around the world suffer from migraines, most commonly occurring in those aged between 20 to 50 years. They can often be dismissed as ‘just a bad headache,’ but those that unfortunately suffer from them understand how painful they can be.

To dismiss it as ‘just a headache is even harmful as it dismisses the pain of those that suffer from horrible migraines. At their worst, they can even disrupt the daily lives of those they affect, even rendering them unable to get out of bed for days. Research has shown that a migraine is the sixth most disabling disease around the world.

Migraines affect people in different ways and cause various symptoms. Unfortunately, migraines are considered chronic, meaning no known cure yet. However, there are several ways to care for a person suffering from migraines, and with good, proper care, many people are almost entirely able to minimize their migraines.

What Causes Migraines?
There has been a significant amount of research done, but there have been no conclusive results about what exactly causes migraines. The reason for pain like a migraine is due to the nerves in a person’s blood vessels sending pain signals to their brain due to a mechanism that is not fully understood.
While the cause may not be fully known, many known factors commonly trigger migraines. Some of these triggers are mentioned below.
  • Stress is one of the biggest triggers of migraines. Under large amounts of untreated stress, the brain releases certain chemicals to fight against the stress. This flight is commonly referred to as the fight or flight response. These chemicals are what specifically trigger a migraine. With other intense emotions such as excitement or anxiety, blood vessels dilate to increase blood flow, and muscle tension is also increased. These added factors can intensify a migraine.
  • Going hungry or thirsty for a long time is an easy way to contract a migraine. Even delaying a meal can cause a headache. The body needs sustenance, and denying it that can result in consequences. Ensure the intake of a healthy, balanced diet.
  • Caffeine is another common trigger. A high daily intake of caffeine can cause migraines. Many people who drink coffee routinely experience migraines when they suddenly try to cut caffeine from their diet. This happens because the body has become sensitized to caffeine, and the sudden lack can trigger a headache.
  • Hormonal changes such as those that occur when a woman is going through her menstrual periods can also cause migraines. The highs and drops of hormones estrogen and progesterone that are a part of the menstrual cycle can be the trigger. Women who are on birth control may also experience migraines, and if it gets too bad, it is wise to consult a doctor and perhaps seek a change of medication. During puberty and menopause is when extreme changes in hormones are most likely to cause a migraine.
  • Light is a contributing factor for migraines that many people can be highly sensitive to. Harsh lighting, such as flashing lights and fluorescent lights, or spending long hours in front of artificial light, such as a computer, phone, or TV, can trigger a migraine in many people. In addition to light, many people are also sensitive to sound and scents. A loud sound or an intense odor can set them off.

What Does a Migraine Feel Like?
Primarily, a migraine feels like a headache. This headache, however, can commonly be felt as a throbbing or pounding pain. It can also progressively go from mild to severe if left uncared for. The pain can also feel like it is moving around: it can start from one side of the head and go to the other, move to the temples, eyes, and even the jaw or neck.
 A migraine is accompanied by several other symptoms, such as:
  • Fatigue
  • Loss of Appetite
  • An upset stomach, including nausea, vomiting, and stomach pains
  • Drained or pale skin
  • Heightened sensitivity to light, smell, and noise
The duration of a migraine also varies. Some can last a few hours, while more severe cases can last even days.

Ways to Deal with Them
Figuring out what ways to care for oneself through a migraine depends on how the symptoms and severity of the migraine. There are some general ways to practice self-care. These tips can go a long way with not only dealing with the current migraine but continuing these acts of self-care can prevent future migraine attacks as well.
  1. Create a calming environment. This is essential, especially for those who are sensitive to lights, sound, or harsh scents and find that it makes their migraine worse. Choose dim, soft-toned lights or spend some time relaxing in a completely darkened room.
  2. Don’t mess up the sleep schedule! A poor night’s sleep can trigger a migraine. Set a bedtime and stick to it every night with as much regularity as possible. Eliminate distractions like mobile phones and TVs at least an hour before bed to help the mind unwind. Read a book or listen to some gentle music.
  3. Eat a balanced diet and avoid going for long periods without food.
  4. Find ways to cope with stress. It’s impossible to cut stress away from one’s life ultimately, but finding coping mechanisms to regulate one’s responses to a stressful situation can help keep the mind and body calm, avoiding any chemical releases that can cause migraines.
  5. If nothing seems to be helping the migraines and preventing someone from their daily activities, it might be time to seek professional help. One option to consider is chiropractic care. Chiropractic care is helpful against a range of problems like back pain in Hickory or neck pain in Hickory. Even with conditions like fibromyalgia, a fibromyalgia chiropractor in Hickory can help. Consider a chiropractor in Hickory as a professional chiropractor for migraines in Hickory can help soothe migraines.
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How To Manage A Pinched Nerve With A Chiropractor for Migraines In Hickory

Neck pain in Hickory, or soreness in other parts of your body, can come from a variety of different sources. These range from arthritis to tendonitis to torn cartilages in your joints. This also doesn’t include the variety of other conditions that have back pain in Hickory as a common symptom. One common such example is getting a pinched nerve in the upper part of the spine, also known as cervical radiculopathy. This generally occurs when bone spurs start to appear around the discs in the spine. When everything is working well, the discs should absorb the shocks between each individual vertebra. A bone spur is a small bit of bone that is formed as we age and discs get weaker. When things go properly, bone spurs support the vertebrae as they get weaker, However, in some cases, those spurs press on nerve roots, leading to other symptoms.
 
Symptoms of Pinched Nerves
How do you tell that the soreness you are dealing with stems from a pinched nerve? No matter what area it’s in, you’re going to need to have an in-depth exam of the affected area to be absolutely certain. As an example, a pinched nerve is generally localized in one area. Another thing to note is that these are normally very sharp soreness. By comparison, if you simply overexerted a muscle, the sensation would likely be a duller strain. In some cases, a pinch may never have any other symptoms. Some people feel a sensation of pins and needles in a certain area. Others may feel numbness or weakness when trying to lift something.
 
Depending on where you feel your symptoms and the exact nature of them, your medical professional may be able to determine if it is a pinched nerve or not quite quickly. Generally, though, an exam will still be administered. These start by testing sensitivity, strength, and reflexes. You may be told to do different stretches and movements to determine what leads to symptoms and what relieves them. You’ll also likely need to provide details about your pain. For example, be sure to have a record of when the pain started, and any activities that you do that cause soreness to flare up. If it is soothed by certain activities, be sure to mention those as well. Your doctor might also ask if you have had other health changes or recently increased your physical activities. If the spinal nerves are impacted, they can manifest in surprising ways, like bladder and bowel issues.
 
Say that your standard exam isn’t enough to get to the root of these issues. Your doctor may instead decide to do imaging tests to figure out what’s causing the pinched nerve and where it is. This is mostly administered through X-rays or MRI scans. An X-ray can showcase details going on with your bones, but won’t show your discs and nerves. With this said, they can be useful for determining if you have narrow vertebrae or bone spurs. An MRI is able to do more, showing how healthy your nerves and discs are in detail. In some cases, an X-ray may be done to a certain area to check for bone injury. Lastly, if the issue is due to injured ligaments or tendons, an ultrasound may be needed.
 
Working With Your Fibromyalgia Chiropractor In Hickory
So, if you suspect that a pinched nerve is behind your soreness, or know it for a fact, what can you do? One asset that you have is doing a posture adjustment. To start, try and find a position that helps you feel comfortable with your soreness. After this, you can adapt your lifestyle and living spaces to help you stay in that posture as much as possible. For a lot of people, doing this in the workplace is a major source of problems. One way to get around this is by using a standing workplace. These help prevent pinched nerves, treat existing ones, and just lower overall soreness. You can either ask the HR department to modify your existing space or buy your own.
 
Another thing to note is that whenever you are dealing with a pinched nerve, you want to make sure that you are as rested as possible, along with lowering any activity that leads to soreness. Try and keep the cycle of rest going until your symptoms subside. After this, you can begin to start testing things together. For certain types of issues, like carpal tunnel syndrome, you may be able to use a splint to protect your wrist.
 
You have a lot of options that you can do at home to help lower soreness from pinched nerves. For example, a gentle stretch can help provide relief, but you don’t want to overextend yourself. Focus on smaller movements, and if you find yourself getting sore again, try and do something less intensive. Think about applying heat to your muscles in the affected area to help them loosen. Heat also supports healing by promoting blood flow. Generally, you want to apply it for 10-15 minutes at a time. You can also do ice instead if you prefer. Simply get some ice, wrap it in a washcloth, and apply it to the area for 10-15 minutes as well.
 
If you want additional help, consider looking into NSAIDs. These can help quite a bit with mild soreness and can be brought over the counter. With that said, just make sure that you read and stick to the recommended dosage. These aren’t going to be able to provide total coverage as well. If you find that you’re dealing with consistent, extreme, or repeated soreness, reach out to a medical professional. On top of performing the exams before, they may be able to provide a prescription for more powerful medication. They may also recommend a specialist like a chiropractor in Hickory. This will help you get the treatment you need.

Healthy Living Spinal Care
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828-485-2990

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