Migraine headaches are a global epidemic with 46% of people worldwide suffering from them. They are extremely debilitating and hard to treat. Generally, when we feel pain, our body is trying to tell us something is wrong. For example, if a child touched a hot stove and did not feel the pain, they would just continue to get burned. However, migraines, while producing pain, do not warn of anything. Headaches, on the other hand, might indicate that we are dehydrated, having caffeine withdrawals, or a number of other things. But it seems that migraines just happen. What do we know about them?
What is a Migraine?
Migraines are a neurological disorder that have many symptoms. A headache is actually only one symptom. Some others are nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and fatigue. Migraines happen when there is not enough oxygen in the brain. A connection can be made between migraines and a misalignment in the C1/C2 vertebrae in the upper neck (cervical spine). This misalignment can hinder the flow of blood and oxygen to and from the brain. Because of instability in the cervical spine, the brainstem is at risk for injury.
To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries download our migraine e-book Natural and Drug-Free Ways to End Your Migraines by clicking the image below:
What Can Be Done?
Upper cervical chiropractors have had much success in treating migraine headaches. These chiropractors are trained in detecting and correcting misalignments in the upper cervical spine. Dr. Craig Lapenski of Graham, Washington is an upper cervical chiropractor who will examine your neck to see if you have any misalignments. Even if it as small as ¼ of a millimeter, a misalignment can be the underlying cause of your migraines. Dr. Lapenski can then begin to use a gentle and effective treatment to restore proper blood flow and oxygen to your brain. You will see a decrease in symptoms, and your migraines may go away altogether. Why not schedule your assessment today?
References:
1. Stovner LJ, Hagen K, Jensen R, Katsarva Z, Lipton R, Scher A, Steiner T, Zwart JA. The global burden of headache: a documentation of headache prevalence and disability worldwide. Cephalgia 2007;27(3):193-210.
2. Lance JW, Goadsby PJ. Mechanism and Management of Headache. London, England: Butterworth-Heinemann;1998.
3. Hope through Research. www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/pubs/headche. Bethesda, Maryland: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institute of Health, July 2001.
4. Ebersberger A. Pathophysiology of migraine: models to explain the generation of migraine headache. Anaesthesist 2002 Aug; 51 (8): 661-7.
5. Hamel E. Current concepts of migraine pathophysiology. Can J Clin Pharmacol 1999 Autumn; 6 Suppl A; 9A-14A.
6. Elster EL. Upper cervical chiropractic care for a patient with chronic migraine headaches with an appendix summarizing an additional 100 headache cases. J Vert Sublux Res 2003; AUG(3):1-10
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