Migraine headaches are different from other types of headaches. Typically, the throbbing pain of a migraine affects one side of the head at a time – usually around the eye or temple region. The headache is often accompanied by nausea and vomiting, along with a sensitivity to light and noise. Migraines can last anywhere from a few hours to several days. They occur three times more often in women than men and 90% of sufferers have a family history. Although it is uncertain if this a genetic link.
Migraines are classified as either “common” (without aura) – 80%, or “classic” (with aura) – 20%. Aura refers to symptoms that precede the headache. These include visual changes such as blurred vision, flashing lights and blind spots, and sensory changes such as numbness or pins and needles.
An Australian study conducted at Macquarie University, involving 127 chronic migraine patients, tested the effectiveness of chiropractic care. The results showed that specific chiropractic adjustments to the spine decreased the severity of migraine in 72% of patients. The frequency and duration of headache and degree of disability were also decreased.
How to treat and prevent migraine?
One way to prevent migraine pain or decrease its severity is by finding the trigger behind it. To identify the trigger, you can keep a ‘trigger diary’ that contains following info:
- Vomiting or nausea
- Severity and length of the migraine
- Area on the head most affected
- The onset of pain
- Menstrual cycle details
- Amount of sleep
- Exercise
- Forgetting to eat or skipping meals
- When and what you eat
- Taking supplements or vitamins
- Bowel movements
- Environmental changes (like weather)
- Social activities or work stresses
Review your trigger diary after at least three migraine onsets. You will be able to identify your trigger pattern by noticing which factors associate with the migraine.
