A migraine is both miserable and consuming. So much so that during an attack it may be difficult to think of anything else but ways to get relief. A migraine is characterized by the following symptoms:

A day or two before a migraine:

• Feeling depressed or cranky
• Restless or nervous
• Very happy and exuberant
• Extremely tired
• Craving food or being thirsty or having a loss of appetite

An aura just before a migraine occurs:

• Seeing spots or wavy lines
• Numbness or “pins and needles” feeling in your arms, face, or hands

When a migraine starts:

• Pounding or throbbing pain, usually on one side of the head
• Pain behind your eyes
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Moderate to severe pain
• Sensitivity to light, odors, or sounds
• Pain that intensifies with physical activity
• Trouble with speech
• Tingling in the shoulders, face, or arms
• Temporary weakness on one side of your body

After a migraine subsides:

• Muscle aches
• Feeling of exhaustion

Migraines are the third most common illness in the world. Just in the United States, a migraine sufferer is present in 1 out of every 4 households. Migraines are most common in ages 25 to 55, and more than 4 million people experience chronic daily which means they have migraines for 15 or more days per month.

To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and migraines, download our complimentary e-book by clicking the image below.

Finding Migraine Triggers

If you have had a head pain, then you will understand that finding a way to prevent it from happening again can be a source of anxiety. One form of prevention is to identify what your triggers are and avoid those triggers as much as possible. A great way to start your trigger hunt is to keep a head pain diary. You can download one here. This tool is a great way to help you notice any developing patterns that happen right before it strikes. This can help you understand what is contributing to your migraine episodes so that you begin staying away them if at all possible, hopefully resulting in fewer migraines. Here are some triggers that are common for migraine sufferers:

• Tyramine or phenylethylamine: These amino acids are found in different foods, such as chocolate, aged or fermented cheese (bleu, brie, cheddar, and all hard or “moldy” cheeses), citrus fruit, nuts, soy, and vinegar (red and balsamic)
• Caffeine: If you are sensitive to caffeine, you might get migraines after drinking black or green tea, cola, coffee, or other caffeinated beverages. However, for some people the opposite may be true. Caffeine in many cases actually stops a migraine from starting. In fact, there are numerous over-the-counter medications specifically for migraine headaches that contain caffeine. If you know that caffeine has a negative effect on you, and it gives you a headache, avoid it.
• Aspartame: This artificial sweetener is known to trigger migraines in some people. It is most often used in diet beverages, light yogurts, low-calorie desserts, and sugar-free candy. The other names it is known by are NutraSweet and Equal.
• Common food additives: There are many food additives that have been associated with migraine pain, such as MSG (monosodium glutamate), hydrolyzed or autolyzed yeast, yeast extract, hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP), hydrolyzed plant protein (HPP), kombu extract (used in Asian food), and sodium caseinate.
• Sulfites: This is another kind of preservative that is most often used in dried fruit (prunes, figs, and apricots), wine (white and red), and many processed foods. Be sure to check labels carefully if these are a trigger for you.
• Tannins: These are plant compounds that add an astringent taste to food – the one that causes you to have a dry, puckering sensation in your mouth. It is found in red-skinned apples, tea, pears, apple juice, cider, and all red wine. More evidence is needed to confirm this, but it has been reported to be a strong, consistent migraine trigger for some people.
• Nitrates: Used most often as a preservative and flavor-enhancer, nitrates are used in hot dogs, deli meats, pepperoni, sausages (chicken, turkey, and soy), jerky (beef and turkey), corned beef, and any other food that has been cured, pickled, smoked, or canned.
• Leftovers: Tyramine content can increase over time if food has been stored improperly. Be especially careful when eating leftovers from the office or at parties. Usually these foods are set out for long periods without being chilled. Remember to store food promptly and in airtight containers.
• Alcohol: Tyramine is found in numerous kinds of alcohol, including beer, red wine, vermouth, and sherry. Also, alcohol is a known contributor of dehydration which is a major factor related to migraine headaches. It would be a good idea to alternate your alcoholic beverage with water or seltzer.

Getting Migraine Relief

While it is a great idea to find and avoid your personal triggers so that you are less likely to have migraines, you cannot entirely resolve the problem until you deal with the underlying cause. In many cases, the root of the problem is a misaligned vertebra in the upper cervical spine. The C1 and C2 vertebrae have the vital job of protecting the brainstem from injury within its bony structure. The problem that can occur if the bones become misaligned, from an accident or a minor blow to the head, is that it can put stress on the brainstem and lead to the sending of improper signals to the brain. Blood flow can also become inhibited and nerves can get irritated, which causes migraine headaches. The good news is that there is a simple and easy solution.

Here at Precision Spine Specialists in Brentwood, Tennessee, we use a gentle procedure that encourages the bones to realign without using the force of popping or cracking them. They naturally move back into place and stay in place longer than if they were forced. This form of treatment has helped many of our patients decrease or eliminate their migraine pain entirely, never to return. If these are the kinds of outcomes you would like to experience for yourself, give us a call.

To schedule a consultation with Dr. Hall, call our Brentwood office at 615-488-7891 or just click the button below.

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