A migraine can be an intense, debilitating condition for those suffering. They are defined as intense throbbing headaches that may accompany nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light or noise.
Worldwide, approximately ONE BILLION people suffer at least one migraine each year.1
Adult women are THREE TIMES MORE LIKELY than men to experience migraines.
Over 80% of migraine sufferers miss work due to their headaches, with an average of 4-6 absences per year.2
Migraine Triggers
Triggers set off migraines, and the headache occurs when the number of triggers reaches a critical threshold. We compare this to a glass of water that eventually has enough water that drips into it, causing it to overflow.
The list of potential migraine triggers can be daunting. However, many sufferers can keep migraine journals. These would have the patient record each migraine and the severity, activities, and food consumed over the prior 24 hours.
Here is a list of potential food triggers3:
- Chocolate and cocoa
- Alcoholic beverages
- Caffeine
- Nuts and nut butter
- Pumpkin, sesame, and sunflower seeds
- Fruits like figs, raisins, papayas, overripe avocados, red plumbs, overripe bananas
- Beans like broad, fava, garbanzo, Italian, lima, navy, pinto, pole, and string beans
- Other vegetables, such as snow peas and onions
- Raw garlic
- anything fermented, pickled, or marinated (sauerkraut, olives, pickles
- Freshly baked yeast bread, coffee cake, doughnuts, or sourdough
- Cultured dairy products (buttermilk, sour cream)
- Cheese: blue, brick, Gouda, Gruyere, mozzarella, Parmesan, provolone, romano, Roquefort, cheddar, swiss, Stilton, Brie types and Camembert
- Aged, canned, cured, or processed meat: ham, pickled herring, salted, dried fish, sardines, anchovies, chicken livers, sausage, bolognas, pepperoni, salami, summer sausage, hot dogs, caviar, mincemeat pie.
- High sodium products: meat tenderizer, soy sauce, monosodium glutamate (MSG), seasoned salt, canned soup, bouillon cubes
- Nutrasweet
- Excessive Vitamin A (over 25,000 I.U. daily)
In addition to food triggers, upper neck tension and joint restrictions may act as migraine triggers. It is no surprise, therefore, that chiropractic care is a proven effective migraine prevention strategy.(5)
The Solution
Spinal manipulation (adjustments) has demonstrated similar effectiveness but LONGER-LASTING BENEFIT and FEWER SIDE EFFECTS than a well-known medical therapy (amitriptyline). 4
Researchers from Harvard Medical School found that migraine headache patients who received chiropractic care in addition to usual medical care experienced, on average, TWO FEWER MIGRAINE DAYS EACH MONTH compared to those who did not receive chiropractic co-management
Research has shown a significant reduction in migraine in almost half of those receiving spinal manipulation. One study found that nearly one in four participants reported greater than 90% FEWER ATTACKS.(4)
If you’re suffering from migraines and want to learn more about what chiropractic can do for you, please contact our office 734-427-6333. If you’d like to schedule your appointment, click on the link: Schedule Your Appointment.
References:
- Parastoo A, et al. Migraine: A review of its history, global epidemiology, risk factors, and comorbidities. Front Neurol. 2021.
- Burton WN, Landy SH, Downs KE, Runken MC. The impact of migraine and the effect of migraine treatment on workplace productivity in the United States and suggestions for future research. Mayo Clin Proc. May 2009;84(5):436-45.
- https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/diet/
- Nelson CF, Bronfort G, Evans R, Boline P, Goldsmith C, Anderson AV: The efficacy of spinal manipulation, amitriptyline and the combination of both therapies for the prophylaxis of migraine headaches. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 1998, 21 :511-519.
- Bronfort G, Nilsson N, Haas M, et al. (2004). Non-invasive physical treatments for chronic/recurrent headaches. Bronfort, Gert. Cochrane Database Syst Rev (3)