Are migraines just really bad headaches? How can you tell if the head pain you have is a migraine or a headache? This article will answer some of those questions and then discuss how you can find natural Farmington migraine relief that is reliable and proven to help.
If you have pain or pressure in your head, it may be hard to tell if you are having a headache or a migraine. This is important to find out so that you get the proper care. You may even be able to prevent future head pain if you know what exactly is happening.
Headaches are defined as unpleasant pain in your head that causes pressure and aching. Pain may be anywhere from mild to severe and usually happens on both sides of your head. Areas where you may have head pain can include the forehead, back of the neck, and temples. Headaches usually last anywhere from 30 minutes to a week long. The most common headache type is a tension headache, according to the Mayo Clinic. Tension headaches are often triggered by anxiety, stress, and muscle strain.
There are also other headache types:
To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and migraines, download our complimentary e-book by clicking the image below.
Migraines are a neurological condition that have intense headaches as one of its major symptoms. It is rare, but some migraines occur without head pain. The following are some of the most common symptoms of migraines:
When comparing migraines to other kinds of headaches, the pain of migraines is much more severe. Some people have such severe headaches that they go to the emergency room to try to get some relief. In two-thirds of the cases, migraines affect only one side of the head. The pain of migraines feels like a throbbing or pounding sensation in the head or neck. It makes performing routine, daily tasks nearly impossible. Many people seek refuge in a cool, dark room until the pain goes away.
There are two categories of migraines. These are migraine with and migraine without aura. An aura is type of warning sensation you get about an hour before the migraine pain hits. Some people have auras but never get the head pain. The sensations sometimes overlap the migraine pain, lasting around 30 minutes to an hour. If you have an aura, you may have the following symptoms:
Sometimes when you have migraines, you may have some strange symptoms a day or two before the actual migraine happens. These are very subtle signs that you may barely notice and may include the following:
It has been noted by those who suffer from migraines that particular factors are often associated with them. These are referred to as migraine triggers. They can be any of the following or even a combination of the following:
For one thing, reducing as much stress as possible is a good way to eliminate some migraines. You may try the following to help ease your stressful day:
The upper cervical spine has been discovered as being a possible source of migraine pain. The top bones of the neck, the C1 and C2 vertebrae, are very susceptible to misaligning. It only takes a minor trip or bumping your head on something to cause them to misalign. They are located very close to the brainstem. In fact, they were created to protect the brainstem. The opposite becomes true, however, when they misalign. They actually put the brainstem under stress and cause it to send improper signals to the brain. The misaligned bones can also act as a hindrance to blood flow and cerebrospinal fluid flow. Too much may build up in the brain or too little may be able to reach the brain. Either way, migraines can happen.
Upper cervical chiropractors are specifically trained to find these tiny misalignments and then work to get them corrected. We are not required to pop or crack the neck in order to do this. Rather, we use a gentle method to encourage the bones to move back into place. Once this is done, many patients see migraine relief in Farmington, MI. Some see their migraines go away and not return.
To schedule a consultation with Dr. Perkins, call 248-780-8864 or just click the button below area
If you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
Dr. Perkins grew up in Novi, Michigan and attended Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa. He received his Doctorate Magna Cum Laude with a focus on Upper Cervical Chiropractic care. Chris is well known in the community for his public speaking and holds a number of professional certifications. We are proud to say that Dr. Perkins and Perkins Family Wellness has been recognized by Hour Magazine as one of the Top Chiropractors in Metro Detroit for 3 years in row.