An estimated 39 million Americans suffer from debilitating chronic headaches known as migraines. If you spend days at a time struggling with agonizing pain and other disorienting symptoms, you should know about the potential benefits of chiropractic care for migraines. Check out these frequently asked questions on the subject. 

What Does a Migraine Headache Involve?

Migraine headaches may stem from biochemical abnormalities which cause a major nerve called the trigeminal nerve to malfunction. Even before the pain arrives, you may experience mood changes, a stiff neck, constipation, and other warning signs. Strange visual distortions and nausea may accompany the headache itself.

Why Do Migraine Attacks Happen?

A  variety of internal and external influences can set off a migraine. External triggers may include specific foods or beverages, changes in air pressure, flashing lights, medications, and strong odors. Internal triggers may include hormonal changes, emotional or physical stress, and lack of sleep.

How Do Chiropractic Adjustments Ease Migraines?

Chiropractors make spinal adjustments to correct musculoskeletal imbalances that cause pain and/or impair normal nerve function. The more normally your body can perform its everyday processes, the more successfully it can manage inflammation, pain, hormonal shifts, sleep patterns, stress, and tension.

Although not all research on the subject comes to the same conclusions, some studies indicate that chiropractic care for migraines works at least as well as other remedies, including medications. 53 percent of chiropractors in one survey noted that their caseloads included high numbers of individuals seeking migraine headache therapy.

What Other Techniques Might Your Chiropractor Employ?

In addition to spinal adjustments, your chiropractor may offer various forms of soft tissue manipulation as part of your migraine therapy plan. For instance, massage therapy can release tight tissues that contribute to migraine problems. Other helpful soft tissue therapies can include trigger point therapy and myofascial release.

How Can Your Chiropractor Help You Avoid Migraines?

Ideally, you'd rather stamp out a migraine before it can cause hours of misery. Your chiropractor may prove helpful in this regard by helping you come up with a preventative plan to keep migraines at bay. One aspect of this preventative care may involve periodic spinal checkups and incremental adjustments to optimize your musculoskeletal alignment.

Once you've discussed your medical history, lifestyle, and previous struggles with migraines with your chiropractor, this practitioner can help you identify the various triggers that set off your attacks. You can then avoid or minimize your exposure to those foods, medications, stressors, or conditions.

Many chiropractors focus on improving all aspects of individuals' health instead of just treating a problem. As part of your migraine headache prevention plan, your chiropractor may recommend dietary and nutritional support, relaxation techniques to tackle stress triggers, and other natural wellness boosters.

You have more power over your migraines than you might think. Contact your local chiropractor today to learn more about migraine therapy..