Migraine headaches can be debilitating. Those who suffer from migraines are often unable to work, drive, take care of their children, or attend events when suffering from migraines. Migraines are characterized by a recurring throbbing pain that usually affects one side of the head. In addition to pain, migraines are often accompanied by vomiting, vision problems, nausea, or sensitivity to light and sound. Migraine attacks can last anywhere from several hours to several days.

4 Stages and Symptoms of Migraine Headaches

Migraines often have 4 distinct stages of progression, although not everyone will experience each stage every time.

Stage 1: Prodrome

The Prodrome Stage starts a day or two before a migraine. Here are some of the symptoms.

  • Constipation
  • Cravings for certain foods
  • Depression
  • Hyperactivity
  • Irritability
  • Stiff neck
  • Uncontrollable yawning

Stage 2: Aura

While most people do not experience auras, they are typically experienced before or during a migraine headache. Often auras are visual sensations, but they can also overwhelm the sensory (touch), verbal (sound), or motor (movement) capabilities. These can be very dangerous if driving.

Examples of aura include:

  • Visual sensations, such as seeing bright spots, flashes of light, or various shapes
  • Loss of vision
  • Pins and needles sensations in an arm or leg
  • Speech or language difficulties (aphasia)
  • Muscular weakness (hemiplegic migraine)

Stage 3: Migraine Attack

The longevity and frequency of migraine headaches will vary from one individual to another. Left untreated, migraine headaches typically last four hours to three days. Some of the symptoms you may experience during a migraine include:

  • Pain on one side or both sides of your head
  • Pain that has a pulsating, throbbing quality
  • Sensitivity to light, sound, and occasionally smells
  • Vomiting and nausea
  • Blurred vision
  • Lightheadedness, occasionally followed by fainting

Stage 4: Postdrome

The fourth stage is post-migraine and known as postdrome. After the relentless pounding of the migraine headache, it is common to feel drained and wiped out. Some people have reported a mild euphoric feeling during postdrome.

Causes of Migraine Headaches

While science doesn’t entirely understand the causes of migraines, we have been able to identify various triggers for migraines. In addition to identifying migraine triggers, we know some contributing factors including genetics, brain trauma, changes in the brainstem (conduit between the brain and spinal cord), environmental factors, and serotonin which helps regulate pain signals in the nervous system.

Migraine headache triggers

  • Hormonal changes in women.
  • Certain foods. Aged cheeses, salty foods, and processed foods. Skipping meals or fasting also can trigger attacks.
  • Food additives. Aspartame, monosodium glutamate (MSG), preservatives.
  • Drinks. Alcohol, especially wine, and highly caffeinated beverages.
  • Stress. Emotional, Physical, and Chemical
  • Sensory stimulation. Bright lights, loud sounds, sun glare, or unusual smells.
  • Changes in sleep pattern. Missing sleep or getting too much sleep or jet lag.
  • Physical factors. Intense physical exertion.
  • Changes in the weather. A change of weather or barometric pressure.
  • Prescription Medications. Oral contraceptives and vasodilators.

Risk factors for migraine headaches

  • Family history.
  • Age. Most people who have migraines have had their first migraine by 40 years old. Often migraines start in childhood to early adulthood.
  • Gender. Women are three times more likely to have migraines.
  • Hormonal changes.

Tips on Dealing with Migraine Headaches

  1. See a chiropractor as soon as possible so the cause can be found and corrected.
  2. 9 out of 10 migraine headaches originate in the neck.
  3. Never take medications that are not prescribed by a doctor.
  4. Quit smoking. Not only can smoking bring on a headache, but it can also make any headache worse.
  5. Avoid emotional stress by learning skills that will calm you (such as muscle relaxation and deep breathing), and step away from stressful situations.
  6. Lower physical stress through proper sleep and rest.
  7. If you spend a lot of time sitting, get up and stretch regularly.
  8. Regular exercise can help reduce migraines.

Chiropractic Treatment for Migraine Headaches

Chiropractic care is proven to be a great treatment for migraines. Chiropractic adjustments can help to reduce the intensity and frequency of migraine headaches.

Studies have shown that chiropractic care can be as effective in preventing migraines as certain types of medications. One study showed that 49% of the participants had a significant reduction in the severity of their migraines, and 22% who were receiving chiropractic adjustments had a greater than 90% reduction in migraine attacks. (1)

Chiropractic adjustments relieve pressure on the nervous system, allowing it to function as designed. Since your nervous system controls every function of the body, interference in the nervous system caused by pressure on the nerves or a pinched nerve can result in pain and migraines. Changes to your lifestyle, such as improving your diet and exercise habits, can reduce the impact on your migraine attacks as well.

At Berardis Family Chiropractic, we get great results for those suffering from migraine headaches. We identify the root cause of your migraine and work to correct the underlying cause. If you do not find and correct the source of your migraines, they will continue and may even become worse. Misalignments of the spinal bones (subluxations) put pressure on the nerves and can cause pain and interfere with your nervous system.

If you are experiencing migraine headaches and are looking for alternatives to medications, please contact Berardis Family Chiropractic at 914.962.1234 and arrange for a consultation. You can also use our convenient appointment form. If your friends and family can benefit from this information on migraine headaches, please share and recommend this article.

(1) A randomized controlled trial of chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy for migraine. Tuchin PJ, Pollard H, Bonello R. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics Feb. 2000:23(2), PP.91-5.