5 Ways To Overcome Your Migraines

Migraine headaches can be a devastatingly debilitating illness. Everyone has experienced normal headaches and for the most part they are just a mild annoyance, but migraines are something very different. 

Migraines can be so severe that sufferers become light and noise sensitive, experience extreme pain and nausea and in rare cases even faint. Even worse, migraine headaches are one of the most common illnesses in the world. 

In fact, according to the Migraine Research Center, migraine headaches are the third most common illness in the world with nearly 18% of American women and 6% of American men experiencing symptoms. 

Thankfully there are a number of methods for overcoming migraines. From yoga classes to chiropractic care, making your life more manageable as a migraine sufferer is no longer a pipedream. 

Here are 5 tips to help get you started:

Yoga Classes

Yoga may not sound like an effective treatment for migraines, but recent research has shown that it can be just that. 

In fact, Dr. Mahsa Zamani Boroujeni of the Physiology Research Center at the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in Isfahan, Iran released a study in 2015 that shows strong evidence of migraine reduction in patients who regularly attend yoga classes.

After just three months of yoga ‘intervention’, migraine sufferers reported significant reductions in the number of migraines they experienced. On top of that, the average duration fell dramatically and the severity was reduced as well.  In comparison, the control group experienced more migraines at the end of the study. 

Chiropractic Care

Once again chiropractic care may not sound like the obvious choice to treat migraine headaches, but research has indicated it can be very effective. 

In 2000 researchers published a study on chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy that showed significant improvement in migraines frequency, duration, and severity for a majority of patients. 

Since then the research has continued to pile up in favor of chiropractic care for migraine treatment. In fact, a more recent study found that a majority of patients who received chiropractic treatment for migraines ended up reducing the number of migraines they suffered by more than 50%. 

Clearly chiropractic care for migraines works, so don’t be afraid to reach out to a specialized chiropractor for migraines who can help reduce your symptoms and get your life back on track in just a couple of easy sessions. 

Try Decaf 

I hate to rob you of your morning coffee, but if you are a migraine sufferer you might want to try some tea instead—or at least go with decaf. 

This is because caffeine is a vasoconstrictor, and while the constricting of blood vessels can actually be used to treat migraines in short bursts, recent research has found drinking caffeine regularly(more than three times per week) can actually contribute to migraines.

In fact, according to the American Migraine Foundation, caffeine dependence is a leading cause of migraines. So, unfortunately, you may have to go without your morning brew. Sorry!

Put Down The Booze

Your favorite part of the day may be winding down at home after a long days work with a glass of wine in hand. It’s a stress reliever, right? Well, for some that is true, but for migraine sufferers alcohol is a bad idea. 

Alcohol is a vasodilator which causes blood vessels to widen and allow more blood flow. This may sound like a good thing, but if you’re experiencing migraines this isn’t what you want. Vasodilators can increase intracranial pressure and worsen migraines.

Even worse, alcohol is a diuretic and dehydration has been proven to be a leading cause of migraines. There have been a number of studies that have confirmed migraines can be triggered by alcoholic consumption in a majority of migraine sufferers. So, unfortunately, if your migraines are really bad, you may want to put down that second glass of wine and switch to water. 

Try A Natural Spa

The number one cause of migraines is stress. Dozens of studies have proved that over the years. That means managing stress may be the key to resolving your headaches. 

One great way to reduce your stress is by going to a natural spa, like Soap Lake Natural Spa. Natural spas have been proven to reduce stress, and relieve pain. Even better they are affordable for anyone, even if you’re on a budget. 

So, if your migraines have been dragging you down lately, why not take a spa day? Rest, relax and reduce stress and in no time you will forget all about your migraines. 

All in all, migraine headaches are more than just annoying, they are downright debilitating. That means it’s important to do everything in your power to reduce your symptoms. Whether you take a spa day or book a visit to the chiropractor, anything you can do to help prevent or reduce migraines is a plus. Hopefully, these 5 tips will help you get started.