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Join Airrosti providers Stephen Offenburger, DC, and Tom Danisiewicz, DC, as they discuss the causes and symptoms of migraines. They also reveal key differences between migraines and other types of headaches. Finally, our providers explain how Airrosti addresses these conditions and can help you find the right treatment to help eliminate or significantly reduce the pain.
A migraine is a common type of headache that can cause throbbing, intense pain on one or both sides of the head. It is often accompanied by other neurological symptoms like nausea and sensitivity to certain lights, sounds, or smells.
According to the American Migraine Foundation, migraines affect over thirty-nine million Americans.
What exactly causes migraines to occur is unknown and varies by individual. While environmental and genetic factors do play a role in understanding where migraines come from, they do not paint the whole picture for all migraine sufferers.
Individual triggers for migraines may vary by individual and the type of migraine they are experiencing. The most common triggers include:
The most well-known sign of a migraine is a throbbing headache that can last for hours to days. However, severe head pain is not the only symptom. Typically, a migraine progresses through four stages and can last anywhere from hours to days at a time.
Prodrome. This is the first stage that may appear 1-2 days before the migraine attack. Within this stage, “warning symptoms” such as nausea, irritability, depression, brain fog, and sleeping issues may appear.
Aura. In the few minutes to an hour leading up to a migraine attack, you may notice an “aura” that can cause visual and other nervous system disturbances, like bright lights, flashing lights, tingling sensations, or weakness. You may also experience blind spots or light and sound sensitivity.
*While most people suffer from migraines with an aura, there are cases where a migraine may occur without an aura.
Attack. The third stage, also known as the “headache” phase, is where the migraine starts to cause pain. Migraine attacks can cause headaches on either one or both sides of the head. The pain may also shift from one side of the head to the other over the course of the attack.
*Sometimes the aura and attack stages occur at the same time, compounding the symptoms and aggravating the person experiencing the migraine.
Post-drome. The fourth stage occurs after the migraine is over. While it does not occur in all migraine sufferers, most people struggle with postdrome for 24-48 hours. You may experience fatigue, body aches, sensitivity to light, dizziness, and trouble concentrating.
Treatments for migraines will depend on the type of migraine and identifiable triggers associated with the migraine. Your doctor will examine your medical history and may recommend a variety of tests to help rule out other conditions.
Familiar treatments for migraines include pain-relieving and preventative medication. Your doctor may also recommend lifestyle changes that can help you avoid migraines in the future.
Because migraines can be influenced by so many factors, there are no solutions guaranteed to cure or prevent your migraines. Understanding what your migraine triggers are will help make avoiding them a little easier.
Preventing migraines from occurring may seem like an uphill battle, but there are things you can do in your daily life to help make migraines less frequent and less severe. Daily habits that may reduce the frequency and severity of migraines include:
The term “migraine” is often used interchangeably with the more general term “headache,” especially when that headache is severe. This can confuse people who think they are struggling with migraines, when in fact they may be dealing with tension-type headaches.
Understanding the difference between a true migraine and other common types of headaches is crucial to finding proper treatment options that will work to relieve the pain.
If you’re struggling with chronic headaches, talk to an Airrosti provider today.
Our providers can help you understand what may be causing your headaches and walk you through treatment options that can help eliminate or manage the pain.
Unlike treatments that only focus on the symptoms, Airrosti providers aim to treat pain at its source. During your one-on-one appointment, your provider will conduct a thorough evaluation to pinpoint the true cause of your pain. They’ll also develop a customized treatment plan to help address pain at the source. Airrosti treatment can effectively resolve most tension headaches in an average of three visits, based on patient-reported outcomes.
We offer in-office and telehealth appointments to best suit your needs. Call us at (800) 404-6050 to schedule your appointment today!
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Reviewed by Casey Crisp, Doctor of Chiropractic
Disclaimer: Always consult with your doctor before starting any exercise program. If you experience any numbness, tingling or reproduction of your symptoms, please contact your doctor.
Both Dr. Gonzalez and Dr. Briones are geniuses! I have suffered from debilitating migraines for the past eight months that affected my vision, breathing, and my ability to function. Many of these symptoms from my migraines would amalgamate into alarming conditions where I would have to seek out urgent or emergency care. I have had to be subject to many emergency visits, with the doctor's only solution being to offer an Rx cocktail, which I do not prefer. After one visit, Dr. Briones relieved 80 percent of these symptoms, which would usually last for days on end, in less than an hour. Somehow working on my shoulder and neck allowed me to see again, and light no longer bothered me. Previously, I had sought out Dr. Gonzalez for a sharp pain...+ show more that ran all over my left arm. Mind you I'm a very active person who partakes in hard sparring/boxing, CrossFit, heavy lifting, and track running. Typically, an injury like this would set me back six weeks when I could not be as active. Exercise is crucial for my mental health, and for it to be on the back burner is a big deal for me. Only after one visit with Dr. Gonzalez was the pain in my left arm all but completely gone! I couldn't believe it. The techniques they use are very uncomfortable, but they somehow work. I felt compelled to write a testimony because the uncertainty of these migraine attacks and their symptoms would accelerate into episodes that would completely derail me, and I could not be more thankful for their services.
by Joseph Lopez