If you suffer from migraines, you’re not alone.  Over 12% of the population suffers from migraines, which adds up to approximately 38 million men, women, and children. Many chronic sufferers are able to identify certain foods or environmental factors that will likely trigger an episode. Here are five common factors that can trigger the onset of a migraine:

1. Food additives – For many people, they usually can pick out a food (i.e. chocolate) or drink (i.e. red wine) that will trigger an episode.  Food additives, on the other hand, can be trickier to identify since they’re often hidden in a long ingredient list.  Monosodium glutamate, or MSG, is a food additive commonly used as a flavor enhancer, and it can trigger migraines and headaches.
2. Strong smells – Many patients report that perfumes, scented candles, or other strong scents like cigarette smoke can trigger an attack.  About half of patients also notice that they become more intolerant to strong odors during an attack.
3. Stress – Not only can a dramatic increase in stress trigger, but a dramatic decrease in stress can as well.  Migraine patients can have an attack when stress mounts, or even at the beginning of a vacation when stress levels can disappear quickly.
4. Sleep – Disturbances in your normal sleep cycle can bring on a migraine episode.  This can be due to jet lag, changes in work schedule, or taking care of a new baby.  As much as possible, sticking to a regular sleep schedule may help minimize migraine episodes.
5. Dehydration or hunger – Skipping meals or not drinking enough water have been suggested as possible migraine triggers.

Being able to identify your possible migraine triggers may be helpful in reducing the frequency of episodes.  More people are seeking out natural, non-invasive means of relieving migraines for many reasons, including concerns over the long-term effects of medications.

Migraines and Your Upper Cervical Spine

One thing that many migraine sufferers have in common, whether they know it or not, is a misalignment of the topmost vertebra in the neck, the atlas.  When normal atlas alignment is compromised, it can affect various structures at the base of the skull, leading to compromised blood flow and nervous system function – both big players in the onset of migraines.  At Crowder Specific Chiropractic, we perform a thorough assessment of each of our patients to determine if an atlas misalignment is at the root of their condition.  If so, we are able to provide precise upper cervical adjustments to gently realign the atlas.  This has helped many migraine sufferers to obtain relief that is long-lasting and completely natural.

References:

http://www.migraineresearchfoundation.org/fact-sheet.html

http://www.healthline.com/health/migraine/triggers

To schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Crowder, call our McKinney office at 972-449-5845. You can also click the button below.

If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.

Whiplash is the over-extending of muscles of the neck that causes them to become sprained or torn. It is usually due to an accident of some sort. When this over-extension occurs, the bones of the upper neck can become misaligned causing problems throughout the body. This condition affects up to two million people in the United States.

Research done on vehicle collisions that come from behind revealed that injuries to the neck can happen at speeds as low as 5 mph. Most accidents occur at speeds of 6-12 mph. This may not cause the automobile to be damaged, but the body is much more susceptible, especially the neck.

It may be surprising to learn that whiplash can occur with other activities besides a car accident. Some of these include:

• Football
• Gymnastics
• Bicycling
• Skiing
• Ice skating (and falling)
• Hockey
• Wrestling and boxing
• Tripping and falling

To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and chronic neck pain, download our complimentary e-book by clicking the image below.

Injuries while doing any of these activities and more can result in neck damage. This can lead to further damage in the body, even years later. Drs. Kaeser and Ettlin reported in a German medical journal that the following problems can be a result of whiplash injuries:

• Being unable to hear low tones
• Dizziness
• Globus
• Dysphonia
• Torticollis
• Cervical dystonia

While this can be disturbing, there is help available. The same two German doctors stated that by adjusting the cervical spine and correcting the injuries caused by whiplash these problems can be avoided.

Help for Whiplash Sufferers

It is important for a person who has been diagnosed with whiplash to seek out the care of an upper cervical chiropractor as soon as possible. The earlier it is treated, the fewer problems will ensue. We will begin by examining the upper neck for any possible misalignments. We will then develop a relief plan for that individual patient. We do not twist or pop the neck but use a gentle, effective relief care to bring the body back into alignment and allow healing to begin. Many future health problems can be avoided by getting the right kind of help.

Reference:

http://danmurphydc.com/kaeser.whiplash.pdf

To schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Crowder, call our McKinney office at 972-449-5845. You can also click the button below.

If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.

Vertigo is the feeling of spinning or rotation of a person or things around him while he is not actually moving. A child spinning around until he gets dizzy is an example of self-imposed vertigo. This disorder can indicate an internal problem when there is no explainable cause like spinning.

Two Different Reasons for Vertigo

Vertigo is categorized as either peripheral or central. Central has to do with a malfunction in the brain or spinal column. Peripheral has to do with the nerves that connect to the inner ear. It would be hard for someone to know which one he or she is suffering with. Here is a list of questions that will help.

• Has the person ever had an injury to the neck or head?
• Is he a smoker?
• Does he drink alcohol?
• Has he ever had a tumor?
• Does he take blood pressure or anti-seizure medication?
• Does he ever have basilar artery migraines?
• Has he ever had a stroke?
• Does he have multiple sclerosis?
• Does he take medicine for depression or aspirin?
• Does he have diabetes? Heart disease? High blood pressure?

To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and vertigo, download our complimentary e-book by clicking the image below.

If a person can answer yes to the above questions and has had episodes of vertigo, it may indicate that he has peripheral vertigo due to inner ear problems. This may not be true in every situation and should be confirmed in person by a health care professional.

How Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care Helps

By seeking the care of an upper cervical chiropractor, a determination can be made as to where a person’s vertigo is coming from. Misalignments in the upper neck can hinder communication to and from the brain and the body. We will use a special 3-dimensional x-ray to find this misalignment and develop a treatment plan individualized to each patient. We then will correct this problem allowing healing to take place in the body. Many patients have reported a decrease in or elimination of symptoms after receiving such an adjustment.

References:

• http://www.medicinenet.com/vertigo_overview/article.htm
• http://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/basilar-artery-migraines-causes-symptoms-tests-and-treatments

To schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Crowder, call our McKinney office at 972-449-5845. You can also click the button below.

If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.