5 Common Migraine Triggers

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.