Migraines can be divided into two groups: “migraine with aura” and “migraine without aura”. Migraines with aura are a lot less common as only a small proportion of patients experience symptoms of a migraine with aura which usually is an indication a migraine attack (headache phase) is about to occur.
A migraine headache is most commonly viewed as a throbbing and intense pain on one side. Migraines typically come in bouts, where symptoms can last for several days. These headaches can include nausea, vomiting, malaise, and sensitivity to light. Symptoms may persist even after the headache has stopped.
Before a migraine with aura occurs, you'll have an "aura” which generally lasts from a few minutes to an hour and precedes the one-sided migraine-like headache. The most common migraine with aura symptoms include disturbances to one’s vision or sense of smell. The most common visual symptoms include a narrow field of view or blurred vision.
Women suffer more commonly from migraines than men. Researchers have observed various changes in the central nervous system and the circulatory system when migraine attacks have been studied in the past. Hormonal activity can also influence migraines.
Chiropractic treatment for migraines is very similar to the procedure used on other types of headaches such as a tension headache (tension-type headache) and cervicogenic headache (neck headache). The treatment aims to help improve blood circulation and other body systems.
Studies have shown that chiropractic care typically helps effectively reduce incidents of migraine attacks, the intensity of the attacks, and the length of the attack.
Patient stories about migraines:
