Headaches

What Are the Differences Between Headaches and Migraines?

Nearly 40 million Americans struggle with migraines, which is more than a fancy word for severe headaches. Migraines are debilitating because they cause additional symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, tingling, numbness, visual impairments, and heightened sensitivity to lights and sounds. Everyone experiences the occasional headache, but not everyone will experience a migraine. Women, people with a family history of migraines, and those with particular sleep or mood disorders are more prone to developing chronic migraines. Avoiding triggers such as red wine, alcohol, and caffeinated beverages may help prevent migraines. Check out our blog “Home Remedies & Professional Treatments for Migraines” for more useful tips on preventing headaches and migraines!

Chiropractic Adjustments
Chiropractic adjustments help many patients seeking headache or migraine relief. By improving your spinal alignment and function, a chiropractor can help alleviate the stress and tension on your nervous system. We can also provide professional advice on how improving your posture and investing in ergonomic items in your workspace can manage headaches and migraines. Studies show ongoing chiropractic care can have a significant impact on reducing the intensity and frequency of headaches.

Bioidentical Hormone Therapy
The female hormone estrogen seems to affect migraines, although more research is needed to determine how and why. Many women who suffer from migraines have noticed worsening symptoms in the days leading up to menstruation when their estrogen levels are at their lowest. It’s also not uncommon for women who are beginning menopause to start noticing the symptoms of migraines. Bioidentical hormone therapy from Effective Integrative Healthcare may help improve mental clarity and decrease headache and migraine symptoms.

Vitamin Shots
Much of modern medicine is focused on preventing headaches and migraines before they develop. Your body needs B12 to make red blood cells and maintain a healthy nervous system. People with a B12 vitamin deficiency may experience chronic headaches and migraines caused by damage to peripheral nerve cells. Getting B12 vitamin shots at Effective Integrative Healthcare may help reduce the frequency and severity of headaches and migraines by giving your body a healthy vitamin boost.

Physical Therapy
Those who spend the majority of their day in a fixed position may benefit from incorporating physical therapy exercises and stretches into their routine. Stretching your neck and improving your range of motion can have a positive effect on your health. Even low-impact activities like aerobics or walking can help relieve headaches and migraines. Don’t live with chronic headaches and migraines; get moving!

Trigger Point Injections
Trigger point injections target painful trigger points, including the groups of muscles found in your neck, shoulders, and back. Relieving strain and tension in these muscle groups can help alleviate headaches. Trigger point injection therapy offers safe, fast-acting pain relief and may be useful for cervical headaches caused by a misalignment of your neck vertebrae.

Acupuncture
Because acupuncture needles stimulate your body’s nerves to release endorphins, this can be an effective headache and migraine treatment. Many of our patients find acupuncture sessions to be relaxing, helping to ease away tension headaches. We do our best to ensure your comfort. While acupuncture may not be the most effective solution for everybody, we encourage you to consider it.

Massage Therapy
Massage therapy plays a beneficial role in headache and migraine treatment. By focusing on your head, neck, and shoulders, our massage therapists can ease pain, tension, and discomfort. Many patients find their headache and migraine symptoms significantly reduced with regular medical massage therapy sessions. They also tend to sleep better at night with fewer disturbances, stress, and muscle spasms.