Sleep and Migraine Headaches

The Migraine Relief Chiropractic Center is the only clinic in the Kansas City area that focuses solely on the treatment and prevention of migraine headaches. Many of our patients in Overland Park, Leawood, Olathe and the surrounding areas are not only getting relief from their migraine headaches but are noticing improvements to their sleep. This topic discusses how sleep can be impacted by migraines and vice versa.

While the exact cause of migraines is still unknown the most recent theory for their biogenesis is “A spreading wave of neuronal activity (interference) in the central nervous system.” So what does this mean? Basically an over active firing of neurotransmitters within the brain is causing a variety of changes and can be manifested as pain and other symptoms.

A common finding in the migraine progression is a drop in serotonin levels. Serotonin is an important neurotransmitter involved with SLEEP, vasoconstriction, mood, inhibition, and many other vital functions. Many migraine drugs attempt to block the re-absorption of serotonin by nerve endings in the brain and thus creating an unnatural method to increase serotonin levels. A drop in serotonin may be responsible to trigger a migraine just as a migraine in progress may decrease the levels of serotonin and disrupt normal sleep.

Serotonin is involved early in your sleep cycle. Around the time you are getting ready to fall asleep serotonin is released. Shortly after you have fallen asleep melatonin is produced then a cascade of interaction between different hormones and neurotransmitters takes place. Thus all of these hormones and interactions are influenced by the first step in the sleep cycle which is regulated by serotonin. This is why it is so important to stick to a strict routine of going to bed at the same time every night, yes even on weekends!

Drugs are toxic and have side effects, which often can create another problem you’ll have to deal with. There are natural methods to treat migraines and help increase serotonin levels in the brain which can help reduce dependence on drug medication and get the results you need.

If you or someone you know suffers from migraine headaches please make an appointment and find out how our safe and effective treatments can help. Visit www.MigraineReliefChiropractic.com to learn more.

Dietary Habits and Migraines

There are several different foods, beverages, and additives that are known to trigger migraines. But what you may not know is that your daily routine and dietary habits maybe a migraine trigger.

Skipping meals, fasting and dieting can cause headaches and trigger migraines.

I always recommend to my patients that they establish a strict daily routine and always eat meals around the same time each day. You should not only be keeping a food diary but also a headache diary to monitor what day and time they occur.

Check out the topic on specific food triggers for an in depth look at some food types that are notorious for causing headaches and triggering migraines.

Migraine Triggers

“’Triggers” are specific factors that may increase your risk of having a migraine attack. The migraine sufferer has inherited a sensitive nervous system that under certain circumstances can lead to migraine.

Triggers do not ‘cause’ migraine. Instead, they are thought to activate processes that cause migraine in people who are prone to the condition. A certain trigger will not induce a migraine in every person; and, in a single migraine sufferer, a trigger may not cause a migraine every time. By keeping a headache diary, you will be able to identify some triggers for your particular headaches. Check back on this website for a “Migraine Resources: page where we will post a form you can use for a headache diary.

Once you have identified triggers, it will be easier for you to avoid them and reduce your chances of having a migraine attack.” —American Council for Headache Education

The following is a list of the main categories of Migraine Triggers. Check the blog topics that discuss each main category in detail.

Migraine Trigger Categories

-Dietary

-Sleep

-Hormonal

-Stress

-Physical

-Environmental

Migraine Headache Diagnosis

Early diagnosis and treatment are important in identifying a serious underlying cause for your headache. In most cases, an in-depth history and physical examination can help determine if your symptoms are related to an easily treated problem, or if it is more serious. At Wellness Within we use many different tests to evaluate and reproduce the symptoms of your headache to help develop a specific management plan for your condition.

At Wellness Within Chiropractic Center our main focus is the treatment and prevention of Migraine headaches, and blood pressure is one of many parameters we look at when we monitor a patient’s health status.

The iHealth blood pressure monitoring system utilizes the latest technology in evaluating a patient’s heart rate, blood pressure and pulse wave. This system uses an iPad interface that provides fast and accurate results.

While blood pressure is an important measurement we monitor, irritation to the spinal nerves and the brain stem is our primary concern. Nerve tissue in the upper cervical spine that experiences irritation is often responsible for directly affecting blood pressure and is also a known cause of migraines.

Schedule an appointment today to find out if chiropractic adjustments may help lower your blood pressure or treat your migraines.