It makes sense that more and more people are aiming for migraine relief in Renton. We have a fast-paced world nowadays. Many people are regularly under stress, triggering their migraines.
Migraines are an extremely debilitating condition affecting as many as 39 million Americans. In global terms, at least 1 billion people suffer from migraines. Here are some common symptoms of migraines:
- Dizziness
- Throbbing and pounding pain usually felt on one side of the head
- Nausea and vomiting
- Visual disturbances
- Sensitivity to loud noises, bright lights, and certain smells
Research recently revealed that inflammation might be the source of migraines. It is, therefore, crucial to start reducing inflammation in the body to eliminate or minimize migraines. Let’s dig deeper to understand what inflammation is and how it can give you migraines.
What is Inflammation?
Inflammation is the process the body uses to shield itself from foreign substances. It involves white blood cells by protecting us from viruses and bacteria. The inflammatory response activates to destroy, shied off, or minimizes the danger to the body.
However, the body’s immune system may trigger an inflammatory response even when unnecessary. When no foreign invaders get detected when the inflammation is triggered, other health problems may happen, like arthritis. Without anything to fight against, the body starts to attack and damage its tissues.
Inflammation includes the following symptoms:
- Loss of joint function
- Redness
- Joint pain
- Joint stiffness
- Swelling of the joints that may be warm to the touch
However, in the case of migraines, those symptoms listed above are not present. So, let’s check how inflammation can bring about migraine attacks. Pain and inflammation are known to be associated together. In the past, migraine attacks did not get recognized as an inflammatory disease.
Previous thoughts about migraine pain had to do with the irregular dilation of the intracranial blood vessels. However, this vascular theory was never proven right. So the next question is, where does the inflammation originate? Answering this can help us get to the next step in finding migraine relief in Renton.
To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and migraine headaches, download our complimentary e-book NATURAL AND DRUG-FREE WAYS TO END YOUR MIGRAINES by clicking the image below.
Inflammation and Stress
The only headache variety which seemed associated with inflammation is migraines. A physiologist named Hans Selye was the medical expert who started the thought process about inflammation and stress. He described how stress becomes triggered whenever anything changes in your body. It included hormone secretion (adrenalin, cortisol, etc.). The body can recognize only stress, not the specific type you may have. For instance, experiencing a car accident or having the flu are believed as the same stressors felt in the body. It may affect you almost the same way. In other words, to the human body, stress is just stress.
Stress hormones get secreted under the command of the brain. The brain detects changes in the body and directs the glands to do their function. This reaction to stress is often known as the “fight or flight” response.
Cortisol, a steroid, is produced by the body to regulate excess inflammation. Regulation means that it does not have too little or too much. If the stress you are experiencing goes on for an extended period, cortisol begins to run out. As a result, the adrenal glands become tired, just like other parts of the body. When cortisol runs out entirely, the body will start to produce adrenalin for a short amount of time. When this happens, this raises your heart rate and blood sugar levels. Then your body will feel as if it’s in a race for its life. It is what people call an adrenalin rush.
Chronic (long-term and frequent) steroid excretion by the body will cause the same effects as aging:
- Diabetes
- Bone loss
- Muscle atrophy
- Skin atrophy
- High blood sugar
- Wrinkles
Some researchers believe that aging is a form of stress.
The Link Between Migraines and Inflammation
The trigeminal nerve is a large nerve that gives sensations to the head and the face. It is the area that is mainly associated with migraines. It also regulates the blood vessels that produce the coverings around the brain. When this nerve was tested by placing an electrode on it and stressing it, it made the blood vessels in the brain to enlarge. As a result, this caused white blood cells to escape into the surrounding area. It is the inflammation that we referred to earlier.
For example, if you contract poison ivy, the inflammatory response would work to dilate blood vessels where the irritation takes place. When these blood vessels dilate, the white cells will seep into the affected tissue and start to fight the toxin or the infection.
Therefore, just as the body reacts to poison ivy by flooding the area with white cells to fight the stress, it also responds the same way to problems inside the area of the brain, flooding it with white cells and proceeding to counteract against the problem. However, the result, in this case, becomes migraines. So, what triggers the trigeminal nerve to become stressed?
Migraine Relief in Renton Through Upper Cervical Chiropractic
If any of the C1 or C2 bones of the upper cervical spine moves out of alignment, they can start to stress the brainstem. This misalignment will start affecting the trigeminal nerve. If the misalignment continues, the trigeminal nerve will continue to be under pressure and stress, which can lead to migraines. Find the nearest chiropractor to help you enjoy migraine relief in Renton.
Here at our chiropractic office, we completely understand the importance of maintaining your upper cervical spine in the best condition. Our upper cervical chiropractor uses a precise and gentle method that makes the bones move back into their proper positions. Many patients have seen significant improvement in their migraine symptoms after experiencing upper cervical chiropractic care. Some patients have also enjoyed seeing their migraines disappear completely.
Call us at 425-243-1607 or contact us online to consult with us.
To schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Sherwood, call 425-243-1607 or just 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.