Just because migraines are common doesn’t make them normal.

A migraine is not just a bad headache.

Migraines are a recurrent type of severe headache which, for some people, will happen throughout their lifetime. They can last from a few hours to a few days, and on average happen once or twice a month. For some people they have one a year. For others it can be one a week. There are approximately 12%-15% of Irish people who suffer with migraine at any given time.

How do I know if I have a migraine?

There are common symptoms that would lead a health care professional to diagnose you with migraine. Migraines are normally divided up into migraine without an aura and migraine with an aura. Not everyone will have the exact same symptoms, but commonly you may experience pain on one side of your head and it can feel like a throbbing pain. You might feel nauseous with the pain and you may be sensitive to sounds and light.

Migraine is three times as common in woman compared to men. They can affect people of all ages (even young children) but predominately occurs between the ages 12 and 40 years old and then tends to lessen.

What causes migraines?

The truth is no one really knows what causes a migraine. Its thought that abnormal brain activity affects the chemicals, nerve signals and blood vessels deep in the brain. The release of inflammatory substances around these structures may be what causes pain. It’s possible that your genes also make you more likely to suffer.

There are several possible triggers that can lead to a migraine attack, including;

• hormonal,
• emotional,
• dietary,
• physical,
• environmental
• chemical/medicinal factors.

These can vary from person to person. So it’s important to find out what your triggers are and learn how to manage them. This may be by avoiding certain types of foods, keeping to a regular sleep pattern or reducing chemical stressors such as stopping smoking.

We all know that there isn’t a cure for migraines, but hands-on care can help in reducing the intensity and frequency of migraines in the many cases, allowing you to live a happier, healthier life.

Recent research shows that hands-on therapy can has been shown to reduce the severity and frequency of migraine attacks, and is therefore recommended as a treatment for migraine prevention.

Read more on the research

I have a whole health and body philosophy to my treatments. If suitable for you, I will provide hands-on care plus home advice across a range of areas that may be contributing to your migraine. This may include nutritional support, lifestyle and stress management, addressing postural issues and exercise. I will support your recovery and help you to get back to doing the things you love. 

Natural Back Health is a private professional service providing gentle, low force and safe therapy to bring about healing and relief.  If you have any further questions regarding this topic or if you have any doubts about whether a specific treatment type is suitable for you, please do not hesitate to contact the clinic. Call today to arrange your first visit!

Read more about what to expect from my treatments

Hopefully you find the general information on this page informative and helpful, however it is not intended to replace medical advice and should not be used as such.