Migraines are a hugely common affliction in the UK, with almost 200,000 migraine attacks taking place every day. But what exactly is a migraine? Despite popular belief, it’s not just a headache. A migraine is an intense throbbing in the front or back of the head and can be much more complex than they are often given credit for. As well as huge pain and discomfort, symptoms can also include nausea, sensitivity to light, dizziness and blurred vision.

Many migraine sufferers feel forced to simply come to terms with their migraines, take a couple of paracetamol, and try their best to get on with their day. But this shouldn’t have to be the case. Migraines are mysterious health problems but it is believed that they can be caused by stress, light, noise, dehydration and lack of sleep, but they can also be caused by issues occurring elsewhere in your body.

Problems with your central nervous system and your neck, shoulder and back muscles can all contribute to intense head pain as the increased tension leads to increased pressure. So what can be done about it? Clearly Chiropractic investigate.

There are things you can try yourself to alleviate your symptoms beyond the use of painkilling drugs. A lot of the issues which can lead to migraines come about as a result of long periods of sitting staring at a screen. Unfortunately, to many of us this is a necessary part of our work. Make the effort to move around more, take short walks and stretch out your neck, shoulders and spine whilst sitting. This will help take away some of the pressure building up.

Stretching your neck is best done slowly to avoid injury. Rotate your neck the same number of times both clockwise and anti-clockwise, and tilt your head back and then forwards several times – again, slowly.

Incorporating light stretching and yoga into your day can make a world of difference. This will help release tension, strengthen your muscles and create flexibility and mobility in your joints and ligaments – all of which will lower your chances of suffering pressure headaches.

Be sure to drink lots of water (aim for eight large glasses a day) as this will remove the chances of suffering from head pain caused by dehydration.

Chiropractic care involves careful adjustments that can remedy blockages and alleviate aches and pains and allow your body to function better. This makes it an ideal treatment for migraines, which are often caused by the build up of pressure in the spine, shoulders or neck.

By working with a chiropractor, you can significantly relieve the tension in your body which may be causing your migraines. A chiropractic expert can also advise you with exercises and lifestyle changes you can implement to decrease your symptoms further.

All too often people simply feel that ignoring a problem and suffering in silence is the way to move forward with problems such as migraines. Popping a few pills and simply ploughing on is not the way of working towards a solution, however. If you are one of the millions of migraine sufferers in the UK, take the time to consult a chiropractor or another health professional to look more closely at why you might be suffering.