Almost 40 million people in the U.S. have suffered from some form of migraine headache. Migraines can be debilitating for some people, affecting every aspect of their lives. Migraines are said to be the third-most-common illness worldwide. In the U.S. alone some 12 percent of the population suffers from migraines with over 90 percent of those afflicted being unable to function during an episode.

If you are one of the millions who suffer from migraines, there are ways to help reduce the frequency of your attacks and lessen the symptoms when episodes do occur. Many doctors only prescribe drugs to treat the pain and some oral medications and injections may be successful for the prevention of acute episodes.

Unfortunately, drug side effects are common and often unpleasant, including fatigue and fast or irregular heartbeat. Due to these issues, it is estimated that over half of all migraine sufferers do not take their medications as directed. However, a chiropractic provider in New Berlin WI can often render effective care for many sufferers. Here are three things to know when it comes to chiropractic care and migraines:

1) Spinal Adjustments in New Berlin WI

While there are various causes of migraine, when the condition is the result of pinched nerves caused by a spinal misalignment, chiropractic care can be quite beneficial. When migraines are the result of vertebral subluxations, drugs will not stop the pain from reoccurring. Studies have shown that regular chiropractic care is helpful in as many as 75 percent of migraine cases.

2) Massage and Relaxation Techniques

Chiropractic neuromuscular massage works on the hypersensitive pain trigger points along the neck, back, and shoulders that may be causing nerve impingement. Massage works to relax chronically tight muscles and tissue, stimulate blood flow and decrease levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, and increases endorphin production that reduces pain symptoms. A chiropractor will also show you relaxing exercises to reduce pain and lessen the frequency of attacks.

3) Lifestyle Changes

While it is difficult for some practice members to accept, simple lifestyle changes in sleep patterns, diet, and exercise routine can help reduce or even eliminate migraines. Poor diet or eating a food you may be allergic to, not getting adequate amounts of sleep or a lack of exercise can all raise havoc with the body. Chart your activities, how well you sleep, and what you eat to see if there is a pattern to your migraine attacks.

At Pure Family Chiropractic, we go beyond just simple spinal adjustments to treat your migraines and work to provide you with a comprehensive care plan. As a chiropractic provider in Brookfield WI, New Berlin WI, and Williams Bay WI, we see a vast improvement in many of our members suffering from migraines. At Pure Family Chiropractic, your family's health is always our team's top priority. Give us a call to see how we can help you.