Is It a Migraine, a Tension Headache, or Both?

Migraines are an extremely common neurological condition.  One in every four households across the United States includes someone who suffers from migraines. For many of those people, a high level of stress can either bring on an attack or make one even worse. Daily stress is impossible to eliminate entirely, but there are some habits and routines that lend themselves to bringing you a better sense of calm.

• Eat better. Avoiding processed foods can eliminate many migraine triggers. If you know that you are sensitive to certain foods or beverages (like some types of cheeses or red wine), do your best to eliminate them from your diet.
• Clean up your sleep routine.  Sticking to a regular schedule by going to bed and waking up at the same time each day is important.  Most adults need 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night.
• Get moving.  Exercise is one of the best ways to de-stress, aside from the other obvious health benefits.

Help for Migraines and Tension Headaches

Here at Upper Cervical of Sioux Falls, we focus on making sure that the atlas and axis – the top bones of the neck – are in proper alignment. A misalignment here can be the underlying source of headaches. We use a gentle method that does not require popping or cracking to encourage these bones to realign. Once this is accomplished, the body can work at its optimum, and the intensity of migraines and tension headaches may decrease, along with their frequency. Some see these headaches go away and not return.