Migraines

Migraines are one of the world's most pervasive neurological disorders. Billions of people suffer from them worldwide, including 13% of US adults. 90% of the 38 million Americans who suffer from migraines each year say that migraines compromise their ability to work or even function normally. Migraines are diagnosed based on symptoms and medical history.  The root cause of this disease is very challenging pin point. 

In prior years migraine sufferers relied solely on rescue drugs that they could take once symptoms were already in place. These kinds of treatments were often only a temporary fix. Studies indicate that migraines are often triggered by pollutants, toxins, pollen or other allergens, even certain foods; different things can be a trigger for different people. Today there are things people can do to prevent migraines. Experts recommend keeping a diary to try and pin point what triggers your migraines. Focusing on lifestyle changes are also very helpful, although we cannot eliminate all triggers, this is a good place to start. Two of the most common things research says to do is stay hydrated and get rest. 

An addition to lifestyle changes to help prevent or reduce migraines is yoga. Yoga can help you relax and relieve some stress which can also contribute to migraines. Some studies also have shown that acupuncture another alternative to help give relief to these types of headaches. Another alternative form medicine to help prevent migraines is chiropractic care. Recent studies have shown chiropractic care to help relieve migraine intensity as well as frequency. One study found that 22 percent of people who had chiropractic treatment reported experiencing 90 percent less headaches. That same study found that 49 percent of participants had a reduction in pain intensity. 

To find out more ways to keep yourself healthy, please visit our website at www.oxborochiro.com.

Sources:

http://migraineresearchfoundation.org/about-migraine/migraine-facts/

https://migraine.newlifeoutlook.com/chiropractic-migraines/

https://experiencelife.com/article/how-to-prevent-migraines/

Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is a condition that affects millions of people everyday. Hallie Levine in her article titled, "9 Things You Never Knew About Chronic Pain", details various information about chronic pain and some things that may help or hinder chronic pain. One in four Americans currently suffer from pain that lasts more than one day. In general, women are more likely to feel pain from various conditions. Experts in the field are unsure why women are more susceptible but it has been hypothesized that it may be due to hormones, genetics, immune system, estrogen levels and psychological factors. Men may be more susceptible to acting tough and not acknowledge pain, so the statistics on who experiences more pain may be skewed due to this fact. It may seem intuitive to rest when pain is present, but providers are encouraging people to resume daily activities as soon as they can. One research study reported that those with low back pain who stayed active ended up experiencing less pain and increased function than patients who were told to decrease activity. 

Perimenopause in women can increase the incidences of migraines. The risk has been found to increase by 62 percent around this time of life but birth control pills or estrogens patches may help decrease pain. There are some natural remedies that have been found to help chronic pain. These include acupuncture, chiropractic, yoga and massage. A study done by the NCCIH showed that over an 18-month period chiropractic treatments can work as well as typical treatments for lower back pain. Chiropractic adjustments can allow help with neck pain and migraines. The author notes that consuming items like tart cherry juice, sardines and oil olive can help alleviate pain. In a 2013 study, those that had osteoarthritis drank 8 oz. of tart cherry juice twice a day for a six-week period. Participants saw decreases in pain and increased function. Sardines and olive oil have both been found to have anti-inflammatory effects. Refined grains, red and processed meats and sugary drinks have all been found to negatively affect chronic pain due to an increase in inflammation. 

There have been some myths that cracking knuckles can potentially lead to arthritis and evidence has not been found to support this notion. The popping you may hear from cracking is due to bubbles popping in the synovial fluid around the joints. It may be beneficial to decrease the amount of knuckle cracking though because studies have shown cracking knuckles can lead to increased swelling and decreased hand grip strength. Fibromyalgia is a problem concerning the musculoskeletal system, which can lead to pain throughout the entire body. Treatments for fibromyalgia vary but some lifestyle changes like exercising and reducing stress may help. Providers may prescribe antidepressants or antiseizure medications to help with fibromyalgia pain. Opiods can be prescribed for acute injuries to reduce feelings of pain in the body, but the length of time on these medications should be reduced and used for as little time as possible given their addictive side effects. It is best to always speak to your provider if you have any concerns about chronic pain. To find out more ways to keep yourself healthy and free of pain, please visit our website at www.oxborochiro.com. 

Source: http://time.com/4723105/chronic-pain-facts/

Treatment of Concussion

Recent research performed at Oxboro Family Chiropractic focused on treating acute concussion symptoms with chiropractic adjustments and acupuncture.  In this study, the patient was having daily symptoms of headache, pain, dizziness, and shooting pain into the arms.  The symptoms were intense enough to be effecting the patient's daily activities, including work.

Treatment consisted of chiropractic adjustments, trigger point therapy of the neck and upper back musculature, and acupuncture localized in the shoulders, upper back, neck, head, and feet.  The patient's symptoms fully resolved after 8 treatments over 2.5 weeks and remained resolved at the time of a follow-up exam 2 months later.

This study suggests that chiropractic adjustments, muscle therapy, and acupuncture can be a successful treatment method to quickly reduce, if not resolve, concussion symptoms.  For more information about this study and if this treatment is right for you, contact our office.

Source:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Gergen+DM%5BAuthor%5D

For more information visit our website at 

www.oxborochiro.com

Migraine Triggers in your Food and Drink

Migraine symptoms can last anywhere from four to seventy-two hours and they include symptoms like nausea and vomiting, blurred vision, lightheadedness and sensitivity to light and sound. The pain can also be on one side of the head or it could be pulsating, throbbing pain throughout the whole head.

There isn't an exact way to prevent migraines, but there may be potential triggers that can make a difference in the number attacks. Consider these ingredients and foods:

Tyramine: This substance is formed from the breakdown of protein as foods age. Foods that have tyramine include aged cheeses (blue, Brie, cheddar, Stilton, feta, Gorgonzola, mozzarella, Muenster, Parmesan, Swiss and processed cheese), processed meat (hot dogs, sandwich meat, and bacon), and soy products (soy sauce, tofu, and miso). Olives, pickles, sauerkraut, dried fruit, red wine, and beer also have tyramine. 

Alcohol: Alcohol increases blood flow to your brain, which can cause a migraine. Red wine, beer, whiskey, and champagne seem to be the most common culprits. 

Tannins: These are plant compounds can be found in tea, red-skinned apples and pears, apple juice and cider and red wine. Some other foods that have this compound include lemons, limes, grapefruit, cantaloupe, guava, honeydew melon, green pears, oranges, pineapples, black berries, and apricots. Generally you will find most of the tannins in the skin of the fruit. 

Caffeine: Caffeine can be both a trigger and treatment for migraines. If you know you are sensitive to caffeine, avoid chocolate, coffee, soda, and tea. 

Other potential migraine triggers: Artificial sweeteners (aspartame), foods that contain MSG and some preservatives, including sulfites and nitrates.

To help identify your migraine triggers, it would be wise to keep a food journal to note and correlation between what you eat and how you feel. A good iPhone app that would be helpful is My Migraine Triggers.

Original Article: http://news.yahoo.com/migraine-triggers-food-drink-135825251.html

Visit us at www.oxborochiro.com