{"id":34,"date":"2022-08-03T17:53:00","date_gmt":"2022-08-03T22:53:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.integratedchiro.net\/blog\/migraines-and-acupuncture\/"},"modified":"2022-08-08T10:08:28","modified_gmt":"2022-08-08T15:08:28","slug":"migraines-and-acupuncture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.integratedchiro.net\/blog\/migraines-and-acupuncture\/","title":{"rendered":"Migraines and Acupuncture"},"content":{"rendered":"\"\"\n

Did you know that some 28-33 MILLION Americans suffer from Migraine headaches (MHA)?\u00a0 MHA is ranked 19th among disability causing conditions by the World Health Organization (WHO). Here are a couple of other interesting statistics:<\/p>\n

\u2022<\/span>94% of people who consult their Doctor<\/span> for head pain have MHA.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u202290% of people who consult their Doctor<\/span> for sinus HA\u2019s actually have MHA<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u202228-33 million people have MHA in the U.S., compared to 32 million who have asthma, Diabetes, and Congestive Heart Disease <\/span>combined<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

Migraine is considered a “primary” headache, meaning it is not attributable to any other condition or illness.\u00a0 There are many types and subtypes of MHA.\u00a0 T<\/span>he most common type of MHA is Migraine without aura (aura is a set of sensory precursors, such as a smell or flashing lights in the eyes that the sufferer experiences prior to the onset of the MHA).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The causal mechanism of MHA is poorly understood.\u00a0 Originally, it was believed that the cause was vascular, probably because of the pulsing quality of the pain.\u00a0 Research has shown that although there is some change in bloodflow at the brainstem (base of the brain, just above the spinal cord in the neck), there is no change in bloodflow within the cortex of the brain or surrounding tissues.\u00a0 Current thinking is that MHA is a neurobiologic<\/b> issue.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> It is now believed that hyper sensitization of nerve endings within the brain itself are responsible for the initiation of MHA.<\/span><\/span><\/span> T<\/span>hus, attacks originate within the brain.<\/span><\/span> The nerves respond first, thereafter affecting blood flow.\u00a0 The brain is not in itself a pain sensitive structure, but it is where the perception of all sensation (including pain) takes place.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Here are a few things that are known:<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022Migraine sufferers are over-stimulated by what they see and hear.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u2022Pain starts within the brainstem<\/strong>, which is considered the migraine generator<\/em>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u2022Visual changes (aura) result from an electrically charged wave sweeping across the brain surface, followed by decreased charge. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

\u2022The throbbing\/pulsing sensation is due to swelling (inflammation) of the brain\u2019s surface blood vessels and it\u2019s covering (<\/span>dura<\/span> mater, meninges)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022Hypersensitive nerve endings in the brain result in <\/span>allodynia<\/span>, or pain resulting from stimulation that is normally non-painful.<\/span><\/span><\/span>This hypersensitivity <\/span><\/span>is why sufferers do not want to be touched or talked to while having a migraine.\u00a0 Most prefer a quiet, dark place to rest until the pain passes.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

TREATMENT OPTIONS<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>
\nThere are two main types of treatment, prophylactic(preventative), or abortive(interrupts the MHA).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>
\nProphylactic treatment seeks to prevent the onset of MHA.\u00a0 Some common prophylactic choices include:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n