Why Me? Migraine Preventions to get Your Life Back

By: Dr. Jordin Wiggins, ND

Migraines are no laughing matter. They are a serious health concern that affect 30% of adults worldwide.

Migraines can be experienced as severe headaches with throbbing pain, sensitivity to light and sound, vision changes, nausea, loss of appetite and dizziness. Some people suffer from migraines regularly, others get hit by one or two a year. They are classified as the 3^rd most common cause of disability worldwide. A migraine greatly interferes with your ability to carry out daily activities and can have a serious impact on your psychological well-being.

Migraines occur as a response to psychological and physiological stressors, with a wide range of risk factors. And, let’s get this part out of the way…

There are no cures for migraines.

There are drugs that have been developed to prevent migraines, but studies have found these to be effective for only about 50% of migraine sufferers and they can come with some nasty side-effects. And painkillers may provide immediate relief, but if you are taking these medications often (more than once a week for an extended period of time) you are at significant risk for damaging the lining of your stomach and intestines.

Ultimately, we don’t have a good, safe and effective pharmaceutical treatment option that works for everyone that suffers from migraines. And medication overuse has been shown to make migraines even more difficult to treat over time.

Factors that may be Contributing to the Severity of your Migraines:

• Dehydration
• Food Allergy/Sensitivity. Undiagnosed food sensitivities could be contributing to your migraines.
• Nutrient status. The right lab work can find nutrient deficiencies that may be contributing to the likelihood of suffering from migraines.
• Hormone imbalance. More women suffer from migraines than men. Fluctuations in estrogen are linked to migraines as well as an estrogen-progesterone imbalance.
• Thyroid disease. High or low thyroid levels have been linked to migraines.

The right lifestyle adjustments, supplementation, dietary restrictions and reduction of inflammation can reduce the frequency and severity of your migraines and have a major impact on your quality of life.

Magnesium

Magnesium deficiency is much more common in migraine sufferers than in non-sufferers. Magnesium regulates blood vessel constriction that can lead to migraines as it is an important part of neurotransmitter and nerve function as well as blood circulation.

Food Sensitivity Testing (FST)

You are fighting an uphill battle against your migraines if you continue to eat the foods you are intolerant to. Your immune system could be reacting to foods you eat every day (dairy, gluten, soy, caffeine) causing inflammation and increasing your chances of a migraine.

Reduce Stress

Stress can contribute to migraines in a few ways. Tension in the neck and head can lead to headaches and constricted blood vessels leading to migraines. Long-term chronic stress can increase anxiety, inflammation, poor digestion and poor clearance of toxins from the body…all of which increase the likelihood of getting a migraine.

Mindfulness and meditation have been shown to have a positive correlation with reducing migraine frequency.

Get the right lab work and explore the ways you can reduce the frequency and severity of your migraines. You deserve it.

Book an appointment to get to the bottom of your migraines!

-Dr. Jordin Wiggins, ND