If you live in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and are suffering from migraines, our headache doctor at Acupractic Natural Healing Center may be able to relieve your pain. Dr. Lisa Oskardmay is a Doctor of Chiropractic and a licensed acupuncturist. Dr. Oskardmay has helped many patients who felt occasional or chronic headaches. As a respected and longtime headache doctor in Chapel Hill, NC, Dr. Oskardmay offers non-surgical treatment without the use of prescription medications.

How Chiropractic Care Can Help With Your Headaches

Getting frequent headaches or migraines can not only be painful, but it can be a sign that there are other problems in your body. When this is the case, you should seek help from a headache doctor in Chapel Hill, NC from Acupractic Natural Healing Center as soon as possible to discuss your symptoms, when your headaches occur, and what kind of treatment options they may have.

Common Causes of Headaches

Causes of headaches are often referred to as "triggers." Some of the most common headache triggers include:

• An environmental stimulus or circumstance such as noise, light, stress, blood sugar change, excessive exercise, insomnia, etc.
• Misalignment of the spinal column or other areas of the body
• Eye strain
• Sleeping, sitting or standing posture
• Muscle tension or joint irritation in the neck, back, or other areas of the body

How a Headache Doctor in Chapel Hill, NC Can Make a Difference

Chiropractors recognize the importance of proper neck posture and vertebral motion regarding headache treatment and prevention. The cervical spine is a series of seven bony vertebral units with eight cervical nerves emanating from them. Irritation of the nerves arising from the neck due to misalignment of the vertebrae, foraminal encroachment or even muscle tightness can affect the functioning of these important nerves creating stress and malfunction in the body.

Dr. Oskardmay and her team at Acupractic Natural Healing Center offers a variety of effective treatments that are specific to a patient's condition. After a thorough exam, Dr. Oskardmay may determine that one or more of the following treatments will be the optimum approach:

• Provide a chiropractic adjustment or spinal manipulation to alleviate stress on the patient's system by improving spinal function.
• Perform acupuncture therapy on one or more meridians or channels to harness the body's natural healing potential.
• Provide diet and nutrition guidance with suggestions for improving the patient's nutrition intake, overall diet, and the addition of specific vitamins and other non-prescription medication supplements.
• Provide guidance for improving posture as well as relaxation techniques, specific exercises, and ergonomic approaches for daily routines (including sitting at a desk). Dr. Oskardmay uses 'Posture Pro' and other techniques to help you make the most of your sitting and standing postures to reduce neck pain and headaches.

Nutrition and Migraines

Many migraine sufferers find that working with a Chapel Hill, NC headache doctor and making dietary changes can help alleviate the headaches and, in many cases, eliminate them. Foods and substances to avoid include:

• Caffeine (including decaffeinated coffee and tea)
• Alcohol, especially wines
• Chocolate
• Artificial sweeteners (aspartame, sucralose, saccharin)
• Foods with monosodium glutamate (MSG)
• Dairy products
• Peanuts and tree nuts
• Bananas, citrus fruits, onion
• Yeast breads and soy products

Drinking at least 64 ounces of fluids every day will help prevent headaches. Making sure to have something to eat every four to five hours, and getting seven to nine hours of sleep every night are also important steps.