11/01/2025
9 things you won’t see me do as a chiropractor who treats migraines 🩻
1. Coffee before water
Caffeine is a diuretic which dehydrates your body. Always start your morning with a tall glass of water first. Most people think they are bad at hydration, but they are really just playing catch up from that first cup of coffee.
2. Heavy bags or purses
That extra weight on one shoulder loads the traps and upper neck, creating constant tension in the same area that feeds headaches and migraines.
3. Fluorescent lights
Harsh artificial light exhausts your eyes and overstimulates your nervous system. If you need to be indoors, use warm incandescent bulbs or high-quality, flicker-free LEDs that mimic natural light.
4. Processed sugar
Refined sugar fuels inflammation and unstable blood sugar levels, both common migraine triggers. I’ve eliminated sugar from my diet, but if you do have it, make sure it’s very rare.
5. Recliner while watching TV
What feels “relaxing” is actually one of the worst postures for your neck and back. The slouched, rounded position pushes your head forward and trains your body to stay there even when you stand up.
6. Lay back against headboard to read
That hyper-flexed neck posture is one of the most common migraine triggers I see. It places direct strain on the upper cervical spine and irritates sensitive joints and muscles that can spark headaches.
7. Drive with head forward
Forward head carriage while driving keeps the neck under constant tension and loads the base of the skull. Over time, that stress contributes to tightness, fatigue, and migraine flare ups.
8. Screens below eye level
Every time you look down at your phone or laptop, you are keeping your neck in flexion. It is the exact posture that aggravates migraines. Raise your screen and protect your curve.
9. Blue light at night
Blue light overstimulates the visual system, strains the eyes, and kills melatonin. Poor sleep and visual fatigue both keep the nervous system in overdrive, which can trigger migraines.
👉 Share this with a friend who struggles with migraines
