Migraine Awareness Week 2026: What Are Migraines and How Do They Affect Us?
This week marks Migraine Awareness Week, a campaign led by The Migraine Trust to raise awareness of a condition that affects around one in seven people in the UK. To mark it, we wanted to share a closer look at what is really going on during a migraine and how chiropractic care can help.
Whether it is a dull, nagging ache that builds through the day or a sudden, throbbing pain that stops you in your tracks, migraines can affect almost every part of daily life from work, sleep, family time and you time.
While occasional headaches are something most of us experience from time to time, migraines are different entirely, and understanding what's driving them can make a real difference to how they're managed.
Why Do People Get Migraines?
Migraines are not simply ‘bad headaches’. They are a complex neurological condition, often involving changes in blood flow.
For many people, migraines don not appear out of nowhere. They often build gradually, triggered by a combination of factors rather than a single cause. Tension in the neck and upper back, poor posture, stress, disrupted sleep and irregular routines can all play a part in how frequently migraines occur and how severe they become.
Migraine attacks can last anywhere from a few hours to several days, and how often they occur varies from person to person. Some people have episodic migraines, with symptoms on fewer than 15 days a month, while others experience chronic migraines, defined as headaches on 15 or more days a month over an extended period. Attacks often unfold in stages, and around one-third of people experience an aura beforehand which can be temporary disturbances to vision.
What Actually Triggers a Migraine?
Very few triggers cause an attack entirely on their own. It is more common for migraines to result from a combination of factors for example, skipping a meal, having a poor night's sleep and feeling stressed might each be manageable alone, but together they can be enough to bring on an attack.
Commonly reported triggers include:
Hormonal changes.
Certain foods.
Stress.
Dehydration.
Lack of sleep or a disrupted sleep pattern.
Weather changes.
Skipping meals.
Bright lights, strong smells or loud noise.
Caffeine and alcohol.
Prolonged screen or computer use.
Exercise.
Neck and shoulder tension, often linked to posture or prolonged sitting.
It is also worth knowing that what feels like a trigger can sometimes actually be an early symptom. In the lead-up to an attack, some people notice mood changes, neck stiffness or unusual food cravings, all can be signs of the migraine already beginning rather than something that caused it. A migraine diary can help tell the difference and reveal your own personal patterns over time.
When Is It Not ‘Just a Headache’?
Most migraines, while unpleasant, are not dangerous. However, certain symptoms should always be assessed by a healthcare professional.
Seek advice if you experience:
A headache that feels sudden and severe, unlike anything before.
Headache following a head or neck injury.
Numbness, weakness or slurred speech alongside the pain.
Vision changes that do not resolve.
Headaches that are steadily worsening over days or weeks.
Fever, stiff neck or confusion alongside the headache.
New headaches appearing for the first time after the age of 50.
These symptoms may point to something that needs further investigation rather than a typical migraine.
How Chiropractic Care Can Help
For migraines with a neck-related component, chiropractic treatment can be a valuable part of the management plan.
Assessment: A thorough examination helps identify whether restricted movement, muscular tension or joint dysfunction in the neck and upper back is contributing to your migraines.
Manual therapy: Gentle mobilisation and manipulation of the cervical spine can help restore normal joint movement and reduce mechanical strain on surrounding nerves and muscles.
Soft tissue work: Releasing tension in the neck, shoulders and upper back can ease the muscular load that often builds alongside migraine activity.
Postural advice: Simple, practical changes to workstation setup, sleeping position or daily habits can reduce the ongoing strain that feeds into migraine frequency.
Exercise and rehabilitation: Targeted strengthening and mobility exercises help build resilience in the neck and upper back, reducing susceptibility over time.
Dry needling: Where appropriate, dry needling can be used to help release tight, overactive muscles and reduce tension in the neck and upper back that may be contributing to migraine frequency.
As trained practitioners, we are able to offer this as part of a tailored treatment plan alongside manual therapy. Chiropractic care will not be the right fit for every type of migraine, but for those with a mechanical or tension-related element, it can help reduce both the frequency and severity of episodes.
Helping Prevent Migraines
While not every migraine can be avoided, a few simple habits can help reduce the risk:
Keep to a regular sleep routine.
Stay well hydrated throughout the day.
Take regular breaks from screens and desk work.
Pay attention to posture, especially during long periods of sitting.
Manage stress through regular movement or relaxation techniques.
Eat regularly and avoid skipping meals.
Keep a migraine diary to help identify personal triggers.
Seek early advice if neck tension or stiffness becomes a regular feature.
Recognising your own patterns and addressing tension in the neck and upper back early is one of the most effective ways to keep migraines from escalating.
It is worth saying that trying to avoid every possible trigger is not realistic and can end up adding stress and disruption of its own without stopping attacks altogether. It is often more useful to focus on the broader lifestyle habits (regular routines). Supporting your overall health may make attacks less frequent or severe as a result.
Migraines are common, but they do not have to be something you simply live with. With the right assessment and a tailored approach , including chiropractic care where appropriate, many people find real improvement in how often migraines occur and how much they impact daily life.