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Hormonal Headaches in Women

Hormonal headache

The head is one of the most common sites of pain in the body. Headaches have been considered as a mild disturbance and thus have been ignored for years. Not every individual suffers from it but the percentage of affected population is increasing consistently. Tension headaches are the most common types of all, but not many of you are aware the periodic occurrence of headaches in women particularly known as hormonal headaches. It can run in family history or emerge newly in women. Many complain of migraine headaches felt in one side of brain. Interestingly these headaches in women have direct connections with the hormones. For men reasons for headaches are not said to be purely hormonal.

What are these Headaches?

The estrogen and progesterone hormones in women are said to be the key factor for giving that ache in head. The lower the level of estrogen, the higher the pain. The increase of estrogen will eventually better the ache. These headaches can be mild or severe which can be managed through simple medication and alteration of lifestyle.

In case, the pain is intolerable with added symptoms of fever, stiff neck, change in behavior, vomiting, weakness or change in sensation, it needs to be notified to a doctor immediately.

Why does it affect Women?

Men also get headaches, but they are not directly associated with hormonal changes. The women on other hand biologically have an amount of estrogen and progesterone, which facilitates their menstrual and pregnancy stages.

Most of the headaches a woman suffers are directly connected to these hormones. Hence headaches in women are common phenomena as compared to men.

When does it Occur?

Women’s growth stages of life can bring along types of headache. However, these can be managed medically.

1. Menstrual stage

During this period, the level of estrogen decreases and hence for many women, it becomes a reason to get a pain in head. Sometimes it even triggers a migraine headache.

2. Pregnancy stage

Once you get conceived, your estrogen level automatically increase and remain high till delivery. Hence during this period, many of you with migraine headaches feel better with few or no signs of the pain. However, post-pregnancy, the estrogen level suddenly reduces. And when associated with post-pregnancy stress, lack of sleep and rest make the headache return to your life.

3. Family planning using birth control pills

The intake of birth control pills initially results in a disturbance in the hormonal level, hence the side effects reflect well with pain in head.

4. Per menopause or menopause stage

This stage is crucial to bring in drastic hormonal changes in a woman resulting in various mental and physical health issues. One such prominent issue is the occurrence of migraine headaches. Women on hormonal replacement therapy during menopause are also known to get the migraine headaches as its side effects.

However, many of you have reported that you finally got rid of this pain just after your menopause.

5. Lifestyle changes

Today’s modern women’s life is surrounded by commitments and expectations. Demanding jobs, hot whether, lack of rest, starvation, over exhaustion, smoking, hairsprays and even higher aroma scents are believed to be other reasons why women are more prone to these headaches.

How can these Headaches be Prevented and Cured?

There is no research available till date to support how to prevent these hormonal headaches, however, being aware of the existence and relaxing during the menstrual and menopausal stages could go a long way to mange the pain better.

There are many counter medications available for migraines, however, it is always advisable to follow your doctor. Drugs such as acetaminophen or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, naproxen (aleve, others) and ibuprofen (advil, motrin, others) are some of the key medications to make you feel better.

To prevent migraine headaches during menstrual period, NSAID treatment of medication should begin two to three days before the start of menstrual cycle and continue till the period ends.

For people who have severe menstrual migraines but on birth control pills need to take this treatment starting on the 19th day of the cycle and continue till the second day of next cycle.

Also the following simple methods can help to sooth the pain to an extend:

  • Eating healthy and not starving
  • Apply ice pack on to the area of pain
  • Massaging the muscle gently to relax
  • Good sleep
  • Hot bath
  • Limiting salt intake immediately before the start of menses.

Medications during pregnancy are strictly discouraged as it could affect the uterus and fetus within. On heavy pain condition, a mild pain reliever could be uses such as tylenol.

It is believed that the ultimate reliever is the natural completion of menopause, once this stage is crossed, you have believed to get a permanent relied from these hormonal headaches.

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