Hormonal Headaches

A painful and enfeebling condition affecting many women, hormonal headaches are the result of the fluctuations in the estrogen and progesterone hormone levels in the body. These variations of the female sexual hormones are usually precipitated during the menstrual cycle. The other changes that trigger these headaches are menarche, premenstrual syndrome, pregnancy, and menopause.

These headaches can start as early as 11 days before the menstrual cycle and occur alongside other premenstrual syndrome symptoms such as acne outbreak, anxiety, emotional sensitivity, constipation, food cravings, and fatigue. During this time, these headaches can be seriously debilitating.

Since symptoms are similar to a migraine with throbbing pain on one side of the head, vomiting, and sensitivity to bright light and noise, hormonal headaches are mistaken for migraine headaches. The severity of these headaches, however, differ from one woman to the next. Here is a look at the causes of these headaches, symptoms, and treatment options.

When the levels of estrogen are off-kilter in relation to natural levels of progesterone in the body, it can trigger off hormonal headaches. The headaches occur just before the menses or during ovulation, when estrogen and other hormones spike, or during the menses itself, when estrogen and progesterone naturally drop off.

Usually, the first case of such a headache hits women during adolescence. It can come on suddenly or become more unpredictable during perimenopause or menopause, when a woman's hormones are really shifting. Based on this, there are essentially two types of hormonal headaches.

Premenstrual or Hormone Headaches: A premenstrual hormone headache occurs prior to the menses, starting from 7 to 3 days before your period and ends when the menstrual flow begins. These usually exist alongside other premenstrual syndrome symptoms.

Menstrual Migraine: Menstrual migraine is a form of hormonal migraine which occurs in the first or second day of the menstrual cycle and stays on till the end of menstruation.

It has been found that there is a correlation between the use of birth control pills and these headaches. Since these tablets cause a change in the estrogen levels, the chances of triggering a hormonal headache is increased.

Similar to migraine headaches, a person suffering from hormonal headaches is prone to suffering from throbbing pain on one side of the head, which is usually accompanied by nausea and vomiting. During this time, the patient becomes increasingly sensitive to bright lights and high decibel noise.

The good news is that you can effectively combat these headaches with these easy steps.

• Incorporate a daily exercise routine into your schedule. Yoga and breathing exercises help maintain hormonal balance and reduce the incidence of these headaches. They are also great stress relievers.

• A healthy, balanced diet is a step in the right direction, as it helps deter these headaches. Avoid processed foods such as meat. Cut out any food with additives or those that contain Monosodium Glutamate (MSG). Instead, add fresh fruits and vegetables to your diet.

• Try to eat 5-6 meals per day. This will keep blood sugar stable and deter the headaches from appearing.
• The most common triggering agents of hormonal headaches are alcohol, caffeine, sugar.

• Drink plenty of water, at least 3 to 4 glasses per day for clearing the body of the toxins.
• Sleep for minimum 7 hours a day, as disturbed sleep can aggravate the headache.

In addition, over-the-counter NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and triptans can decrease frequency of hormone headaches and relieve premenstrual syndrome symptoms, such as cramping. Since, these headaches have similar symptoms to the other types of headaches, a great way to determine the type of headache is to keep a journal of your headaches.

You can list down when the headaches occur, how intense they are, and what you took to treat them. Remember to consult your doctor for the best treatment and follow dosage recommendations carefully to avoid these headaches.

Disclaimer: This story is for informative purposes only, and should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice.