Hormonal headachesHormonal headaches are a very painful and seriously debilitating ailment that affects only women. Fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone can have significant effects on the brain, often triggering severe headaches. Hormonal headaches are a part of the overall premenstrual cycle, and can start as early as eleven days before the menstrual cycle. Symptoms of hormonal headaches include severe migraine like pain, usually accompanied by a sensitivity to light and loud noises. The pain is usually described as a throbbing sensation. A large percentage of women will eventually experience a hormonal headache. The occurrence of hormonal headaches is difficult to predict, although contraceptives are known to have an effect on their frequency. In some women, oral contraceptives provide a trigger for migraine like headaches, while in others it ends up reducing the frequency of the headaches. Accurately predicting the outcome of oral contraceptive use is difficult. Outside of contraceptives, the real reasons behind hormonal headache remain unknown. Preventing hormonal headaches can be difficult, or at least hard to do. Fortunately, treatment for hormonal headaches can potentially be far more effective. Over the counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can do an effective job of suppressing hormonal headache symptoms. Treatment with these over the counter drugs around five to seven days prior to a menstrual period can mitigate their effects. Aspirin, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen are all effective treatments for hormone headaches. These NSAID medications can possibly also play a role in reducing other premenstrual symptoms. Migraine medications, such as triptans, are another tool in the arsenal against hormonal headache pain. Although not a direct solution to hormonal headaches, triptans can significantly reduce the associated pain. Triptans and NSAID medication should be used wisely when attempting to reduce hormonal headaches, because they can cause reactions if overused. Overuse of both triptans and NSAID medication can result in what are known as “rebound” headaches, where the symptoms emerge even stronger after the effects of the medication has worn off. In addition to the premenstrual cycle, hormonal headaches also emerge during high hormone level periods. The early periods of childbirth can cause significant fluctuations in hormone levels, and this can commonly result in hormonal headaches. The days after childbirth are also a prime time for hormonal headaches to occur. Menopause can also frequently be associated with hormonal headaches. |
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