Migraine headaches can be a serious problem for women going through the changes of menopause. As they can occur with varying degrees of intensity and duration, migraine headaches can range from a mild nuisance to debilitating. Migraine headaches are closely connected to a woman`s hormones; as a result they experience five times as many migraines as men.
What Causes Migraines?
Women who suffer from migraines react to a variety of factors called “triggers.” These triggers can vary from person to person, but don’t always lead to a migraine:
• Hormonal changes in women.
• Foods.
• Stress.
• Sensory stimuli.
• Medications.
• Changes in wake-sleep routine.
• Physical factors.
• Changes in the weather.
• Illness.
• Side effects from medications.
How are migraines treated?
Treatments without medication include biofeedback, relaxation techniques, changes in diet, stress reduction, acupuncture, and regular sleep/wake schedules. Medications can prevent migraines from occurring (magnesium, aspirin, triptans, ergots, and hormone therapy) or stop a migraine that has already begun (triptans and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
HRT is given to women to treat symptoms of the menopause such as hot flushes and night sweats. Depending on the woman, HRT may help or hinder the treatment of migraine headaches. Therefore, HRT is not suitable or necessary for every woman, nor is it free of side effects. Therefore, if a woman decides to try HRT after getting the recommendation from her health care provider, it is important that she try it for three months to give her body time to find its balance.
Surgical Menopause
Menopause brought on by surgery does not usually improve migraine and it may even make it worse, especially if the ovaries are removed as well as uterus. If a hysterectomy is required for other medical reasons, the effects may sometimes be reduced by estrogen replacement therapy. Women should let their doctor know if they start to suffer from migraines later in life, if they experience any change in the typical pattern of migraine symptoms, or develop new symptoms. It may be that their doctor would like to give them a check-up and perhaps change the management of their migraines.
Tags: hormone change, Menopause. women and migraines, migraine attack, migraine headache, migraine trigger, Migraines, Weather
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