Headaches and Menopause

Although many headaches and migraines abate with age for many women, hormonal changes during menopause can result in sudden recurrence or escalation of headaches and migraines. Migraines in particular may worsen or even begin during the estrogen fluctuations which occur just before the onset of menopause, a time often called "perimenopause.” Insomnia and stress have also been linked to headaches and migraines, and women undergoing the changes which occur with menopause experience both, potentially triggering further headaches. Hormones (including those given during hormone replacement therapy) may also contribute to headaches and migraines, as can other medications given to patients to help them control symptoms associated with menopause. What’s worse, women taking these medications are often reluctant or advised against taking another medication to cope with headaches. Does this mean that if you are a woman undergoing menopause or post menopause, you must accept headaches as a normal part of life?

Fortunately, for several reasons, the answer is no.

First, it may be useful to realize that many women experience difficulties with headaches and migraines at this stage of their lives. These symptoms are caused by hormonal changes, reactions to treatments for menopause, and by stress. Most have successfully coped with them, and a myriad of cures and treatments exist to cope with them.

Second, it is useful to consider the difference between migraines and headaches. Migraines are actually a condition which affects the nerve tissue and the vascular tissue of the brain. They are caused by triggers, which vary from person to person, but which often relate to food. In fact, some research has suggested that they have much in common with food allergies. For most migraine sufferers, migraines are triggered by eating specific foods or by sensing a specific smell. For some migraine sufferers, however, flashes of light or stress seem to act as a trigger. Headaches are a more generic term for pains in the head or face area. They may be caused by a number of factors. For many women, however, stress most often produces what are known as tension headaches.
Migraines are often severely painful and sufferers may experience nausea and sensitivity to light during a spell. Migraines tend to severely interfere with everyday life. Headaches, on the other hand, range from mild to very painful. They may be located anywhere on the face and head and may range from a pulsing throb to a sharp pain.

In some cases, they do not seem to affect everyday life at all, and are a minor inconvenience. Severe headaches, including those caused by stress, however, may not allow a sufferer to continue with normal daily activities for the duration of the headache. While headaches and migraines are not especially dangerous in themselves, they can affect lives dramatically. Women who find themselves suddenly inundated with headaches and migraines may feel frustrated and may be unable to complete those tasks which they need to do. More seriously, they may come to dread the onset of headaches and may feel depressed and upset that this symptom interferes with their lives.

There are a number of things you can do if you find headaches interfere with your life. As a preliminary and crucial measure, get educated. Try to find out if anyone else in your family experiences migraines or has suffered from headaches during menopause. Ask friends about their solutions to migraines and headaches. Talk to health care professionals, and consult pharmacists and library books. Find out about different headaches. Most importantly, educate yourself about your own particular headaches. Start a journal in which you note your headaches and other symptoms. Also note your diet (what you eat each day), the exercise you get, and the hours of sleep you are able to get each night. When you get a headache, note everything you can about the circumstances in which it occurred. What was the time and date? Were you experiencing stress? What had happened in the last hour? Were you alone? Did you notice an odor before you felt the headache? What did the headache feel like? On what part of the head or face was the headache located? How severe was it? Once you have a few weeks or months in your journal, look for patterns. Did you eat something specific before each headache? Were you experiencing stress? If you cannot see any patterns yourself, show the journal to a health care practitioner, who may be able to find a pattern. At the very least, your doctor or nurse will be able to see the severity, type, and frequency of headaches, useful information that could help them formulate a more precise diagnosis.

What Can Be Done?

There are a number of solutions to headaches which appear in menopausal and post-menopausal women:

•Stay healthy: Avoid stress and ensure that you get enough sleep each night. If insomnia is a problem (as it is for many women experiencing menopause) consult a doctor about sleeplessness. Sleeplessness and stress both create tension that may aggravate headaches or even trigger them.

•Avoid foods that may contribute to headaches: Alcohol, MSG (a common ingredient in fast food and some processed meats), smoked or pickled food, milk, nuts, artificial sweeteners, and chocolate have all been linked to headaches and migraines. Try removing them from your diet one at a time and note any possible improvement.
•See a health care practitioner: A doctor or nurse may help you determine what medication would help your headaches and may also be able to suggest some lifestyle changes which may help you.
•Try acupuncture: Many people find this therapy quite relaxing once they have gotten over their fear of needles. If you have a condition which prohibits you from taking medications for your headaches or migraines, you may consider asking for a referral to a good acupuncturist.
•Try massage therapy: Not only is it soothing and enjoyable, but it soothes tensions and stresses which contribute to tension headaches.
•See an optometrist. If you need glasses or a stronger prescription, your headaches may stem from eye strain. If you often engage in activities such as watching television, reading books, doing detail work, or working at a computer, your headaches may result from the way you use your eyes. Ask your optometrist for ways to reduce eye strain and protect your eyes by using a good light for work and by wearing sunglasses on all bright days (even winter ones).
•Consult a natural or holistic health care professional: If you are not able to get relief and are unable to take medication for your headaches because of drug interaction, consider getting a recommendation to a specialist who may suggest holistic or herbal solutions.
•Try aromatherapy or yoga: Aromatherapy with soothing scents such as rosemary and lavender can help reduce stress and ease tensions. These scents are also considered healing. In addition, yoga has a tension-releasing effect and can help you stay healthy and limber.
•If headaches are very severe or persist see a neurologist. This specialist can tell you if another, underlying problem is the cause of the problem.

Remember, making a plan to deal with headaches can help. Whether they are a minor inconvenience or a serious concern, there are ways to overcome them.

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