What You Should Know About Menopause Headaches
by David Wilding
For women whose migraines have been triggered by their monthly period, the menopause can bring an improvement in the headaches � but unfortunately, they don�t tend to disappear altogether.
Statistics
The type of menopause seems to affect how the migraines react.
A study showed that in women who had a spontaneous (natural) menopause
� 9% said their migraines got worse
� 24% said that nothing changed
� 67% saw an improvement
Almost the reverse was true for women who had had their ovaries removed by surgery, leading to an abrupt �forced� menopause
� 33% said that their migraines improved
� 67% said that their migraines got worse
Perimenopause
Sadly, for some women, the beginning of their menopause also means their migraines getting worse. For others, it can mean that they start having migraines for the first time in their lives.
This period of time is called the perimenopause and it is when the levels of estrogen and progesterone start going up and down in a fairly haywire fashion.
Menopause itself is considered to have begun once you have had no period for a year.
How do I know if I�m in the perimenopause?
Symptoms may include:
- A worsening of existing migraines or headaches
- Migraines or headaches starting when there were none before
- Hot flashes (or power surges as some like to call them!)
- Night sweats
- Being emotionally labile (up and down)
- Memory loss
- Loss of interest in sex
- Mood swings
- Feeling tearful
- Feeling angry and / or depressed
What can I take to help with the horrible symptoms of menopause?
- Hormone replacement therapy (see your Doctor)
- Estrogen supplements (again, see your Doctor)
- Black cohosh
- soy isoflavones
- Fennel
- Vitamin E
- Red clover extract
Please note: Anyone who has suffered breast cancer and who is taking tamoxifen should avoid these products as most of them work by utilizing plant estrogens. These are contra indicated in people who have suffered an estrogen-receptive breast cancer.
If in any doubt, please consult your Doctor.
What can I take for the migraines?
One of the other bizarre things about menopause is that painkillers or treatment that you have taken in the past may no longer work for you. This really is a case of trial and error. See your Doctor and find what works for you now. This is a time when many women may turn to alternative, natural and complementary medicines.
As we have seen, migraine can be triggered by the change in the level of hormones. As the menopause continues, these levels start to settle down and that can cause a decline in the frequency and severity of migraines.
However, in all people between the ages of 55 and 60, when menopause is generally finished, there are still more females than males who suffer from migraines.
This would suggest that there is something other than the hormone fluctuation that is the trigger, but what that other trigger may be, we don�t yet know.
Other important information concerning how headache treatments may help can be found by visiting Headache.HealthHows.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Wilding
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