CALMING HORMONES

calming hormones

Migraine Headaches: Calming hormones and calming the head

Migraines may be brought on by a wide variety of “triggers,” including diet, sleep patterns, weather, irritating chemicals, odours, stress, exercise – and hormones.1

Women have significantly more migraines than men, with a 3 to 1 ratio.2 And 60% of female migraine sufferers report that their headaches are connected in time to their menstrual cycles, although they can happen at other times too.3

Indeed, there is evidence that migraines may be associated with fluctuations in the hormone estrogen.4 Women may have more migraines during or before their menstrual period, or during the first trimester of pregnancy.4 Oral contraceptives can also trigger migraines.4 Fortunately, for most women, migraines subside or stop completely with aging and menopause.4
Some things to consider to decrease the frequency and severity of migraines:

  • Treat the migraine as soon as possible.2 Pain that goes on for a long period of time may be more difficult to get rid of,5 so tackle it as soon as the symptoms  appear.
  • Keep track of your migraines.2 Try to identify and then avoid migraine triggers as much as possible. Keep a migraine log to identify triggers. When a migraine strikes, make a note of your activities, diet, sleep patterns and the weather. Then look for patterns in the information.
  • Medications. There are several medications currently available over-the-counter or by prescription that can stop a migraine attack after you are experiencing symptoms.2, 6 For general pain management, over-the-counter analgesics are effective for some people, especially for mild-moderate migraine pain.2,6 Talk to a doctor or pharmacist to find out more about treatment.
  • Rest and sleep. Some migraine sufferers find resting and sleeping can help.5
  • Prevention. Preventing the onset of a migraine is always the best course. Try to identify your personal migraine triggers (these could be certain foods, smells, or other environmental factors), and then avoid them as much as possible.2,6

References

  1. Headache Hygiene. The American Headache Society.http://www.achenet.org/education/patients/HeadacheHygiene.asp.
  2. Lifting the burden. Information for people affected by migraine. Available at:http://www.w-h-a.org/assets/0/E0E0E230-E5CC-D51C5D382D5DEFA369DA_document/What_is_migraine.pdf.
  3. Patient UK. Migraine triggered by periods. Available at:http://www.patient.co.uk/pdf/pilsL748.pdf.  Accessed August 2010.
  4. Lifting the burden. Information on female hormones for women with headache. Available at:http://www.w-h-a.org/assets/64/E64DDA50-0E6E-D936-650A7E91EC8A2A34_document/Headache_and_hormones.pdf.
  5. Migraine headaches treatment. Mayo Clinic. Available at: http://www.mayoclinic.org/migraine/treatment.html. Accessed August 2010.
  6. Treatment and management. M.A.G.N.U.M. Migraine Awareness Group. Available at:http://www.migraines.org/treatment/treatctm.htm. Accessed August 2010.