Menstrual Migraine And PMS
The exact causes of migraine are unknown and even what happens within the body when they occur is little understood. Many factors have been identified as possible triggers for a migraine headache, and we can usually make adjustments to eliminate them. But one thing that cannot be eliminated is the menstrual cycle. Menstrual migraine is a very common extra burden, to be added to what women already face at the time of their periods.
Though little is yet known about the whys and hows of migraine there are plenty of statistics relating to who is effected. And it is disproportionately women. In fact, over 70% of sufferers are women. And many of them have noticed that they tend to experience headaches in the run up to their period. It seems that migraine and premenstrual syndrome very often come as a pair. Sixty percent of female migraineurs are prone to get these headaches before or during their period, as well as at other times of the month.
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Another fourteen percent, only have a migraines associated with their periods. That is a massive seventy-four percent of female migraineurs who associate their symptoms with menstruation. Medical science does not dispute this connection, but as yet, they are no further forward in coming up with a reason for it. There appears to some connection with hormonal changes in the body, but that is neither an explanation nor a cure. Migraine is usually the cause of symptoms other than headache and menstrual migraine is no exception. And the bad news doesn’t end there.
Women who have begun to experience migraines later in life, report that their symptoms from premenstrual syndrome(PMS), have grown more acute since the headaches started. A study that was published in January of 2006, confirmed this anecdotal evidence. Those taking part in the study reported that during a migraine, weight gain, bloating, mood swings, breast tenderness, back pain, and abdominal cramps all became more acute. The participants in the study were given a drug to halt the action of the ovaries and produce a temporary artificial menopause.
Even though the hormonal fluctuations of regular periods were eliminated, they still experienced worsened PMS symptoms during a bout of migraine. Those fourteen percent of females who experience migraine only during their period, are said to suffer from Menstrual Migraine. So are they doomed to suffer until the menopause? Maybe not. For some women, anti-inflammatory medications such as Ibuprofen, have proven to be effective.
Taking a course of them for several days before a period, and the first few days into it, can alleviate or prevent the symptoms of menstrual migraine. Anyone thinking of trying this preventative measure should discuss their options with their doctor first. However, before resorting to medication, the natural migraine relief methods that work for others can still be beneficial to women with menstrual migraine.
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