If you’re suffering from recurring headaches, you might be experiencing hormonal migraines. Hormonal migraines are more than just a minor inconvenience; they can significantly disrupt your daily life. This blog post aims to offer a comprehensive understanding of hormonal migraines, their causes, symptoms, and treatments available at Bend Headache Center.
What are Hormonal Migraines?
Hormonal migraines are headaches that occur in response to changes in hormone levels, particularly estrogen. These changes usually occur during menstruation, pregnancy, menopause, or as a side effect of hormonal contraceptives. They are more common in women than men, with approximately 60% of women with migraines reporting worsening around the time of their menstruation. Understanding hormonal migraines is crucial to finding effective treatment options.
Causes of Hormonal Migraines
1. Menstrual Cycle
A significant cause of hormonal migraines is the menstrual cycle. Estrogen levels drop before the start of the menstruation cycle, triggering headaches. These migraines usually occur in the two days leading up to your period and the first three days of your period.
2. Hormonal Contraceptives
Contraceptive pills, patches, and rings can also trigger hormonal migraines. These contraceptives work by altering your hormone levels, causing fluctuations that might bring on a migraine.
3. Pregnancy
Pregnancy is a time of considerable hormonal upheavals. In the early stages of pregnancy, hormonal changes can trigger migraines. , many women experience a reduction in migraines later in pregnancy when hormone levels become more stable.
Symptoms of Hormonal Migraines
Understanding the symptoms of hormonal migraines can help you differentiate them from regular headaches. Typical symptoms include:
- Throbbing pain on one side of the head
- Sensitivity to light and sound
- Nausea or vomiting
- Seeing flashing lights, zigzag lines, or blind spots
Treatment Options
1. Non-Medication Therapies at Bend Headache Center
At Bend Headache Center, we offer a variety of non-surgical and drug-free therapies for hormonal migraines. These include:
- Biofeedback: This therapy helps you understand how your body responds to stressors, helping you learn how to control your body’s responses and reduce migraine frequency.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy: This therapy can help you learn ways to cope with stress and manage your migraines.
- Physical therapy: Specific exercises can help reduce muscle tension, a common trigger for migraines.
2. Lifestyle Modifications
Lifestyle modifications can also help manage hormonal migraines. These modifications include regular exercise, stress management techniques, and avoiding migraine triggers.
Conclusion
Understanding Hormonal Migraines is the first step towards finding effective treatment. At Bend Headache Center, we are dedicated to relieving the pain and discomfort of chronic headaches, including hormonal migraines. Reach out to us today to find the best non-surgical and drug-free solutions for your hormonal migraines.
