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About Headaches
Headaches can have a debilitating effect on women going through menopause. Marked by mild to severe throbbing pain in the head, headaches can be so powerful that they are able to bring a woman´s activities to a grinding halt and render her unable to complete the daily tasks of life. Headaches in particular are closely tied to women´s biology; they experience five times as many headaches as men. Up to 30% of women experience these types of headaches before menopause, and that percentage only increases for menopausal women. |
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Read on to learn more about headaches and their multitude of symptoms to be better equipped to identify them, rendering them easier to treat.
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Definition of Headaches
While women may experience headaches in many forms and as the experience is never the same for every woman, there are basic standards that make them identifiable. Also, the types of headaches may vary.
Generally speaking, a headache is a recurren - throbbing headache generally felt on one side of the head; though, it may possibly occur on both sides. It can last anywhere from one or two hours up to three days.
Many women entering perimenopause, the five-to-ten year period leading up to menopause, begin to experience an influx of headaches from a host of factors. In order to distinguish the difference between a normal headache and more serious headaches, continue reading to learn the most common symptoms of headaches. |
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Symptoms of Headaches
Headaches may range in severity from mild to excruciating, going beyond the boundaries of simple head pain. They encompass a wide array of symptoms. Below there is a list of the common symptoms of headaches.
Symptoms Associated with Headaches
• Throbbing, pulsating pain in the head
• Pain by coughing, straining, or lowering the head
• Tired and weak feeling
• Pain may be in one spot or generalized
• Pain may last only a few minutes or over 24 hours
• Nausea, vomiting
• Sensitivity to light, sound and odor
• Sweaty hands and feet |
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Who is Susceptible to Headaches
One of the most common headaches that menopausal women suffer from is the migraine headache, an insidious type of headache. A common myth states that only women experience migraines. This is not the case; however, women experience these headaches at five times the rate that men do. The reason women are more likely to experience headaches involves the hormonal changes during menstruation, mirrored in the throes of menopause. |
Other factors related to headache susceptibility:
• High headache susceptibility
between the ages of 15 and 55
• Family history of migraine or of
disabling headache
• Headaches often become less
severe and less frequent with
age
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Women who have headaches prior to menopause are far more likely to have them during menopause. These fluctuating hormone levels play enough of a role that women who have never experienced a headache before menopause are susceptible to them once menopause begins. |
Aside from headaches, there are numerous other types of headaches that a woman may experience. Click on the following link to read more about the types of headaches during menopause.
What are the best ways to cope with headaches?
Three approaches can be considered for treating headaches: (1) lifestyle changes, (2) alternative remedies, and (3) drugs and surgery. Most experts recommend that women begin with the least aggressive approach and move to the next level of treatment only if symptoms persist. Click on treatments for headaches to discover the best route to relief.
Return to home page and learn more about the 34 Menopause Symptoms.
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