Menopause Migraine Headaches

A common symptom of menopause is increased headaches and often debilitating migraines. A migraine headache, defined generally, is a recurrent, throbbing headache generally felt on one side of the head. Migraines usually begin in early childhood, adolescence, or young adult life. However, they are also extremely common during menopause. Read over the following paragraphs for more information on migraine headaches.

What causes menopause migraine headaches?

Migraines are caused by a rapid widening and narrowing of blood vessel walls in the brain and head. This, in turn, causes the pain fibers in the blood vessel wall to become irritated often involving the blood vessels in the scalp. The following items and events have also been reported to cause migraine attacks:

•   Hunger
•   Changes in weather
•   Fatigue
•   Avocados, nuts, cheese, chocolate
•   Oral contraceptives
•   Menstrual periods
•   Menopause
•   Foods cured with nitrates (for example, hot dogs)
•   Emotional stress
•   Meat tenderizers
•   Alcoholic beverages.

What are the common symptoms of migraines and headaches?

There are many forms of migraine headaches. The classic migraine and the common migraine are the two main types and can be experienced both in and out of menopause. Typical migraines – This one usually has a warning of an approaching headache attack. Eyesight may suddenly change; bright spots or zigzag lines are seen. Many people experience double vision. The change in eyesight is often followed by numbness and tingling of the lips, face, hands (on one or both sides), weakness of an arm or leg, dizziness, unsteadiness in walking, drowsiness, slight confusion of thinking, and inability to speak or slurred speech.

A person may have only one or a few of these symptoms, though they do tend to occur in the same combination in each attack. The symptoms may last for five to 15 minutes or more. As these symptoms disappear, a throbbing headache begins on one side of the head. Once the headache becomes very painful, people often have nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and noise.

Common migraines - A throbbing headache begins suddenly and without warning of an attack. The location of the headache varies with the pain striking on either both sides of the head, or it may shift from side to side. Nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and noise usually accompany the headache. In addition to the headache, some people experience abdominal pain, which gets better after vomiting.

What can be done about menopause migraines and headaches?

There are many measures you can try to reduce the pain if you are suffering from a menopause migraine headache. Some people find relief by applying heat to the area of the head where the pain is most severe, whilst other people gain relief by applying an ice bag wrapped in a towel to the painful area. It is typically an individual thing. Lying down in a dark, quiet room at the first sign of an attack may also decrease the pain.

Furthermore, the importance of a healthy diet and exercise regime cannot be underestimated. This includes eating healthily, and also eating regularly. It is important to include a lot of soy in your diet, which contain phytoestrogens and help recuperate the estrogen your body is losing naturally. There are also many alternative medicines that can help stabilize hormone levels naturally and thus reduce the incidence of menopause headaches. These also work better when combined with a healthy lifestyle. For more information on the treatments for menopause migraine headaches click here.