It has been calculated that seventy percent of the people who suffer from migraine are from female population. Of these people, sixty to seventy percent have stated that the migraines are closely linked with their period – which is why they are called menstrual migraines.
Relation Between Migraine Headaches and Hormones
Migraine headaches suffered by women are closed linked with variation of the estrogen levels during a women’s period. The levels of estrogen drop instantly before beginning of menstrual flow. The premenstrual migraines usually happened during the time when estrogen and progesterone get reduced to the minimum levels.
Migraine problems usually vanish at the time of pregnancy. In a research, sixty four percent of women who have associated menstrual cycle with their headaches have stated that the headaches have vanished immediately during the time of pregnancy. Nevertheless, some of them have stated that during first session of pregnancy, they have got initial migraine attack and they got completed wiped off during 3rd month of their pregnancy.
What Causes Hormonal Migraines?
The use of contraceptive pills and the hormone replenishment therapy which take place during menopause are considered as reasons behind hormonal migraines in women. During 1966, the researchers have found that migraines could be more severe with women who take birth control pills, particularly people who take heavy dosage of estrogen. The side effects like headache, were reduced with people who took contraceptive pills with less dosage of estrogen and these side effects did not occur for patients who took contraceptive pills that contained progesterone while doing the test.
Treatment Methods for Menstrual Migraines
The medications which can be used for treating menstrual migraines are the anti-inflammatory drugs which are non-steroidal (NSAIDs). The commonly used NSAIDs are Orudis, Relafan, Naprosyn, Advil, Mortin and Nalfon. The treatment using NSAID must be commenced 2 to 3 days initial to the starting of menstrual cycle and will carry on until the end of menstrual cycle.
Since the duration of therapy is of short time, the side effects related to gastrointestinal are less. For women who suffer with high level of menstrual migraines and who need to take contraceptive pills, physicians suggest the usage of NSAID commencing from nineteenth day of menstrual cycle and then continue till the 2nd day of the second cycle.
The other drugs can be given only based on doctor’s prescriptions which includes, propranolol and other beta-blocker medicines, little dosage of ergotamine medecines like Migranal, Cafergot, Valporate and other anticonvulsants, verapamil and other calcium channel blockers. These medicines must be commenced 2 to 3 days before menstruation and should be taken throughout entire cycle.
Since retention of fluid is mostly linked with menstrual cycle, diuretics can be used for preventing menstrual migraine. Some physicians recommend salt intake before the menstrual cycle. Also, lupron is another drug that has some effect on the hormone level and can be made use when the treatment techniques are not successful.
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