Menstrual Migraines Are Natural But Not Necessary..

Menstrual Migraine

Menstrual headaches or migraines come from a sharp drop of the levels of estrogen and progesterone toward the end of the menstrual cycle. It's thought that the withdrawal of estrogen is what provokes a migraine.

Also, estrogen levels affect serotonin levels, and this chemical (serotonin) sends messages between nerves in the brain. It's thought that serotonin plays a role in the sensation of headache pain.

Its been estimated that seventy percent of migraine sufferers are female. Out of these sixty to seventy percent report a menstrual relationship to their migraine attacks. One of the top five most common disabling conditions in women are migraines.

There're two different forms of menstrual headaches.

• If migraines are experienced only during a five day period, but none the rest of the month, you have pure menstrual migraine aura.
• If other migraine attacks are experienced, you may suffer from menstrual related migraine without aura.

If you go to the Doctor, be specific about explaining this to him. He may want to treat the first with hormone therapy, and the second may be treated with Triptans.

Be careful about taking hormonal therapy on a continuous basis, it may act as a fuel instead of a blanket for menstrual migraine. If using hormones for cramps, instead of this, ask the Doctor about taking a high dose of anti-inflammatory .  

One plus for hormone therapy.

One situation that hormones can help control migraines is when an irregular menstrual pattern is present. This happens in many women. If this applies, "irregular menstrual pattern" have the Doctor give a short course of progesterone, or some other temporary hormonal therapy. Once you regularize an irregular menstrual pattern, menstrual headaches will be less frequent.

• Just like disturbances in sleep patterns.
• Inconsistent meal patterns. 
• Weather changes. 

Menstrual irregularity is no exception, you can get migraines from all of these.

Menstrual headaches are natural.

They're natural, but (not necessary).

The hormonal shifts just before, during, and right after menses, and these are the triggers for migraine attacks.

It's a well known fact, that migraine sufferers have triggers that raise the threshold level to the point of having migraines. Some foods, beverages, and even lifestyle (stress) can be changed to help control the pain of menstrual migraines.

Symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.

Symptoms may include:

• Fatigue, irritability, and depression. 
• Headaches, nervousness, and anxiety. 
• Mood swings, abdominal bloating, and diarrhea or constipation. 
• Tender and enlarged breast, uterine cramping, and altered sex drive.
• Backache, acne, and swelling of the fingers and ankles.

These symptoms come from hormone level fluctuations.

Supplements that are effective for PMS.

Match the supplements to your symptoms:

• Black cohosh reduces cramping, depression, and mood swings. 
• Calcium reduces moodiness, water retention, food cravings, and pain.
• Magnesium helps relieve pain and nervousness. 
• Vitamin B-6 relieves depression and helps magnesium to enter the cells.
• Vitamin-E relieves breast tenderness, headache, fatigue, and nervous tension. 
• Dong quai relieves hot flashes, and cramps. 
• Evening primrose oil relieves cramps, depression, and breast tenderness.
• Dandelion is a mild diuretic that relieves bloating. 

Thanks for reading.

Ease symptoms by consuming a diet high in fiber, eating small meals with snacks in-between.  Avoid spicy and acidic foods, alcohol, and caffeine. Pay attention to known migraine food triggers.

Our next page covers hormonal migraines, and our last page covered more info about menstrual migraines. Home page from menstrual migraine.  

For our Migrane sufferers that may want to seek additional help other than information, there's many products to choose from on Amazon to relieve that headache. You'll be surprised as to how many products are designed for headache relief, from medicine to pillows and so forth. 

Look at the products below and read the reviews. They are all sold on Amazon for  

Even pillows for migraines help tremendously when the pain originates from the neck area. Herbs and Vitamins such as the ones mentioned above are helpful for some sufferers. Most are very inexpensive, and you may find something that will work for your type of headache. All can be found by searching Amazons many headache products.