Headaches During Menopause
Headaches during menopause are primarily caused by diminishing levels of estrogen, according to Menopause-symptoms.femhealth.net. The drop in estrogen results in hormonal imbalances that can provoke incapacitating headaches for some menopausal women. Women have far more headaches than men, according to the Mayo Clinic, and that's because women experience hormonal changes throughout their lives, during puberty, then pregnancy, during the menstrual cycle and then menopause.
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Hormones
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Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which some menopausal women opt for, as well as birth control pills can trigger headaches. Both of these drugs contain estrogen and progesterone, the female sex hormones, which seem to affect the chemicals in the brain that are connected to headaches. However, low levels of estrogen reportedly make headaches worse, while higher levels seem to improve headaches, so it would appear that an estrogen boost from HRT or the pill would help. Keep in mind that each women is different and what may cause a headache in one woman doesn't necessarily have the same result in another.
Migraines and Tension Headaches
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Many women may find that their migraine headaches get less intense or less frequent once they enter into menopause and their menstrual period stops. However, they may also find that their tension headaches are worse during this period of their life. If a woman chooses to undergo HRT, she may be better off using the estrogen skin patch rather than another method since the patch provides a steady but low dose of estrogen, which shouldn't prompt headaches, according to the Mayo Clinic.
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No Longer Works
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Some women find that the pain treatment they previously used for headaches is no longer working now that they are in menopause, according to Relieve-migraine-headache.com. If this is so, discuss this with your physician and see what other medications are available to you. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs) medications can be used to treat a hormonally related headache. These drugs include Relafen, Naprosyn, Advil and Motrin, Orudis and Nalfon.
Progesterone
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Hangtide.com notes that when progesterone is taken along with estrogen in birth control or hormone replacement therapy the incidence of headaches is not as likely. Ask your physician if progesterone is beneficial. In some women, it may exacerbate a headache, in others it may prove helpful.
Fluid
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Fluid retention, which happens when a woman is menopausal, is often associated with headaches. If this is your situation, your doctor may prescribe a water pill (diuretic) that will help you lose the extra fluid. In addition, you should be careful about your salt intake.
Other Factors
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Headaches can be triggered by other factors in addition to hormones. Too much caffeine or withdrawal from caffeine can result in a headache. Aged cheese, food additives, monosodium glutamate and alcohol can cause a flare-up if you are sensitive to these foods. If you are under stress, the brain releases chemicals that can cause vascular changes, which dilates the blood vessels and make your muscles tense. The weather can have an impact on headaches. When the barometric pressure changes this can provoke a headache.
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