Menopause and Headaches

Lots of women find that they suffer with Menopause and headaches. Most of us have had some sort of headache around the time of our periods a few times in our lives, so, what is the link and why do they get worse going through the Menopause?

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Menopause and Headaches

There are 3 types of headache:

• Migraines – Most intense, pain increases one or both sides of the head and often pulsates and throbs.
• Tension – Often linked to stress, and not as severe as migraines, often feeling tightness or pain across the forehead and back of the head.
• Sinus – If your sinuses become inflamed, you often feel congested and can experience facial pain.

Menopause can affect your headaches in many ways, but like most things Menopause, each of us is different and we will experience different changes at different times. If you get hormone headaches usually, they might be less severe, or you may suffer less, or they may go completely. This is because your hormone levels stay low after your periods stop for good. Some women during Perimenopause have more frequent headaches and some who have never suffered before start getting them.

Click here to read our blog on Perimenopause!

During Perimenopause migraines can become worse, often caused by the Oestrogen withdrawal and the decline of progesterone. Some women find that if they suffered with headaches due to their period they suffer more and have more severe headaches because of the inconsistency of Oestogen and Progesterone.

• What can you do to treat these headaches:

HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy)

Your GP may suggest you try HRT for a number of Menopause symptoms, but this can be down to the individual and could make headaches/migraines worse or better. Some women have found that using Oestrogen skin patches work better than other forms of HRT when it comes to headaches.

• Change your diet:

Its worth keeping a diary or food journal of what you eat to see if any particular food triggers your headaches/migraines. When you next have a headache, write down what you ate a few hours    before. The most common dietary triggers are, Alcohol, Cheese, Caffeine, Chocolate and Dairy.

• Exercise:

Regular exercise can help to prevent headaches, from a brisk walk to a high impact exercise class a few times a week. Always warm up slowly first, as getting straight into a workout could actually bring on a headache. Wiggle have some great exercise equipment and clothes to wear that I would highly recommend.

• Supplements:

Magnesium and Vitamin B-2 are good for preventing headaches and Vitamin D is also beneficial.

• Acupuncture:

I have friends that say this has absolutely worked for them with headaches during the Menopause. This is a Chinese Medicine technique that uses needles to stimulate the body’s energy pathways.

Lots of women say that the Menopause has stopped all their headaches, whereas some women say they suffer more than ever. They can be totally debilitating, with throbbing pain and the inability to look at light and being extremely sensitive to any noise.

 Always go and see your GP with any symptoms that you are concerned about to rule out anything more sinister.

*DISCLAIMER*This page does not provide medical advice; it is intended for informational purposes only and is based upon my opinion and experiences. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read on The Executive Menopause Coach website. Always seek professional medical advice.