Women and headaches
Three out of four migraine sufferers are women, according to the Office on Women’s Health, thanks in part to hormones that can cause headaches throughout the month and throughout numerous milestones. National Migraine & Headache Awareness Month offers a chance to take a closer look at what we’re experiencing and why.
Women often get headaches during puberty, menstruation, from oral contraceptives, during pregnancy, while breastfeeding, and during peri-menopause and menopause. Whenever estrogen levels fluctuate, headaches can follow.
“It hardly seems fair, but women definitely have more headaches than men on the whole, and it’s something we see often in our practice. The good news is that there are a lot of treatments, from at-home options to prescription medication, that can alleviate your symptoms,” said Dr. David Clay.
Natural treatments include ice, rest, hydration, exercise and stretching, and even a dose of caffeine (of course, caffeine can also contribute to headaches so fuel up wisely). You can also avoid common triggers such as alcohol, stress, skipped meals and strong odors. Hormone therapy and prescription medications may also help.
Please call 911 if you are ever experiencing a debilitating headache and talk to your doctor if your headaches are increasing in frequency or severity.
“As with many health issues, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all cure for headaches, but there are a lot of things women can do to help ensure they feel better throughout the month and throughout their lives,” Dr. Clay added.
