How to Deal With Hormonal Headaches
If you've had headaches before or during your period, you could be experiencing hormonal headaches. Then what are the factors that can trigger hormonal headaches and how to deal with hormonal headaches? Let's see the explanation in the following article.
Usually hormonal headaches appear accompanied by symptoms such as fatigue, joint pain, decreased appetite, constipation, infrequent urination and the appearance of acne on the face. In addition, people with hormonal headaches usually want to eat salty foods or eat chocolate.
Causes of Hormonal Headaches
Hormonal headaches in women basically occur because hormone levels in the body experience changes, especially the hormone estrogen. This is because the hormone estrogen can control chemicals in the brain that can cause pain. When estrogen levels decrease, the risk can trigger headaches.
Some of the factors that can trigger hormonal headaches in women are as follows:
1. Premenstrual
Just before menstruation, the levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone will naturally decrease. Usually this condition can cause migraines in the early days of menstruation.
2. Pregnancy
Often changes in hormone levels in early pregnancy cause pregnant women to experience hormonal headaches. However, you don't need to worry because headaches will generally subside after the first trimester. Also read articles about: How to Treat Headache Naturally During Pregnancy.
3. Menopause
Usually before menopause, the level of the hormone estrogen in the body will decrease, so you will be more prone to experiencing hormonal headaches. However, you do not need to worry because headaches will improve after menopause.
4. Family planning pills
Taking family planning pills in some women can help relieve hormonal headaches. However, some women experience migraines after taking family planning pills.
5. Hormone replacement therapy
In some women, therapy that is usually given during perimenopause and menopause will actually cause hormonal headaches to become worse. However, usually headaches will decrease after the hormonal conditions in the body begin to stabilize.
Keep in mind that every woman has a different reaction to changes in hormone levels. By recognizing your body's reaction to the changes that occur, you can choose the right treatment method according to your condition.
How to Treat Hormonal Headaches
To help reduce hormonal headaches, here are some things you can do.
1. Managing stress
It turns out that stress can make hormonal headaches worse. Therefore, you must always control stress well. You can do this by taking a moment to do things you like or you can go through relaxation therapy and meditation so that your body can be more relaxed.
Also read articles about: How to Relieve Headache Due To Stress.
2. Regulate diet
How to treat hormonal headaches naturally can be done by adjusting your diet. Eating regularly and snacking little by little but often can help reduce hormonal headaches. So, so that you avoid hormonal headaches, you should not skip your meals, especially breakfast. The reason is that skipping meals can lower blood sugar levels, which can trigger headaches.
3. Replacing the family planning pill with another contraceptive
If you experience hormonal headaches while using family planning pills, you should consult your doctor to replace the family planning pills you are taking with other types of contraceptives that do not contain hormones.
4. Taking medicine
If you experience hormonal headaches are unbearable, immediately consult a doctor. Usually the doctor will prescribe pain medication that can help reduce the intensity of the headache. You should avoid taking over-the-counter headache medications because they are not necessarily suitable and safe for your body condition.
The risk of experiencing hormonal headaches in general can be reduced by living a healthy lifestyle. In addition to eating regularly, you also need to exercise regularly and get enough rest.
If your hormonal headache doesn't improve and you can't handle it on your own, consult a doctor immediately. That way, the doctor will conduct an examination and provide appropriate treatment according to your condition. Thus the article on how to deal with hormonal headaches, hopefully it can be useful.