Remedies For Menstrual Migraine
Hormonal changes during menstrual cycle could trigger migraine. Compared to men, women are more susceptible to migraine headaches. In about 60 percent female migraine patients, migraine attacks occur before, after or during the menstrual bleeding or during ovulation. This is known as menstrual migraine.
In majority of menstrual migraine patients, the migraine attack occurs between the second day before the beginning of the period and the last day of the menstrual bleeding.
Migraine headaches are often a symptom of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). A woman might suffer both from menstrual and non-menstrual migraine. However, the symptoms of menstrual migraines are likely to be more severe than the non-menstrual migraine symptoms.
Causes of menstrual migraine
While changes in the serotonin level in the brain are primarily linked to migraine attacks, researchers believe that serotonin interacts with female hormones to trigger migraine headaches during different phases of the menstrual cycle.
Changes in the levels of estrogen and progesterone hormones might trigger headache. Migraine attack similar to menstrual migraine can even occur from intake of birth control pills that change the estrogen level in the body. Women on oral contraception are more likely to suffer from menstrual migraine.
Symptoms of menstrual migraine
Throbbing headache, usually on one side of the head, nausea, vomiting and increased sensitivity to sounds and lights are common symptoms of menstrual migraine. However, menstrual migraine usually does not occur with aura.
Menstrual migraine prevention and treatment
Menstrual migraine could be prevented as well as treated with medications. When conventional treatment fails to produce the desired results, hormonal therapy is often recommended to prevent migraine attacks. Hormonal therapy usually includes intake of estrogen supplements few day before the beginning of the menstrual periods.
Transdermal estrogen patches might be used for treating this condition. Usually estrogen is given in the form that does not change into active forms of estrogen in the body. Reduction of menstrual periods by regular intake of estrogen or progesterone based oral contraceptives for about 3 to 6 months might prevent menstrual migraine.
The incidence of menstrual migraine attacks could be reduced naturally by drinking fresh beetroot juice twice a day. Grape juice might reduce the symptoms of menstrual migraine.
