Hormonal Headache (Hormone Headache)

Hormonal headaches are also called hormonal headaches. Hormonal headaches can occur in women during periods when hormone levels vary and a hormonal imbalance occurs, such as due to the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopause. Hormonal disorders due to birth control pills can also cause this type of headache. They bothered with so-called hormonal migraines may also have noticed that migraine attacks often occur just before menstruation.

Hormone headaches: When the hormones fluctuate

Hormonal headaches are directly linked to fluctuations in hormone levels - both estrogen and progesterone - which in turn can lead to imbalances in the natural hormone balance. Among other things, the body's levels of these hormones are greatly reduced just before menstruation, and this sudden 'drop' can lead to migraines and headaches.

We must also keep in mind that such imbalances can lead to increased stress for the body, which in turn can lead to physical tension and imbalance in the body. This means that hormonal headaches can thus overlap with tight and sore muscles that we find in both cervicogenic headache (neck headache) og stress headaches.

As mentioned, several types of headaches often overlap. Research has shown that mental and physical stress can lead to increased muscle tension and higher sensitivity in muscle fibers - which due to this sends out pain signals. Due to these overlapping symptoms, most headaches are often called for combination headache.

Affected? Join the Facebook group «The Headache Network - Norway: Research, New Findings and Cohesion»For the latest updates on research and media writing about this disorder. Here, members can also get help and support - at all times of the day - through the exchange of their own experiences and advice.

Pain Relief: How to relieve hormonal headaches?

To relieve headaches, we recommend that you lie down a little (about 20-30 minutes) with a so-called «headache / migraine mask»Over the eyes (mask that you have in the freezer and which is specially adapted to relieve migraines, neck headaches and stress headaches) - this will reduce some of the pain signals and calm down some of your tension. Click on the image or link below to read more about it. For long-term improvement, regular use is recommended trigger point balls towards tense muscles (you know you have some!) and training, as well as stretching. Meditation, mindfulness and yoga can also be useful measures to reduce mental stress in everyday life.

Read more: Pain Relieving Headache and Migraine Mask (Opens in new window)

Pain presentation: Symptoms of hormonal headaches

Symptoms and signs of hormonal headache can vary, but present in variable factor such as headache or migraine.

• sleep Problems
• Easily irritable
• Difficulty concentrating
• Mild sensitivity to light and sound
• Unilateral pain in the head and / or face
• Muscle soreness and discomfort

Other symptoms may include:

• A feeling of being constantly tired
• Constipation
• pimples
• Joint pain
• Lack of coordination
• Suck for salt, alcohol or chocolate

Epidemiology: Who gets hormonal headaches? Who is most affected?

For natural reasons, women are affected. Especially when they go through stages that involve fluctuations in hormone levels.

Cause: Why do you get hormonal headaches?

The causes and causes of getting hormonal headaches can be many and varied, but both headaches and migraines can be linked to the female hormone estrogen. It is estrogen that controls the chemicals in the brain that affect how we perceive pain. A sudden drop in estrogen levels can cause a headache.

These estrogen levels can change for a number of reasons, including:

- Menstrual Cycle: Estrogen and progesterone levels fall to their lowest level just before menstruation.

- The transition to and the actual menopause: In the years before menopause, women will experience that hormone levels fluctuate sharply - this can lead to an increased incidence of hormonal headaches. Up to 67% of women with migraines experience that their symptoms improve when they reach menopause. But there are exceptions where migraine attacks actually get significantly worse. The latter may be due to hormone therapy, among other things.

- Contraceptives and birth control pills: Birth control pills can cause hormone levels to go up and down. This means that they can be involved in causing headaches.

- Pregnancy: Estrogen levels rise during pregnancy. Many women therefore experience that their hormonal headaches disappear during pregnancy. This does not apply to everyone, and it is in fact the case that women can also experience their first migraine attacks during this period - which normally subsides after the first semester. After birth, estrogen levels will drop rapidly.

Exercises and stretching: What exercises can help with hormonal headaches?

This type of headache can also be exacerbated by tight muscles in the neck and in the attachments to the back of the head. Regular self-treatment of tense muscles in the back and neck, eg. with trigger point balls Used against tense muscles can also produce good results in the long run.

Regular strength training (varied like that - not just bicep training there), stretching, breathing exercises and yoga can all help with hormonal headaches. We recommend that you get a good routine that includes daily, customized, stretching of the neck.

Try these: - 4 Stretching exercises against Stiff Neck

Treatment of hormonal headaches

A combined approach is important when it comes to treating hormonal headaches - as almost all types of headaches have several factors. Here you need to address the factors that cause your headache to occur and work regularly to reduce unnecessary physical and mental stress.

• needle treatment: Dry needling and intramuscular acupuncture can reduce muscle pain and relieve muscle problems
• Medical treatment: It is not recommended to take painkillers over time because all medications have side effects, but sometimes you just have to relieve the symptoms - then it is recommended that you use the least strong painkillers you can use. The use of many types of painkillers can be harmful to the fetus during pregnancy.
• Muscle Knut Treatment: Muscular therapy can reduce muscle tension and muscle pain.
• Joint Treatment: An expert in muscles and joints (eg chiropractor) will work with both muscles and joints to give you functional improvement and symptom relief. This treatment will be adapted to each individual patient based on a thorough examination, which also takes into account the patient's overall health situation. The treatment will most likely consist of joint corrections, muscle work, ergonomic / posture counseling and other forms of treatment that are appropriate for the individual patient.
• Yoga and meditation: Yoga, mindfulness and meditation can help lower the level of mental stress in the body. A good measure for those who stress too much in everyday life.

Self-help: What can I do even against pain?

1. General exercise, specific exercise, stretching and activity are recommended, but stay within the pain limit. Two walks a day of 20-40 minutes make good for the whole body and sore muscles. Also, make sure you stay hydrated throughout the day.

2. Trigger point / massage balls we strongly recommend - they come in different sizes so you can hit well even on all parts of the body. There is no better self help than this! We recommend the following (click the image below) - which is a complete set of 5 trigger point / massage balls in different sizes:

3. Training: Specific training with training tricks of various opponents (such as this complete set of 6 knits of different resistance) can help you train strength and function. Knit training often involves more specific training, which in turn can lead to more effective injury prevention and pain reduction.

4. Pain Relief - Cooling: Biofreeze is a natural product that can relieve pain by cooling the area gently. Cooling is especially recommended when the pain is very severe. When they have calmed down then heat treatment is recommended - it is therefore advisable to have both cooling and heating available.

5. Pain Relief - Heating: Warming up tight muscles can increase blood circulation and reduce pain. We recommend the following reusable hot / cold gasket (click here to read more about it) - which can be used both for cooling (can be frozen) and for heating (can be heated in the microwave).

6. Prevention and healing: Compression noise like that like this can increase blood circulation to the affected area, thereby speeding up the natural healing of injured or worn muscles and tendons.

Recommended products for pain relief in pain

Biofreeze (Cold / cryotherapy)

Read more here: - This You Should Know About Migraines

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