Using Home Cures and Alternative Remedies
Cool your hormonal headache down with ice to relieve pain. Put ice in a plastic bag, and wrap it in a towel. Place it on your head or neck where the pain is for some relief. Never place ice directly on your skin and don't leave it on for more than 15 minutes at at a time, as it can damage your skin. Leave it off for 15 minutes before using it again. Alternatively, use a cloth dipped in cool water.
Begin NSAIDs like ibuprofen a few days before your period. Since your period causes hormonal changes, a hormonal headache often becomes a migraine. Starting an NSAID regimen decreases your chances of developing migraines. NSAIDs can also relieve the pain and inflammation if you do develop a migraine. Talk to your doctor before beginning this regimen, even when taking over-the-counter medications. They can advise you about dosages. Some NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen and naproxen, are available over-the-counter. You will need to get a prescription from your doctor for NSAIDs like ketoprofen, fenoprofen calcium, and nabumetone.
Try a magnesium supplement beginning on day 15 of your cycle. Some women have good luck taking magnesium to decrease migraines. Your cycle begins on the first day you bleed. Count 15 days from that point and begin taking magnesium. Stop taking it when you start bleeding again. Always talk to your doctor before adding a supplement. Try a dosage of 360 milligrams per day of magnesium to help reduce the frequency of migraines. Magnesium can cause loose stools and diarrhea. If this occurs, talk to your doctor before continuing to take it.
Consider acupuncture to relieve stress and migraine pain. Acupuncture is the application of very fine needles on various places on your body. These needles are thought to hit pressure points that provide relief for various ailments. Some people find this procedure helps with the pain of hormonal migraines. Find a licensed acupuncturist in your area to see if they can help you with this issue.
Discussing Medical Interventions with Your Doctor
Ask your doctor about triptans to relieve pain symptoms and vomiting. These medications stop the pain signals in your brain, relieving your migraine symptoms. They can also help with vomiting if that's one of your symptoms. These medications usually work within 2 hours. Your doctor may have you take these in combination with NSAIDs. Keep in mind triptans generally only work once you have a headache. They will not prevent headaches from happening.
Discuss whether an oral contraceptive is a good option for you. If you have migraines that are triggered by hormonal changes, some women find that taking oral contraceptives helps decrease their frequency. Typically, you'll take the contraceptive pill that is a combination of both estrogen and progesterone. Continuous pills often work better at preventing migraines than ones that have a week of placebos. However, some women find that this treatment worsens their symptoms, so it's always good to discuss this option with your doctor to determine whether you should try it.
Talk about hormone replacement therapy if you're entering menopause. Like oral contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy typically involves a pill that combines estrogen and progesterone. However, your doctor will typically recommend a lower dose than you'd need for birth control. Typically, you'll take a low-dose hormone pill all the time with no placebos in between. Once again, this therapy doesn't work for everyone. In fact, it may increase your migraines. Talk to your doctor about whether this option is a good one for you.
Discuss other medications you can take around your period. For these medications, you'll need to track your period, as you typically begin them 2-3 days ahead of time. Taken in this way, they may help manage your migraines, but your doctor is the best person to help you decide which one is right for you. Medications that may help include migraine medications like ergotamine or methylergonovine maleate, anticonvulsants, beta blockers, and calcium channel blockers.
Making Lifestyle Changes to Prevent Migraines
Eat regularly throughout the day to keep your blood sugar up. Instead of focusing on large meals, eat 5-6 small snacks or meals throughout the day. If your blood sugar drops, it can bring on a migraine. For instance, try a breakfast of a boiled egg and a piece of toast. Have snacks throughout the day like hummus and veggies, peanut butter and celery, or a small sandwich with whole grain bread. Avoid foods high in added sugar. Sugar can make headaches worse.
Sleep on a regular schedule each night. A regular sleep pattern of 7 to 9 hours a night can help prevent migraines around your period. Make sure to go to bed and get up at the same time every day. If you have trouble remembering to go to bed on time, set an alarm on your phone to remind you an hour before you need to be asleep. Turn off electronics at that time, and start your wind-down routine for bed.
Try a low-salt diet a few days before your period. Cut back on processed foods, such as frozen dinners, canned soups, and lunch meats unless they specifically say "low sodium." Cook at home so you can control your salt intake, and replace salt in your food with other spices to add flavor. Menstruation often makes you retain water, which in turn can increase the likelihood of developing migraines. Decreasing your salt intake helps keep your body from retaining water.
Relieve stress using relaxation techniques and exercise. If stress is a part of your life like it is for most people, take steps to reduce its hold on you. Stress can increase your chances of developing migraines. For instance, try exercising 3 to 5 times a week, which can relieve some of the anxiety you feel from stress. Use tricks like deep breathing and meditation to calm yourself down when you're feeling stressed. When you're anxious about a situation, take action. Doing something, whether it's the perfect solution or not, usually helps relieve some of your stress. To help prevent migraines, it's best to decrease the stress in your life if you can. If you're like most people, though, decreasing stress isn't necessarily an option. Instead, try changing how you react to stress. Take a bath when you're tense, avoid procrastination, or do deep breathing when you're overwhelmed.
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