The Mayo Clinic defines a headache as “pain in any region of the head,” but for 36 million Americans that suffer from migraine headaches every year, that hardly defines the suffering of the condition. With severe, disabling discomfort, vomiting or nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, vision problems, and even disorientation, all lasting up to 72 hours, migraine is a neurological disorder and not your typical headache. The American Migraine Foundation notes that migraine headaches are usually 3 times more common in women than in men, with 30% of women experiencing them in their lifetimes. Recent studies indicate that they can get even worse and more frequent for women around menopause.
Menopause and Migraine Headaches
In 60% of women, onset migraine headache often coincides with the initial period and can be triggered monthly. With this obvious hormonal factor, it’s not a surprise that for some, the frequency and severity of migraines can actually decrease in menopause. “Unfortunately,” states Dr. Elliot Schulman, MD, of the Dept. of Neurology at the Lankenau Medical Center, “no change or worsening has been observed in up to 50% of women. This is especially true after surgical menopause, where over two thirds of women’s migraine headaches worsen.” Causes include:
- Hormonal Fluctuations
Hormone changes during menopause are major triggers for migraine headaches. The hormones estrogen and progesterone have important roles in the regulation of menstrual cycles and may affect headache-related chemicals in the brain. During perimenopause and menopause, these levels fluctuate often and unevenly, increasing the frequency, length, and severity of migraines.
- Overuse of Medications
Over-medicating may be another contributing factor to increased migraine headaches in menopausal women. In a study by Vincent Martin, MD, co-director of the Headache and Facial Pain Program at the UC Neuroscience Institute, women reported a 76% increase in high frequency headache during menopause. Why? “Women, as they get older, develop lots of aches and pains, joints and back pain and it is possible their overuse of pain medications for headache and other conditions might actually drive an increase in headaches for the menopause group,” says Martin.
Relief Options
There is no cure for migraine headaches, so treatments are aimed at reducing the frequency and stopping individual headaches when they occur. As more research emerges, more effective, holistic and complementary methods like nerve blocks, physical therapy, and chiropractic are becoming go-to options.
- Nerve Blocks may reduce swelling and inflammation around the nerves, reducing migraine headache frequency, severity and duration, and can calm the nervous system, allowing other treatments like physical therapy and chiropractic to work more effectively
- Physical therapy can correct headache contributing musculoskeletal issues
- Chiropractic care can relieve pressure on the nerves and reduce joint and back pains that can lead to over-medication related headaches
Need help for Menopausal Migraines and Headaches?
Our physicians are exceptional at discovering the physical and biological triggers that can cause migraine headaches, and our clinic can help you find the long-lasting pain relief you need. Make an appointment with a migraine specialist today!