Progesterone Resource
Center
Migraines
and Hormones - A Natural Approach
by Nicole Bandes
It’s estimated
that 40 million Americans suffer from chronic headaches.
Headaches
are one of the leading causes of missed work or school.
So why is it that so many of us suffer from such annoying
and often debilitating pains in the head? Honestly,
there are several reasons.
Some of the most common triggers of migraines are
stress, food allergies, caffeine withdrawal, medications,
lack of sleep, extreme weather conditions, blood sugar
fluctuations, and hormone imbalances.
Many migraine suffers find little or no relief in
either over-the-counter or prescription medications.
And, even for those that do, rebound headaches are
often a resulting side effect.
When suffering from chronic headaches, it is important
to learn your triggers. Keep a diary that tells the
date, time, weather conditions, foods eaten in the
last 24 hours, emotional stressors, amount of sleep,
drugs taken or, if you are a female, where you are
in your menstrual cycle. Determining your triggers
can take you a long way towards reducing the frequency
and intensity of migraines.
Once you have eliminated many of the triggers (yes,
through hard work and dedication), you may find your
headaches arrive pre or post menstrual. You have just
discovered that your migraines are triggered by hormones.
Oh yes, the same lovely chemical that gives us mood
swings, cramps, bloating, breast tenderness and those
horrible chocolate cravings will also cause your migraine
headaches.
If you fall into this
category, there is hope beyond medication. It’s
important to understand that this will require a
commitment on your part. Balancing
hormones can be a tedious and difficult prospect but
the rewards are well worth the effort.
Estrogen dominance is the most frequent cause of hormone
imbalances.
Here
are a few keys to remember about estrogen dominance:
