For many women, their menstrual periods can bring cramps and heavy bleeding, but for some, the same hormonal changes can also bring debilitating migraines. If you experience menstrual migraines, reducing their intensity or eliminating them can make you less apprehensive about your next period.
Reconsider Hormonal Birth Control
If you are currently taking a hormonal form of birth control, you may want to reconsider your birth control strategy. Estrogen commonly triggers migraines and many forms of birth control contain estrogen. Consider switching to a progestin-only birth control, such as the shot or intrauterine device (IUD). Many of these forms of birth control may continue to help if you are using birth control as a method to improve problems with your menstrual cycle or deal with ovarian cysts. If you are using birth control methods exclusively to prevent pregnancy, consider using a barrier method without hormones, such as condoms.
Be Strict About Your PMS Diet
Many of the dietary suggestions used to help reduce premenstrual syndrome (PMS) may help you reduce the intensity of menstrual migraines or avoid them altogether, especially if you are strict about your dietary intake. Consider implementing dietary changes approximately a week to 10 days before you expect your next period. These changes should include reducing your salt intake and reducing or eliminating caffeine. Although caffeine is helpful at reducing migraine pain, you want to reserve your caffeine intake for when it is needed to avoid tolerance.
Take The Right Pain Medicine
When you experience a migraine, take an anti-inflammatory pain medication, which is often more effective at reducing migraine symptoms than acetaminophen. You may need to keep several types of anti-inflammatory pain medications in your rotation if you also take them for menstrual cramps. For example, if you often take naproxen sodium and/or ibuprofen to alleviate cramps, try to use aspirin if you experience a migraine. This can help the aspirin maintain its effectiveness if you only reserve it for times when you have migraines.
Consider Prescription Medications
When menstrual migraines are intense or last for several days throughout the month, it may be time to ask your doctor for prescription medications. One such medication used to help with menstrual migraines is ergotamine. If you have a general idea of when to expect your menstrual cycles, your doctor will recommend that you begin your medications a few days before your next period and continue throughout your period. For irregular periods, begin taking your medication as soon as you start your period and continuing throughout the duration of your period.
Menstrual migraines are a monthly battle for many women. Fortunately, there are lifestyle changes and medications available to reduce the impact of migraines on your life. For more ideas, check out companies like KJ Wellness Solutions' hormone rejuvenation.
Share6 April 2016
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