In the café, two middle-aged female ** talked about their own life trivialities. One of them suddenly pressed his temple, his face looking pained.
Every time it was almost before my period, I always had a terrible headache, like someone was beating my skull. She said.
Really?Me too!I thought it was just me, but I didn't expect you to feel this way. Another woman responded in surprise.
They told each other about the discomfort they felt before menstruation, and the topic caught the attention of others, and it seemed that many people had similar experiences, but it was not clear why this was the case.
Such conversations are not uncommon in everyday life. Many women experience headaches before menstruation without understanding the reasons behind them.
The menstrual cycle not only affects a woman's physical health, but is also closely related to the occurrence of headaches. In fact, many women experience headaches around the time of menstruation, a phenomenon known as "cyclic headaches." In order to understand this phenomenon, it is first necessary to understand the effects of the menstrual cycle on the body.
The menstrual cycle averages 28 days and is divided into several phases, each of which can affect different aspects of the body due to changes in hormone levels. During the first half of the cycle, estrogen levels gradually increase and begin to decline after ovulation. Before menstruation, hormone levels fluctuate significantly, especially in estrogen and progesterone, which can trigger headaches.
Studies have shown that:About 60% of women with migraines report that their headaches are related to the menstrual cycle。This type of headache usually appears a few days before the start of menstruation and may last until the end of menstruation. The reason may be that the decrease in estrogen levels leads to changes in brain chemicals, which in turn can trigger headaches.
In addition,Fluid retention during menstruation can also cause tension in the muscles of the head and neck, increasing the risk of headaches。At the same time, some changes in the body during menstruation, such as fatigue, mood swings, and changes in sleep patterns, may also exacerbate the symptoms of headaches.
*The relationship between headaches and the menstrual cycle requires first understanding the different types of headaches. There are two main types: migraine and tension-type headache. Migraines usually present as throbbing pain on one side of the head, which may be accompanied by nausea or sensitivity to light. Tension-type headaches, on the other hand, are characterized by a feeling of pressure on the sides of the head, as if a tight band is tied to the head.
Studies have shown that:About 60% of women with migraine experience more frequent attacks during menstruation。This phenomenon is known as "menstruation-related migraine" and it is closely related to hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle. Fluctuations in estrogen levels, especially a sharp drop before menstruation, are thought to be a key factor in triggering headaches.
Tension-type headaches, although not as significantly associated with hormonal changes as migraines, can also be exacerbated by mood swings and changes in sleep patterns during the menstrual cycle.
For example, one study found that around 70% of women reported an increase in headache symptoms around the time of menstruation. These symptoms usually become more pronounced in the first few days of menstruation and gradually lessen after menstruation ends.
When it comes to the link between headaches and the menstrual cycle, the key factor that has to be mentioned is the hormonal changes in the woman's body. During the menstrual cycle, hormone levels fluctuate significantly on the body, especially on the brain and vascular system. Estrogen and progesterone are the protagonists of this process, and their levels are constantly changing during the menstrual cycle, affecting many of the body's functions.
In the case of estrogen, for example, headaches can be triggered when its levels drop during the menstrual cycle. Studies have shown that a drop in estrogen levels can affect the stability of blood vessels in the brain, which can trigger headaches. Actually,About 60% of women who suffer from migraines report that their headaches are related to the menstrual cycle.
In addition to this, hormonal fluctuations may also affect neurotransmitters, which are chemical messengers in the brain that are responsible for transmitting signals. For example, changes in serotonin levels have been strongly linked to migraines. When serotonin levels drop, it can lead to the onset of headaches.
The impact of hormonal changes on headaches is not static, it is affected by a variety of factors, such as age, lifestyle, genetic factors, etc. Understanding the mechanisms behind these changes can help women better manage and prevent cyclic headaches.