Teleurgent Care Of Migraine Treatment for Women with Hormonal Triggers

A bad headache can derail your workday, strain family relationships, and interfere with your ability to stay active. In the U.S. alone, headaches account for about 112 million sick days every year. While roughly one in three people experience headaches, women are affected more often than men.

One reason for this gender difference may be hormonal fluctuations. For many women, changes in hormone levels can trigger headaches at various stages of life, including:

• Menstruation

• Use of oral contraceptives

• Pregnancy

• Breastfeeding (lactation)

• Menopause

What is Migraine?

Migraine is a complex neurological disorder that often involves moderate-to-severe throbbing and pulsating headaches on one side of the head. It usually affects one side of the head and is generally associated with nausea, light, and sound sensitivity. Other symptoms may include vomiting, cognitive dysfunction, and dizziness. People often experience recurrent episodes of migraine.

Research 2021 shows that 4.3% of adults over the age of 18 in the United States had experienced a migraine episode or headaches in the last three months. The percentage of females is about 7.4% and 2.5% of males. Episodes occur between 18 to 44 years of age, but they can happen anytime. The duration of episodes of migraine may range from 4-72 hours. Migraine may be worse in the morning, in some people during menstruation.

Symptoms Of Migraine

The symptoms of migraine tend to occur in three stages. These stages have different time zones and severity of pain. All of them are described below:

Before Headache

The research in 2023 shows that 77% people experience migraine symptoms that start hours or days before a headache. In this stage, the patient feels emotional changes, such as depression and irritability, which is called the Prodrome. 

Prodrome includes yawning, dizziness, thirst, frequent urination, and sensitivity to light and sound. There is another episode of aura that involves physical or sensory symptoms, such as flashing lights in the field of vision.

During The Headache

It can start from mild to severe, throbbing or pulsing pain. The symptoms include nausea, vomiting, neck pain, dizziness, and nasal congestion.

Resolution

This phase can last for a few days after a headache, and the patient may be irritable and tired. This phase is also called the “migraine hangover,” and officially, it is known as the postdrome phase.

Other common symptoms of migraine are:

• Head pain that can get worse during physical activity or straining

•  Severe pain can make you disabled to do regular work

• Hypersensitivity to light and sound can be relieved by lying in a dark and quiet room.

Some other symptoms are sweating, feelings of hot and cold, a stomachache, and diarrhea. In such conditions, you may need a headache migraine treatment from a local health professional or access teleurgent care services for timely consultation and relief.

How Do Hormones Affect Migraine?

High estrogen levels may enhance the chances of migraine with aura, and it will raise the chances of cortical-spreading depression. Estrogen interacts with nerves and makes them more sensitive to migraine triggers. Another study stated that dropping levels of estrogen after ovulation may increase in migraine episodes before menstruation.

Why is Migraine More Common in Females?

There is no single cause of migraine; scientists believe that it is in part due to genetics. It believes that people with migraine family history of migraine have a higher chance of developing this disorder. It is also suggested that there are several chemicals in the brain, such as calcitonin gene-related peptide, that are responsible for migraine. These factors can apply to both sexes. After puberty, females have 3 to 4 times more chances of having migraines.

Some potential reasons for this include:

• Hormones: Monthly fluctuations in hormones, such as progesterone and estrogen, may affect the nervous system and brain, which may be responsible for migraine.

• Stress: Stress is the migraine trigger. Many researchers stated that stress may cause inflammation in the bodies of females, so it is the causative agent of migraine.

• Gene Variation: Genetic variations are also a big source of migraine. Scientists have found 38 types of genes that are responsible for migraine, and it may affect males and females differently.

Teleurgent Care Treatment For Migraine

Treatment in females is usually the same as it is in males. Over-the-counter (OTC) anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen or aspirin, may be used at the first stage. If they do not work, the psychiatrist may prescribe triptans. The online headache treatment can also be provided by the best online migraine doctor. Some other treatment options can be prescribed for females related to the menstrual cycle. These options include:

Combined Contraceptive

This is the composition of both estrogen and progesterone. By managing the fluctuations in their hormone levels during the menstrual cycle, these medications can help reduce migraine episodes. So it is confirmed that a patient with a mental headache with aura can not take estrogen.

Progesterone-only contraceptive

These are the reciprocals of combined contraceptives. They work by preventing the egg formation and controlling the hormone changes, without any use of estrogen.

Estrogen Supplementation

In this treatment, they use patches and topical gels that contain estrogen. These methods, after ovulation, may stop the drop in estrogen levels, which may help reduce the pain.

Magnesium

Magnesium is quite helpful in the treatment of migraine. Females can start at day 15 of their menstrual cycle and continue until the next period.

Final Thoughts

Migraines are treatable by proper medication and with age. Chronic migraine can also transform into episodic migraine. Episodic migraine is easier to manage than chronic migraine. An individual needs to consult with their best online migraine doctor for proper treatment. Teleurgent care for headaches in California is also a reliable option for better results.

Migraine is a medical condition that involves a headache with other symptoms. It has a significant impact on daily life functioning and makes it hard to maintain. Avoiding and identifying the triggers may help reduce the severity of the disorder, but these are not always helpful.  Proper medication or other treatments are the best solution to manage the symptoms.