Headaches During Pregnancy
There is no widely accepted definitive cause of headaches. Researchers believe that hormones are an important factor in headaches, since migraines and tension headaches affect women more often than men. During pregnancy, a woman's hormones go through sudden dramatic changes, which it is believed to contribute to headaches.
As those hormonal changes smooth out during the second and third trimesters, as the body adjusts, headaches typically become less frequent and intense. Fortunately, it isn't necessary to passively accept headache pain at any time. There are things that expectant mothers can do during the entire pregnancy to minimize discomfort.
Stress is a common contributor or trigger for headaches, and pregnancy can certainly be stressful. Large-scale, long-term lifestyle changes are happening and the future will hold even more. Meditation techniques and gentle exercise can help reduce the odds of getting stressed, and minimize the severity when it happens.
Proper rest is essential. One common trigger for both migraines and ordinary headaches is lack of sleep. Fatigue ups the odds of getting a headache and increases its intensity when it starts. But not only the amount is important, regularity is equally healthy. If your body naturally feels drowsy in the afternoon, take a short nap. But take care not to sleep so long during the day that a complete night's sleep becomes difficult to maintain.
Alcohol consumption during pregnancy can cause damage to the fetus, though controversy remains about the amount. As with any chemical, dosage is important and alcohol is no different. However, it's unclear how much is too much - and the amount varies from person to person, of course.
Red wine in particular is a common trigger for headaches for those who are sensitive, and the degree of sensitivity can change during pregnancy. It isn't necessary to have a hangover to produce an alcohol-related headache. Each individual will have to set his or her own limit, but doing without is probably the safest bet for anyone.
Caffeine consumption, both tea and coffee, should be curtailed. Many women today find that double-strength latte in the morning to be the perfect pick-me-up at the start of a busy day. Best to order the regular for a few months.
Ironically, certain headache medications (Excedrin, for example) contain caffeine. A small amount may actually be helpful. But read the label on any medications taken. It's easy to overdose and excess caffeine is a common trigger for headaches. Instantly eliminating all caffeine can also be problematic, however. Taper off gently.
Acetaminophen is generally considered safe for pregnant women. But aspirin and ibuprofen are to be avoided. Any medication you consider should be discussed with your physician, particularly if you suffer from migraines.
There are other methods of relieving the pain associated with headaches during pregnancy. One good option is using hot or cold compresses on your neck and head. Also try sitting in a quiet room or using gentle massage to alleviate painful headaches.
There is some research that claims that tension headaches are a milder version of a migraine.
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That is, they block action by sitting on nerve receptors where natural biochemicals would otherwise reside. Daily use can lead to so-called rebound headaches, and at high enough dosages can cause liver damage and even death. But blood vessels can dilate as well as contract. Both those have become outstanding diagnostic tools to determine the type of headache and any possible underlying neurological condition that might be producing it. Another difficulty in diagnosis lies in the fact that headaches are not all of one type.
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