| For those who didn't know already, it's becoming | | | | your period or during menstruation; this is the |
| more and more clear that headaches and | | | | case for 60 percent of women with migraines". |
| hormones are linked. Of course, there are | | | | These are commonly called Menstrually Related |
| countless sufferers who could have told you that | | | | Migraines (MRM). |
| already. But what can be done about them? Are | | | | So how can you fight these kinds of headaches? |
| some treatments more effective than others? | | | | The best thing to do is to go to a doctor you |
| If you're a woman getting a monthly headache, | | | | trust and get her advice. Make sure she listens to |
| there's a strong chance it's migraine. The trend | | | | what you have to say, and understands your |
| seems to be that changes in estrogen and | | | | medical history. Discuss the possibility of |
| progesterone levels trigger migraine attacks. It's | | | | menstrually related migraine. |
| believed that there's a link between estrogen and | | | | Your doctor may prescribe an anti-inflammatory |
| serotonin, a chemical which seems to be closely | | | | drug, such as Nalfon (fenoprofen calcium), Relafen |
| related to migraine. When the estrogen in your | | | | (nabumetone), or Naprosym (naproxen). Many |
| body drops, so does the serotonin. Migraine | | | | women have also found triptan class drugs to be |
| seems to most often occur when that drop | | | | lifesavers when it comes to MRM. These are |
| occurs. This is why many girls get their first | | | | drugs specifically designed for migraine, and |
| migraine attack during adolescence. | | | | they're taken right away when the attack starts. |
| This also explains the changes that occur during | | | | Some triptans that have been particularly |
| pregnancy and menopause. Depending on the | | | | effective are Eletriptan (Relpax) and Frovatriptan |
| person, migraine attacks may begin or stop as | | | | (Frova). If one triptan doesn't work for you, keep |
| estrogen levels change during different phases of | | | | trying. It may be that where one has failed |
| life. It's common for migraine attacks to diminish | | | | another will be a complete success. |
| with age. | | | | There are several other things you can try if |
| Lynn Griffiths from Griffith University in Australia | | | | these aren't fully effective, such as a drug |
| has been doing research on migraine from a | | | | containing an ergotamine agent, and estrogen |
| genetic standpoint. It's well known that there's a | | | | therapy. There are many other migraine |
| genetic link when it comes to migraine. Griffiths | | | | treatments available that may kill your attack |
| believes that there's a complex interaction going | | | | before it starts. |
| on, and her team of researchers have confirmed | | | | A migraine, and a MRM, is not just a bad |
| that two hormone related genes - the ones with | | | | headache. Some migraine attacks don't involve |
| the oestrogen and progesterone receptors - are | | | | headache at all. This is why you need to find |
| involved. | | | | treatment that's right for you, and not necessarily |
| Dr Christina Peterson, author of The Women's | | | | a common painkiller (although that may help |
| Migraine Survival Guide, writes that you can tell | | | | some). You don't have to put up with the monthly |
| hormonal shifts may be a factor in your | | | | migraine - fight back! |
| headaches "if your headaches occur just before | | | | |