For many, menstruation is no fun, complaints such as abdominal pain, headaches or even severe migraines are common. But why do we actually get migraines during our period? And how do we get rid of it?
Migraine during your period
According to a Cleveland Clinic study, 70% of people with migraines are women. And of these women, about 60% to 70% experience these migraines around or during their period. A major cause of this is hormones. “The most common cause of headaches, specifically migraines, is the natural decrease in estrogen once you start menstruating,” says gynecologist Holly Miller. “This is most common in the first two days before you menstruate and the first three days during your period.”
Preventing you from getting migraines
Nobody likes migraines. And luckily there are a number of things you can do to prevent this! Something that is very important is to eat healthy and at the same times every day. Getting enough exercise every day can also make a big difference. Getting enough sleep every night is also extremely important. These steps not only work against migraines, but against all additional complaints of menstruation.
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What if ‘prevention’ doesn’t work?
Unfortunately, these tips don’t always work. “Change can trigger migraine attacks,” says pediatric neurologist Amy Gelfand. “It is very difficult to live in perfect balance. Sometimes I worry that there will be a stigma that people get migraines because they do something wrong themselves. In reality, migraines are genetic and attacks can sometimes just happen.” As soon as preventing an attack does not work, it is best to just rest. Take painkillers if you need them and take your time to recover. There are also pills available today that treat migraines. Please contact your doctor for this.
