There was a time when it was believed that women suffered more headaches than men because they also suffered from hysteria, and were less equipped to deal with stress.
While those false beliefs have been disproven in modern times, the fact that headaches in women are more common remains.
Women experience three times more headaches than men. Keep reading to learn why this is true, and what women can do to lessen their chronic headaches.
Why are Headaches in Women More Common?
The reasons why frequent headaches in women are more common than they are for men may have a simpler explanation than you’d think; hormones.
Women experience a variety of hormone-related triggers than can lead to a headache. Because men don’t suffer from these same triggers, they suffer fewer headaches as well.
Some common triggers than women experience that can lead to a headache include:
- Pregnancy
- Menstruation
- Taking hormonal birth control
- Lactation
- Menopause
Frequent changes in hormones as a result of pregnancy, menopause, menstruation, and other events can lead to chronic headaches.
What Can Women Do About Chronic Headaches?
Chronic headaches as a result of pregnancy, menstruation, and menopause can’t be entirely avoided. However, there are some things that women can do to lessen the frequency and severity of their headaches.
Treating hormonal headaches before they start is one great way to get relief. For instance, taking medication as soon as you know that your period is starting can help you avoid a painful headache.
If you believe that your headaches are related to your hormonal birth control, talk to your doctor about switching to a different prescription to see if this lessens your headaches.
It can sometimes be tough to differentiate between hormonal headaches and migraine headaches in women. But until you do so, it can be difficult to find a treatment option that lessens your headache.
If your headache lasts longer than 4 hours, you experience spots on your vision, find that you are sensitive to light or sounds, or you experience nausea, it could indicate that you’re suffering from a migraine.
The best way to treat migraine headaches in women, as well as hormonal headaches, is with the help of a doctor. They’ll be able to help get to the root cause of your headaches, and find the right treatment to get relief.
The National Headache Institute helps both men and women to manage and treat chronic daily headaches. Visit nationalheadacheinstitute.com to learn more.
Finding Relief for Chronic Health Conditions
Headaches in women and men are far from the only chronic health conditions individuals suffer from today. One thing that all chronic conditions have in common is the need for a unique treatment. Everyone is different, and responds to medications and treatments in different ways.
If you suffer from headaches or other chronic conditions, talk to your doctor to discuss finding the right treatment option for you.
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