Dealing with Premenstrual Headaches

The day before your period is about to begin, your head starts to ache. The pain could be relatively minor, and pretty easily ignored. Or it could be debilitating, affecting your ability to go about your daily routine.

You are experiencing a premenstrual headache. And, while not as common as menstrual cramps, or breast tenderness, premenstrual headaches are another symptom often experienced by women before their periods.

Having a headache is never pleasant. But the last thing you want is to have a headache on top of all of the other menstrual and premenstrual symptoms--like bachackes, mood swings, and bloating--that you might be experiencing around the time of your period.

What Causes Premenstrual Headaches?

Premenstrual headaches might be caused by the drop in estrogen and progesterone levels that occurs the day before your period starts. Serotonin is a chemical in the brain that helps regulate pain. When estrogen levels are high, serotonin levels are high. Low estrogen levels mean low serotonin levels, which means more severe headache pain.

And if you suffer from migraine headaches, you are more prone to getting menstrual headaches. You're also more likely to have migraine headaches around the time of your period.

But. if you don't suffer from migraine headaches, you aren't necessarilly in the clear. Many women who don't suffer from migraines also experience premenstrual headaches.

While you might not have suffered from premenstrual headaches up to this point, that is no guarantee that you won't. Premenstrual headaches become more common as women get older, although young girls experiencing their first periods can also suffer from these headaches.

Find Relief Over-the-Counter

Premenstrual headaches can be treated with over-the-counter medications, like ibuprofen. Just read the label to make sure the medication you choose doesn't contain caffeine. Caffeine can not only make your headache worse, it could also worsen other menstrual symptoms, like breast tenderness, mood swings, and bloating.

Get More Rest

Getting plenty of sleep can also help decrease or eliminate premenstrual headache pain. How much sleep do you get every night?

While you might think you only need five or six hours of sleep a night, your body may be trying to tell you you need more. So, try go to bed an hour or two earlier than usual, especially around the time of your period.

Premenstrual headaches can be a real pain. But getting enough rest, and choosing the right over-the-counter medication, might be all you need to find relief.