​My aunt has a headache

The few days when menstruation comes are when every girl will feel uncomfortable and inconvenient. Everyone has a different physical constitution, so their performance during menstruation is also different. Some people react very strongly, while others do not react as much. The most common symptoms are stomach pain, sore waist and knees, and sometimes even headaches. What is the reason for this? How to deal with such a situation?

The headache symptoms that occur during menstruation are called "menstrual headaches". The main symptom is throbbing pain in the head, which gradually worsens. In severe cases, nausea and vomiting may occur. Generally, the symptoms will be relieved and improved in a quiet and dark environment or after sleep. It often occurs around the beginning of menstruation and occurs periodically with the menstrual cycle.

Clinical studies have shown that the cause of menstrual headaches is mainly related to changes in estradiol concentrations. Before and after menstruation, the estradiol concentration in women's serum decreases, causing the intracranial and extracranial blood vessels and uterine blood vessels to be more sensitive to certain substances, leading to changes in vascular tension and causing headaches. Another possibility is that estrogen stimulates the secretion of prolactin, thereby directly or indirectly stimulating the secretion of prostaglandins, causing vasoconstriction and dilation, and triggering headaches.

How to improve symptoms of menstrual headaches?

1. Control your emotions. During menstruation, due to hormonal changes, mood swings are relatively large, which can also aggravate headaches. Female friends should try to control their emotions and stay optimistic and happy.

2. Ensure adequate sleep. Staying up late can easily lead to mental tension and fatigue. Try to maintain a regular schedule during menstruation, which can also relieve headache symptoms.

3. Exercise moderately. Exercise is one of the more effective ways to prevent mild menstrual headaches, but be careful not to overdo it. If you have a severe headache, don't force yourself to exercise.

4. Supplement calcium and vitamin D. You can better supplement calcium and vitamin D through diet, sun exposure and other methods. Studies have shown that this can also prevent menstrual headaches.

Causes

Before and after menstruation, the estradiol concentration in the serum decreases, causing the intracranial and extracranial blood vessels and uterine blood vessels to be more sensitive to certain factors such as serotonin and other substances, thereby causing changes in vascular tension and causing headaches in some patients who are sensitive to this. After menstruation, the estradiol concentration in the serum returns to normal and the patient's headaches are relieved.

There is another possibility that estrogen (including estradiol) can stimulate the secretion of prolactin, thereby directly or indirectly stimulating the secretion of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins act on blood vessels, causing vascular contraction and dilation. This change also shows cyclical changes due to the influence of estrogen, thereby triggering headache attacks.