Causes and Solutions for Headaches During Menstruation
During menstruation, the concentration of estradiol in the blood decreases, causing the intracranial and extracranial blood vessels and uterine blood vessels to become more sensitive to certain substances such as serotonin, leading to changes in vascular tension and resulting in headaches.
Possible Causes: Food
Certain foods can trigger migraines in individuals with weak resistance, and some foods can cause changes in blood vessels or nerves in migraine sufferers.
During work, women inevitably encounter some frustrating things or difficult problems, coupled with the stress and pressure of modern life, which all contribute to the brain's nerves being in a tense state, leading to low mood and extreme fatigue. It can also be caused by lack of exercise, excessive sleep, irregular lifestyle, sometimes skipping meals, or eating too quickly, etc., which can cause headaches during menstruation.
What to Do for Headaches During Menstruation?
1. Soak Feet in Ginger Water
Soaking your feet can promote blood circulation in the body, and ginger water also has the effect of dispelling cold. Women can prepare a large and deep bucket, pour in warm water around 42℃, with the water level reaching above half of the calves, add ginger powder and stir evenly. Place your feet flat at the bottom of the bucket and soak for about 30 minutes until your body sweats slightly, then dry your feet and go to sleep. This can regulate tense nerves, promote blood circulation, improve sleep quality, and prevent headaches.
2. Drink Sweet Beverages in Moderation
Sugar can quickly increase the body's blood sugar levels, and drinking water can increase the blood volume of the body, improving brain ischemia. Therefore, when experiencing pain, drinking a glass of sweet milk or fruit juice can help alleviate headaches caused by cerebral vasodilation and nerve compression.
3. Try Not to Wash Your Hair
If you must wash your hair during menstruation, it is best to choose a midday time and not wash it for too long. After washing your hair, immediately blow-dry it. Avoid washing your hair at night and going to sleep with wet hair, as this can lower the body's metabolism and immune function. Additionally, after washing your hair, do not go out immediately. If you need to go out, wear a hat to prevent headaches caused by cold wind on the head. For women who need to wash their hair during menstruation, it is best to avoid washing it on the first and second days of their period and wait until the third day or later.
4. Exercise Moderately
Exercise can help women relieve tension and stress and is an effective method for preventing mild menstrual headaches. If the menstrual headaches are severe, exercise should be avoided as it can exacerbate the pain. In addition to exercise, sunlight has a good effect in preventing or eliminating menstrual headaches because the body's ability to absorb calcium in food is related to vitamin D, which is naturally produced by the skin when exposed to sunlight. Just 10 minutes of sunlight exposure each day is enough to meet the body's vitamin D needs. Although this is a secondary factor, it can indeed overcome menstrual headaches.
5. Control Emotions
During the menstrual period, women's temperaments can become unstable, and negative emotions such as depression, irritability, and anger can trigger or worsen menstrual headaches. Therefore, it is recommended to regulate the state of life, slow down the pace of life, and maintain an optimistic and cheerful attitude during the menstrual period.
How to Prevent Menstrual Headaches
In daily life, milk, ice cream, cured meat, foods containing nitrates and nitrites, as well as coffee, chocolate, etc., can all trigger headaches. It is best to avoid consuming these foods. When choosing food, it is also recommended to opt for light and fresh options, and avoid spicy and stimulating foods.
In addition, learn to control your emotions, ensure sufficient sleep, and prevent overwork. These are also meaningful for preventing and treating menstrual headaches.
