What Do Hormones Have to Do with My Headaches?
Men and women alike suffer from occasional headache pain with women being more likely to experience headaches than their male counterparts. This is not because one gender has more stress in their lives, although stress can be a factor, and certainly not because any particular gender is better at handling stressful situations. Often it’s a result of an individual’s biological makeup.
Frequent and extreme hormonal fluctuations can lead to regular headache patterns, and while they can pop up at any time, there is often a distinct relationship between headaches and hormonal changes associated with menstrual cycles, pregnancies and menopause, as well as improperly functioning thyroid, adrenal and pituitary glands.
Types of Hormone Headaches
The endocrine system works together to control the level of hormones circulating throughout the body, and if any is even slightly imbalanced major health problems, including chronic headaches, can result.
Hormone-related Headaches feel like tightness or pressure in the skull. These indicate a pituitary problem, and they are often very painful. They may feel one-sided or throb intensely. They often occur during ovulation, before menstruation, or during menstruation and menopause. These headaches may be accompanied by acne and severe mood swings. Natural hormone therapies and other supplements may be helpful if you have these types of headaches. Consider having your hormones tested to customize a plan unique to your body.
Thyroid Headaches are caused by a low metabolism and are usually accompanied by a low body temperature. If you have a dull headache when you get out of bed in the morning and find that it slowly goes away by the middle of the morning, you likely have a thyroid headache. (These headaches normally subside as your metabolism rises.) If you suffer from these types of headaches, you may need supplements to support your liver, thyroid, or adrenal glands.
Blood-sugar Headaches caused by low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), indicate a problem with your pancreas and adrenals. You might get one of these types of headaches if you skip a meal or wait too long between meals to eat, causing your blood-sugar levels to drop. If you suffer from these types of headaches, you’ll likely be stressed and tired and crave sugar. If you notice that you’re developing blood-sugar headaches, avoid all refined carbohydrates, such as white bread, candy, and pasta. Drink water, eat some clean protein like turkey, chicken, or fish with no carbs. Check with me to see if you need supplements to support your liver or adrenals.
For more information on the different types of headaches, read our article on “What Are Your Headaches Telling You?”
Hormone Testing
Traditional medical treatments might include synthetic hormone replacement therapies or birth control pills, however, many people find that relying on synthetic treatments merely masks the problem, leaving them either dependent upon the medication long term or constantly having to change it up as the efficacy is reduced.
It is so much more worthwhile to determine the actual cause of the headaches and work to eliminate or control them naturally. A variety of holistic approaches to hormonal balance offers safer, more personalized, and longer lasting relief from headache pain.
Through precise hormone testing, we can essentially receive a personalized roadmap to hormonal balance for you. With the results, we can determine lifestyle changes and needs that might include the fusion of anti-inflammatory foods with proven and specific herbs and supplements, and/or the incorporation of acupuncture, chiropractic care, essential oils, or meditation into your wellness routine. We would be thrilled to discuss with you the many natural ways to effectively approach the treatment of hormonal headaches.
