Migraine Headaches- a Chick Disease?

Men, if your wife says she has a migraine headache, you should believe her. Women are three times more likely to suffer from migraine illness than men are.

And more likely than not, she’s not just suffering from throbbing head pain. The symptoms of migraines also include nausea, stomach cramping, sensitivity to bright lights, strong scents, and loud noise, and visual hallucinations (migraine with aura).

Here are some explanations that researchers have come up with to explain the puzzling phenomenon of migraines and women:

Women have a shorter fuse.

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According to a UCLA study reported by Science Daily, women respond to migraine triggers quicker than men do. That is, the part of the brain that is responsible for causing chronic migraine pain is more active in women than in men. Researchers hope to target this phenomenon, Cortical Spreading Depression (CSD), in order to find a cure for migraines.

Women who get Migraines are also Likely to get This

Women are more hormonal.

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Throughout her lifetime, a woman experiences fluctuating hormone levels. Starting with the onset of puberty, when menstruation brings escalating hormone levels, continuing on to pregnancy, and finally menopause, when estrogen levels plummet, the average female rides a hormonal roller coaster, with migraines hitching along for the ride.

Does Menopause Cause Migraines?

Women take birth control medication.

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You might think that taking oral contraceptives, which stabilize hormone levels, would be a good cure for migraines, wouldn’t you? Well, actually, for some women, birth control pills may trigger migraines, causing them to have increased episodes of migraine attacks while menstruating.

Women’s Lifestyle Habits That Trigger Migraines