Headaches and Pregnancy

There are many additional health risks to having a baby. Let's have a look at the association of migraines during pregnancy and the increase in risk to you and your baby.

A new study in the United States linked migraines while pregnant with an increased risk of having a stroke. The study found that it was in fact 15 times more likely than non pregnant women. We should point out that the British Medical Journal has additionally stated that the overall risk is low.

More than thirty three thousand women, who were pregnant and suffering from migraines, were used to provide the information.

Age has been found to be a contributing factor, as a woman above 40 is almost two and a half times more likely to suffer from migraines during her pregnancy than a woman who is under twenty. A white woman will have more migraines than a woman of another race or ethnicity.

It is beleived that the cardiovascular system is not operating correctly and that the migraine is simply a sympton of this. There are links with migraines and increased risks of high cholesterol, blood clots, heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.

The authors suggest that the most logical explanation for the findings lies in the interaction between migraines and the normal physiological changes during pregnancy (such as increased blood volume and heart rate) which put extra stress on the vascular system.

Other research has shown that the endothelial cells, that form the inside wall of blood vessels, do not operate as well in woman who experience migraines while pregnant.

The study further links migraines with an increase in the risk of stroke and heart disease, particularly when accompanied with a visual distortion or an aura.

There are a few side effects that come hand in hand with being pregnant. Here we look at headaches and pregnancy.

Headaches usually happen more frequently in woman who are pregnant due to the hormonal changes and the increase in the flow of blood. Stressful situations can be a contributing factor, as can excess caffeine.

1 in 5 women will have headaches during pregnancy with the majority experiencing a reduction in headaches in the last few months. Often they return after the baby has arrived.

Various non drug measures can help alleviate the headaches including being in a dark room, cold packs, soothing and sleep.

Tension can cause headaches. if this is the case you can apply cold compresses to the back of your neck. Ensuring you have a healthy diet, possibly across a lot of smaller meals during the day can also help.

If you have a sinus headache, apply warm compresses to your head in such places as the front of your face on either side of the nose, in the middle of the forehead, and on the temples. These areas are occupied by the sinuses.

Try relaxation exercises, such as closing your eyes and imagining yourself in a peaceful place. Reducing stress is a key to a healthy pregnancy. If you feel that the methods you have used to reduce stress have been inadequate, or even if you just want someone to talk to, you may want to ask your doctor for a referral to a counselor or therapist.

Talk to your doctor before taking pain relievers, even if you have taken over the counter medicines such as ibuprofen or aspirin for pain before you were pregnant. Acetaminophen is usually safe during pregnancy, but again, it is best not to use medications unless your doctor has prescribed them.

If you are worried about headaches and pregnancy and would like to have more information then you can get all the information you want at pregnancymigraine.com