Could migraines and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome be linked? And if so, how? These two problems seem so very different, don’t they?
Migraines and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome… I can hear you screaming, NOT another thing!! The great news is, there are potent steps you can take to reduce – even eliminate – your migraines, but let’s take a look at this seemingly unlikely potential link in a little more detail.
What Is A Migraine?
A migraine headache can be a debilitating, very painful health challenge. These intense headaches are often described as throbbing, stabbing or sharp pain. Some describe the pain as feeling a heavy heartbeat in one or both temples. The majority of migraines are classified as unilateral, meaning they occur on one side of the head. The side can vary for each migraine episode. Roughly 60% of migraine sufferers experience warning signs that a migraine is imminent.
If you are a migraine sufferer, you already know there is a difference between this type of headache and others.
I remember once telling my husband that my ‘numb was nosey’. I was trying to say that with my migraine, one side of my nose felt numb, but my words failed me.
This is not uncommon in migraines.
At different times, I also suffered from wiggly vision, tunnel vision, a feeling that I was not quite in the world – I could see people were talking to me, but I could not make out what they were saying, and I felt disconnected from normal stimuli.
At times I had thumping headaches and at other times just the prodrome (those weird changes that some migraines have, that happen before the onset of a headache. I always had these.) I was light and noise-sensitive. They were incapacitating and horrible.
How Might Migraines And Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Be Linked?
Women with PCOS are often oestrogen dominant, a sign of which can be migraine headaches. PCOS sufferers are also more likely to suffer from depression (and so low serotonin) and low magnesium levels. I will discuss this more shortly.
Migraine Symptoms
The symptoms of a migraine vary from person to person.
For the majority of migraine sufferers, there is a prodrome prior to a headache. The prodrome is like a warning of an imminent migraine. It includes signs and symptoms like sensitivity to light and/or sound, stiffness in the neck, nausea, vomiting, blurred or double vision, and/or tunnel vision.
Some sufferers experience what is called an aura. This is where minor hallucinations may occur, along with other symptoms such as vision loss, tingling sensations, numbness, or speech difficulties.
I remember my first migraine.
I was meeting a friend at a shopping centre. I developed tunnel vision, intense light sensitivity, and I could see people talking to me, but I couldn’t hear or make sense of what they were saying. I felt off balance, nauseous, unable to concentrate. I also experienced tingling in my left fingers.
All I could do was find a dark, quiet room and hide from the world. Luckily, my friend lived close to the shopping centre.
The doctor had no idea what had happened to me. It was only when I experienced another more classic migraine – the night before an exam on headaches – that I realised what had happened.
Since this time, whenever I experienced a migraine, my vision started to quiver, one side of my nose and fingers often started to feel numb, my balance became off-kilter, or my speech altered. I knew a migraine was imminent.
If I could see a Chiropractor to get adjusted immediately, take a painkiller (one of the few times I resort to medication) and go to bed or lie down in a dark, quiet room – ASAP – that could stop a migraine from setting in. If I didn’t do these things immediately, the head-pounding part of a migraine would usually start, and it would have to run its course.
The great thing is, I have not experienced a migraine in years. How can this be? By addressing the cause or causes of your migraine, you can reduce – even completely eliminate – them.
So, let’s look at the causes of a migraine.
Causes of the Links Between Migraines and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
There are several theories and possible contributing factors for migraine.
In women, hormonal changes are a significant factor. A higher level of oestrogen (‘oestrogen dominance’) can cause migraine headaches. To find out more about the oestrogen dominance so familiar in PCOS, visit my post 6 Top Steps To Reduce Oestrogen Dominance.
Other known causes may include food additives, stress, changes in sleep patterns, alcoholic beverages, and some medications. In some people, migraines certainly may have a genetic component.
Low magnesium levels are also implicated, as this can adversely impact the relaxation of the blood vessels in the brain.
Subluxations (‘jammed joints’) in the upper neck and middle back are commonly found in people with migraine, and Chiropractic adjustments have been shown to help.
Low serotonin, also known as a “happy hormone,” has also been implicated.
Common Migraine Triggers
Some migraine sufferers notice migraine triggers. For some, this may be food or wine-related, induced by stress or a lack of sleep. It is essential to recognise triggers so you can effectively avoid them.
Completing a migraine diary, such as the one at www.Migraine.ie, can be really helpful.
An important note
It is essential to seek advice from your healthcare professional if you experience visual problems, numbness, tingling, or speech difficulties. These symptoms may require urgent further assessment and testing.
Natural Migraine Treatments
Now that you know more about the causes of migraine, the next question is: Are there treatments available?
Yes, absolutely. We explore these at 5 Steps To Beat PCOS Migraines Naturally.
From PCOS to perfect health, with love,
Dr. Rebecca Harwin
The PCOS Expert
Chiropractor & Bestselling Author of
Conquer Your PCOS Naturally
www.ConquerYourPCOSNaturally.com
P.S. Migraines and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome may be linked for you. You may be thinking, ‘Not another thing to deal with! It’s so unfair,’ but if oestrogen dominance is the cause, if you fix your oestrogen dominance, you’ll likely fix your migraines. From both a clinical and personal perspective, this is fantastic!
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Next time…I need help now. That was depressing.