Headache is one of the most common complaints during
pregnancy as it is very common in non-pregnant women. Approximately 80% of
women between the ages of 20-50 are more or less suffering from headaches.
Among the factors that cause it to be seen so often, hormonal changes in the
body during menstrual periods, pregnancy and after childbirth play an important
role. Most of these headaches in women are migraine or tension headaches.
The headaches mentioned below are some of the most common
types. However, there are hundreds of reasons that can cause headaches in a
pregnant woman or a person. For this reason, headache is a condition that
should never be underestimated and should not be overcome by taking
painkillers. You should definitely consult a neurologist, especially in severe
and recurrent headaches, and the cause and type of pain should be investigated.
Preeclampsia is one of the important causes of headache in pregnancy and
sometimes it may be the first warning complaint. In short, as in every person,
headache is a very common complaint in pregnant people, and mostly people with
headaches do not have pregnancy poisoning or any other bad cause. Nevertheless,
every pregnant woman should consult a doctor and investigate the cause. Because
rarely, it can be an important condition that causes headaches.
Migraine in
Pregnancy
Migraine-type headache is a throbbing-like pain that is
usually felt in one half of the head, may be accompanied by nausea-vomiting,
sensitivity to light, and that repeats periodically. The fact that hormonal
drugs such as menstrual period, menopause, pregnancy and even birth control
pills affect migraine type pain indicates that female hormones (especially
estrogen) play an important role in the formation of migraine. (Migraine is
also seen in men, but less) Generally, migraine pains are relieved in periods
of low estrogen levels such as menstrual period or post-pregnancy, and on the
contrary, migraine pains increase during periods of increased estrogen level
such as pregnancy. In the studies conducted, most of the patients stated that
migraine pain increased during pregnancy, while a few patients reported that
their pain did not change or decrease. Migraine headaches are common in the
first months of pregnancy, and less frequently in the last months. Migraine
usually relieves after the first 3 months of pregnancy, but sometimes it can be
the other way around. Some pregnant women may encounter migraine for the first
time during their pregnancy, although it has not been before. It is common for
migraine pain to continue after birth, but breastfeeding mothers have less
pain. Studies have shown that migraine does not have any negative effects on
the development or outcomes of pregnancy whether or not it is treated.
Symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light,
ringing in the ears may be accompanied by migraine. When a migraine is
suspected, a neurologist should be consulted. Sadness, depression, stress,
fatigue, excessive coffee and chocolate, excessive light and excessive sound
environments, insomnia, excessive exercise, birth control pills are factors
that exacerbate migraine.
Migraine medications are generally not used against the risk
of being harmful during pregnancy. However, some drugs are compulsorily used in
migraine attacks that do not pass. Paracetamol derivative pain relievers are
used for migraine pain.
Tension
Type Headache
Tension-type headache is a pain that feels like pressure and
tension all over the head. It is more common than migraine and, unlike
migraine, conditions such as light and sound effects, nausea and vomiting are
less common in tension-type headaches. It is not anticipated that the tension
headache before pregnancy will intensify after the onset of pregnancy. Because,
unlike migraine, it is not a pain affected by hormones. Paracetamol-derived
pain relievers are used for treatment during pregnancy. Also, relaxation
therapies can be useful.
Cluster
Headache
Although cluster headache is 8 times more common in men than
in women, it can rarely be encountered during pregnancy. Severe penetrating
explosive-style pain in the unilateral eye and temple areas, usually occurring
on almost the same days with an interval of 4 or 8 weeks. On the side of the
pain, complaints such as flushing, tears, runny nose occur. Cluster headaches
are not affected by hormonal periods such as pregnancy, menstrual period,
menstruation.
HEADACHE
AFTER BIRTH
After birth, there may be a headache due to all the reasons
listed above. Preeclampsia - elevated blood pressure can rarely occur after
birth. In cases of birth with spinal anesthesia, headache may occur due to some
flow of cerebrospinal fluid out.
-CHEMOTHERAPY AND RADIOTHERAPY IN PREGNANCY
-HEADACHE AND MIGRAINE IN PREGNANCY
-MYOMA IN PREGNANCY
-ROMATOID ARTHRITIS IN PREGNANCY
-GALLBLADDER INFLAMMATION IN PREGNANCY
-GALLSTONE IN PREGNANCY
