Headache behind the eyes pregnancy

Headache during pregnancy: Causes, symptoms, and treatments

Experiencing a headache during pregnancy is common and not usually a cause for concern. Home remedies can often help soothe the pain.

Pregnancy causes several significant changes in the body, many of which can give rise to individual symptoms. Changes in hormones and blood volume, as well as poor posture due to increased body weight, are all common factors.

Some of these changes can also result in headaches, for which a range of home remedies are available. However, anyone experiencing troubling or severe symptoms should seek medical treatment. A doctor can usually determine the specific cause.

In this article, we discuss the causes, symptoms, and treatment of headaches during pregnancy.

The female body experiences several quick and drastic changes during pregnancy, which may lead to a few different symptoms. Headaches are a common symptom during pregnancy.

Research suggests that 39% of women will experience headaches during or just after pregnancy.

The exact cause of a headache during pregnancy may vary based on the trimester.

The following sections will discuss some likely causes of headaches during pregnancy, some of which are more common in certain trimesters.

First trimester

During the first trimester of pregnancy, a woman’s body goes through several drastic changes in a short space of time. The body experiences a large influx of hormones, along with an increase in the amount of blood. Rapid weight gain may also occur.

Together, these changes may make certain types of headache, such as tension headaches, more likely. Some other pregnancy symptoms may also influence these headaches or make them worse.

Common issues that could cause or worsen a headache include:

nausea and vomiting
high stress levels
poor nutrition
low blood sugar
dehydration
lack of sleep
changes in vision
light sensitivity, which may trigger migraine
a sedentary lifestyle

Additionally, a pregnant woman may have some trigger foods that cause irritation or symptoms such as headaches. These trigger foods may vary among individuals, but some common culprits include dairy products and chocolate.

Second and third trimesters

In the second and third trimesters, a woman may be less likely to experience headaches due to hormonal changes, as the body has usually adjusted to these changes by this stage of pregnancy.

However, some women continue to experience tension headaches from hormonal changes throughout their pregnancy.

In the later stages of pregnancy, symptoms such as headaches are more likely to be due to:

excess weight
high blood pressure
muscle strain
poor posture
insufficient sleep
poor diet

Hypertension during pregnancy

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a common experience for many pregnant women. Some will experience a condition called preeclampsia, which occurs when someone who usually has normal blood pressure levels suddenly develops high blood pressure after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that 1 in 25 pregnant women in the United States will develop preeclampsia. Preeclampsia increases the risk of many medical emergencies, including seizures and stroke. The condition may also reduce the oxygen flow to the fetus.

A common symptom of preeclampsia is a headache that will not go away. Some other symptoms include:

changes in vision, such as blurred vision or seeing spots
nausea or vomiting
sudden weight gain
pain in the upper stomach or abdomen
difficulty breathing
swelling in the face or hands

These symptoms do not occur in every case of preeclampsia, which is one of the reasons why it is important to check in regularly with a doctor throughout pregnancy.

Headaches during pregnancy can manifest in various ways. For example, they can cause different types and levels of pain.

Medically speaking, headaches are either primary or secondary. Primary headaches are not a symptom of a health condition, whereas secondary headaches occur when an underlying condition is the cause. Secondary headaches usually lead to a number of other symptoms.

The sections below will discuss several types of headache that are common during pregnancy.

Tension headaches

Tension headaches are the most common type of headache during pregnancy. In fact, a 2017 review in the Journal of Headache and Pain notes that 26% of all headaches that occur during pregnancy are tension headaches.

Tension headaches cause mild-to-moderate pain in the head. Many people describe the pain as feeling as though they have a tight band around their head.

Migraine headaches

Migraine headaches may also occur during pregnancy. According to estimates, migraine headaches without aura occur in up to 10% of pregnant women.

A migraine headache often begins as a dull ache that grows into a piercing, throbbing pain, which may or may not radiate. A person may also be very sensitive to light, noise, and some smells. Migraine episodes might also cause other symptoms, such as dizziness or nausea.

Cluster headaches

Cluster headaches are rarer than other types, occurring in an estimated 0.3% of all pregnancies.

Cluster headaches cause a severe “stabbing” pain, typically on one side of the head and around the eye. A person may also notice some other symptoms, such as nasal congestion, watery eyes, or swelling in the area.

In many cases, home remedies can help soothe a primary headache during pregnancy. Some home remedies that may be effective include:

applying a cold or warm compress to the area for 10 minutes at a time
taking a warm bath to release muscle tension
stretching
doing mild exercises, such as yoga, swimming, or tai chi
sitting or standing with better posture
taking frequent breaks away from screens
drinking plenty of water throughout the day
getting plenty of rest
getting a gentle head massage
resting in a dark area

Keeping a food journal to track what they eat each day may also help a woman identify and eliminate any headache triggers.

If possible, pregnant women should aim to manage any unpleasant symptoms with home remedies or talk to their doctor about medical options, if necessary.

What to avoid

During pregnancy, it is essential to avoid over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil) or aspirin.

A review in the Annals of Epidemiology notes that women who take NSAIDs while pregnant are more likely to give birth to babies with congenital abnormalities.

Some women take acetaminophen (Tylenol) while pregnant, although there is a concern that this may also affect the baby.

A recent study in the journal JAMA Psychiatry found that children born to women who take acetaminophen during pregnancy are more likely to be autistic or have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

However, there is a need for more research into this connection before health experts can make any broad claims. Many people still view acetaminophen as the safest drug choice for women during pregnancy.

Although headaches during pregnancy are common, it may sometimes be necessary to see a doctor.

Anyone experiencing severe or continuous headaches that do not respond to home remedies should schedule an appointment with their doctor.

Similarly, anyone experiencing other troubling symptoms — such as dizziness or changes in vision — should seek diagnosis and treatment. A doctor may be able to recommend a treatment that is safe for both the woman and the fetus.

Headaches during pregnancy can be uncomfortable, but they are not usually a cause for concern.

Pregnancy causes a number of significant changes within the body, which may lead to symptoms such as headaches. However, it is important to find treatments that are safe for the fetus.

Secondary headaches that occur due to an underlying issue may be dangerous. Anyone who is uncertain about their symptoms or experiences troubling or severe symptoms should see a doctor for diagnosis and treatment.

What Causes Them and What You Can Do

If you’re pregnant and having headaches, you’re not alone. A medical review reports that 39 percent of pregnant and postpartum women have headaches.

Though during pregnancy you may have a different kind of headache than you usually do, most headaches during pregnancy aren’t harmful.

Headache pain during the first trimester of pregnancy may happen for different reasons than headaches in the second or third trimester. In some cases, headache pain may be a sign of other health problems during pregnancy.

Tell your doctor about any headache you have during, before, and after pregnancy. Keep a journal to record how often you have headaches and how serious the pain is. Additionally, record any other symptoms you have.

Most headaches during pregnancy are primary headaches. This means that the headache pain happens by itself. It’s not a sign or symptom of another disorder or a complication in the pregnancy. Primary headaches include:

tension headaches
migraine attacks
cluster headaches

About 26 percent of headaches during pregnancy are tension headaches. Tell your doctor if you have chronic headaches or migraine during pregnancy or if you have a history of migraine.

Some women with a history of migraine get fewer migraine attacks during pregnancy. Migraine has also been linked to complications that happen later in pregnancy or after the birth of your baby.

Secondary headaches are a caused by a complication in the pregnancy, such as high blood pressure.

Headache pain may vary from one person to the next. You may have:

dull ache
throbbing or pulsating pain
severe pain on one or both sides
sharp pain behind one or both eyes

Migraine pain may also include:

nausea
vomiting
seeing lines or flashes of light
blind spots

First trimester

Tension headaches are common in the first trimester of your pregnancy. This may happen because your body is undergoing several changes at this time. These changes may trigger headache pain:

hormonal changes
higher blood volume
weight changes

Common causes of headache pain during the first trimester of pregnancy also include:

dehydration
nausea and vomiting
stress
lack of sleep
caffeine withdrawal
poor nutrition
low blood sugar levels
too little physical activity
sensitivity to light
changes in vision

Some foods may also cause headaches. Your trigger foods may change during pregnancy. Common foods that may cause headaches in some people include:

dairy
chocolate
cheese
yeast
tomatoes

Second and third trimester

Headaches during your second and third trimester may have different causes. These include:

extra weight
posture
too little sleep
diet
muscle strain and tightness
high blood pressure
diabetes

High blood pressure

Headaches during your second or third trimester of pregnancy may be a sign that you have high blood pressure. About 6 to 8 percent of pregnant women ages 20 to 44 in the United States have high blood pressure.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that this treatable condition can cause serious complications for both mother and baby. This is most common after week 20 of pregnancy.

If you’re pregnant, high blood pressure can raise the risk of:

stroke
preeclampsia
eclampsia
low oxygen flow to the baby
preterm delivery, before 37 weeks
placental abruption
low baby birth weight, which is less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces

Treatment for hypertension during pregnancy

Your doctor may prescribe medication to treat your high blood pressure. You’ll also need to cut down on salt and add more fiber to your daily diet. Regular exercise is also very important to help balance your blood pressure.

Other causes of headache during pregnancy include common infections and more serious illnesses:

sinus infection
low blood pressure
blood clots
bleeding
sickle cell anemia
brain tumor
aneurysm
stroke
heart conditions
meningitis or encephalitis

Talk to your doctor before taking your regular headache pain medication during pregnancy. Don’t take aspirin and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin etc.).

The CDC warns that these pain relief drugs can be harmful to your growing baby, especially if taken during the first trimester. Many women may take acetaminophen (Tylenol) during pregnancy. However, some studies suggest there may be effects from taking acetaminophen as well.

Your doctor can recommend alternative medications to treat headache during pregnancy and natural headache remedies, such as:

drinking plenty of water
rest
ice pack
heating pad
massage
exercise and stretching
essential oils, such as peppermint, rosemary, and chamomile

When to see your doctor
See your doctor if you have any headache pain at all during pregnancy. Get urgent medical attention if you have:
fever
nausea and vomiting
blurred vision
severe pain
headache that lasts longer than a few hours
frequent headache pain
fainting
seizure

Your doctor may recommend tests and scans to find out the cause of your headaches. These include:

checking your blood pressure
blood test
blood sugar test
vision test
ultrasound of the head and neck
heart or head scan
checking eye health with a scope
spine puncture

Headache pain during pregnancy is common. You may have tension headaches during your first trimester of pregnancy. This may happen because of the many changes that you’re going through in a short period.

Headache pain may happen in the second and third period of your pregnancy for other reasons. Some causes of headaches in your mid to late pregnancy may be serious.

High blood pressure is a serious cause of headache pain during pregnancy. You can have high blood pressure at any time in your pregnancy. You may not have any symptoms at all. Check your blood pressure at least once a day with a home monitor.

Tell your doctor if you have headaches at any time in your pregnancy. Let your doctor know right away if you have a personal or family history of migraine, high blood pressure, seizures or diabetes.

Take all medications and treatment exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all diet and exercise advice carefully. See your doctor for all follow-up and regular check-ups. Most causes of headaches during pregnancy are treatable or preventable with the right care.

For more pregnancy guidance and weekly tips tailored to your due date, sign up for our I’m Expecting newsletter.

Migraine during pregnancy: what to do

Migraine is a benign disease, it does not affect the course of pregnancy and fetal development. However, migraine and pregnancy is a combination that requires a responsible attitude. Especially with frequent migraines (more than 2 times a week) and migraines with aura, because:

medicines approved for use, few,
and the approach to the treatment and prevention of migraine during this period is extremely individual: it depends on the frequency, severity and duration of headache, the degree of impact on life. nine0003

Our neurologist Daria Korobkova conducted a live broadcast on the clinic's Instagram account, where she told how migraine and pregnancy are connected, why attacks become more frequent or disappear, and answered subscribers' questions. The ether was saved, see “Air recording: migraine during pregnancy and GV.

We will tell about migraine during breastfeeding separately.

The statistics of clinical observations of migraine during pregnancy looks like this:

In 60-70% of pregnant women with migraine, headache attacks become less frequent, milder, or even completely disappear in the second and third trimesters. This is due to the stabilization of estrogen levels. By the beginning of the second trimester, it rises 6 times and its fluctuations stop. nine0003

In other women, migraines during pregnancy either remain unchanged or worsen. But as the duration of pregnancy increases, the proportion of such women gradually decreases:

If at the end of the first trimester the frequency and intensity of attacks persist, then it is most likely that migraine will disturb the woman throughout the entire period of pregnancy and after childbirth too.

How to manage migraine during pregnancy?

The main thing here is to learn how to control seizures and, if necessary, seek medical help. nine0003

Follow lifestyle advice:

get enough sleep;
drink enough fluids;
eat fractionally and without long breaks;
rest;
avoid stressful situations. This is one of the main provocateurs of migraine. Psychotherapy, relaxation and stress management are here to help you.

Keep a headache diary. This will help you take control of migraine triggers.

Yes, these simple recommendations are sometimes enough to make seizures less frequent! Pregnancy is a special state of a woman. If in other periods of life we do not take such recommendations so seriously, then in this situation it is worth trying to change the philosophy of life and attitude towards ourselves =)

How to relieve an attack?

Favor non-drug methods. Sometimes, in order to relieve an attack, it is enough to eliminate an unfavorable factor:

dry biscuits, ginger, or applesauce may help with nausea;
for dehydration - diluted juice or other liquid;
sleep, walking or breathing exercises can also help to cope;

If the attacks are severe, interfere with your life, then under the supervision of a specialist, you can resort to drug therapy. nine0003

PARACETAMOL is considered the safest and can be taken throughout pregnancy.

All other drugs have nuances. For example:

ibuprofen can be taken in the second trimester, and in the first trimester it is better to limit, in the third trimester the drug is contraindicated for use;
aspirin is prohibited in the 3rd trimester and is undesirable for taking in the first two, as it can cause extremely undesirable consequences; nine0003
It is strictly forbidden to use ergotamine and opioid analgesics;
triptans are not officially approved for use during pregnancy as no controlled studies have been conducted. However, clinical observations of women around the world who took them on their own showed no adverse effects on the fetus. We discussed this issue in more detail on the air.

!Other than paracetamol, we do not recommend the use of any drug without a doctor's prescription. nine0003

When to see a doctor:

migraine occurred for the first time during pregnancy;
if migraine attacks suddenly become more frequent and stronger;
if the aura became longer or appeared for the first time;
if the headache is rapidly increasing and has an unusual character;
if the pressure rises during the headache.

Follow our Instagram to read the latest materials on the diagnosis and treatment of headaches!

How do doctors diagnose headaches? If you are pregnant and suffer from migraines How is bruxism diagnosed and treated? nine0003

Headache during pregnancy: where it comes from and how to get rid of it

November 14, 2020 Likbez Health

Sometimes you just need to get some sleep, and sometimes you need to call an ambulance immediately.

When to call an ambulance

Call 103 or 112 urgently if you experience the following symptoms:

sudden and severe headache;
consciousness becomes confused or completely lost;
pain worsens over 5 minutes; nine0008
flies, spots flash in the eyes;
throbbing and noisy in the ears;
speech has become slurred, words are drawn out;
arms and legs weaken, convulsions set in;
the muscles of the neck are very stiff, it is impossible to reach the chest with the chin;
temperature rises to 39 °C or more;
increased heart rate at rest;
severe shortness of breath;
the child pushes without stopping or stops abruptly;
leaking water or blood; nine0008
pain in the lower abdomen, as if contractions had begun.

Why pregnant women can get headaches

Pregnancy headaches are not always life threatening. But the doctor needs to be told about it in any case. If the symptom appeared for the first time and does not hurt much, postpone the conversation until a scheduled visit. If your headache is recurring or gets worse, it's best to make an appointment as soon as possible. The gynecologist will decide what needs to be done or refer you to another doctor.

There are many causes of headaches. Scientists have found that in pregnant women in 57% of cases it is primary, that is, not associated with other diseases. The most common are migraines and tension headaches. nine0003

Everything else is a secondary headache caused by various pathologies. Usually it is high blood pressure and infections. But there are also more dangerous reasons.

1. Stress and fatigue

The body of a pregnant woman experiences increased stress, because it has to work for two. If at the same time the expectant mother is exposed to stress, strong feelings or sleeps little, she develops a tension headache.

Discomfort lasts from 30 minutes to several days. The head hurts in the forehead, occiput, both temples. But there is no feeling that they put on a tight hoop or helmet. The pain does not get worse when bending over, walking, or climbing stairs, bright lights, or sounds. nine0003