“Keeping detailed records of headache episodes
can help provide additional insight about triggers
and how to avoid them”.1

Umbrella
What may the Menopause Headaches Pattern Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Menopausal/Menopause Headaches and Migraines Pattern
  • Perimenopausal/Perimenopause Headaches and Migraines Pattern

Periods

Is there a link with periods and migraine?

On page one in Migraine and HRT: What Is Likely To Happen To Migraine? the (British) Women’s Health Concern elaborate on:

“Migraine tends to worsen in the years leading up to the menopause, with attacks occurring more frequently and sometimes also lasting longer. Many women notice more of a link with their periods. Periods can become erratic and more frequent, which also means more migraines. Following menopause, migraine becomes less of a problem, particularly in women who have noticed a strong link between migraine and hormonal triggers.

However, it may several years after your last period before migraine improves, as it can take this long for the hormones to settle. Non- hormonal triggers can still persist after menopause so if these are important causes for migraine, attacks will still continue”.2

Look for A Pattern

Menopause Headaches PatternHow may I Look for A Pattern with my headaches?

In Headache Diary: Keeping A Diary Can Help Your Doctor Help You the (United States) National Headache Foundation (NHF) note:

“Keeping detailed records of headache episodes can help provide additional insight about triggers and how to avoid them”.3

In Keeping A Headache Diary: A General Guide To Recording Your Migraine Attacks? Why Keep A Headache Diary? the (United Kingdom) Migraine Trust elaborate on:

“A headache diary can include information on a range of things, however, it’s often best to keep it simple and record basic information. This can include:

  • Date
  • Day of week
  • Duration (how long the attack lasted)
  • Severity (how bad the attack was). This can either be recorded as mild, moderate or severe. Or on a scale from 1-10, where 10 is the worst pain you can imagine
  • Other symptoms you experience alongside the headache such as dizziness, vertigo, sensitivity to light, sound, smells or any symptoms that affect your movement (e.g. numbness)
  • Medication you take, including if you take a second dose
  • Anything else that may be helpful. Such as side effects from medication, any potential triggers, your period, any changes in medication, and anything else that may be helpful”.4

Headache Diary

Where may I find a headache diary?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Headaches and Food

Menopause Headaches PatternIs there an association between headaches and food?

In Headaches and Food: What Foods and Drinks Are Thought To Trigger Headaches In Susceptible People? the (United States) Cleveland Clinic elaborate on:

“First, it’s important to note that most of the information about possible food triggers of headache come from patient self reports and not from randomized scientific studies. Despite the lack of science, the most common foods and drinks reported to be potential headache triggers include:

  • Aged cheese (blue cheese, brie, cheddar, English stilton, feta, gorgonzola, mozzarella, muenster, parmesan, swiss)
  • Alcohol (red wine, beer, whiskey, Scotch, and champagne are the most commonly identified headache triggers)
  • Peanuts, peanut butter, almonds, and other nuts and seeds
  • Pizza or other tomato-based products
  • Potato chip products
  • Chicken livers and other organ meats, pate
  • Smoked or dried fish
  • Pickled foods (pickles, olives, sauerkraut)
  • Sourdough bread, fresh baked yeast goods (donuts, cakes, homemade breads, and rolls)
  • Brewer’s yeast found in natural supplements
  • Bread, crackers, and desserts containing cheese
  • Most beans including lima, Italian, pole, broad, fava, navy, pinto, snow peas, garbanzo, lentils, and dried beans and peas
  • Onions, garlic
  • Avocados
  • Certain fresh fruits, including ripe bananas, citrus fruits, papaya, red plums, raspberries, kiwi, and pineapple
  • Dried fruits (figs, raisins, dates)
  • Soups made from meat extracts or bouillon (not homemade broth or bouillon cubes that do not have MSG or “all natural preservatives” on the label)
  • Canned soups
  • Cultured dairy products, sour cream, buttermilk, yogurt
  • Chocolate
  • Caffeinated beverages, including coffee, tea and colas
  • Aspartame and other artificial sweeteners
  • Nitrate/nitrite-containing meats including hot dogs, sausage, bacon, lunchmeats/deli meats, pepperoni, other cured or processed meats
  • Monosodium glutamate (MSG) containing products including soy sauce, meat tenderizer, Asian foods, and a variety of packaged foods. MSG is an often disguised ingredient; also look for these common aliases: monopotassium glutamate, autolysed yeast, hydrolysed protein, sodium caseinate”.5


How common are food triggered headaches?

In Headaches and Food: How Common Are Food Triggered Headaches? the Cleveland Clinic also note:

“Only about 20% of headache patients are thought to be food sensitive”.6

Health Care Provider

What if I would like help to look for a pattern with my headaches?

If you would like help to look for a pattern with your headaches, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this. Together you can identify any patterns, discuss your options and if required, agree on who may be the most appropriate health care provider to help you.

In Headache Diary: Keeping A Diary Can Help Your Doctor Help You the NHF explain:

“It is important to make an appointment with your doctor for the specific purpose of addressing your headache history rather than discussing headaches as part of a physician visit for other reasons. The National Headache Foundation also recommends keeping a headache diary to track the characteristics of your headaches. Patterns identified from your diary may help your doctor determine which type of headache you have and the most beneficial treatments”.7

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics related to Menopause Headaches Pattern?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Links

Where may I find Links related to Menopause Headaches Pattern?

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Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Headache Diary: Keeping A Diary Can Help Your Doctor Help You. National Headache Foundation https://headaches.org/resources/headache-diary-keeping-a-diary-can-help-your-doctor-help-you/ Accessed: 14 March 2023
  2. Migraine and HRT: What Is Likely To Happen To Migraine? Publication Date: October 2020:1. Women’s Health Concern https://www.womens-health-concern.org/help-and-advice/factsheets/migraine-and-hrt/ Accessed: 14 March 2023
  3. Headache Diary: Keeping A Diary Can Help Your Doctor Help You. National Headache Foundation https://headaches.org/resources/headache-diary-keeping-a-diary-can-help-your-doctor-help-you/ Accessed: 14 March 2023
  4. Keeping A Headache Diary: A General Guide To Recording Your Migraine Attacks? Why Keep A Headache Diary? Migraine Trust https://www.migrainetrust.org/living-with-migraine/coping-managing/keeping-a-migraine-diary/ Accessed: 14 March 2023
  5. Headaches and Food: How Common Are Food Triggered Headaches? Last Reviewed: 03 March 2019. Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/9648-headaches-and-food Accessed: 14 March 2023
  6. Headaches and Food: What Foods and Drinks Are Thought To Trigger Headaches In Susceptible People? Last Reviewed: 03 March 2019. Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/9648-headaches-and-food Accessed: 14 March 2023
  7. Headache Diary: Keeping A Diary Can Help Your Doctor Help You. National Headache Foundation https://headaches.org/resources/headache-diary-keeping-a-diary-can-help-your-doctor-help-you/ Accessed: 14 March 2023
Topic Last Updated: 14 March 2023 – Topic Last Reviewed: 14 March 2023

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