European star Vicky Pattison recently spoke out about her struggle with alopecia. While being in the spot light, Vicky has overused extensions and other hair growth treatments. She has now turned to PRP therapy to help stimulate hair growth. Vicky has documented her treatments on her social media platforms.
Not only are your deltoid muscles in charge of lifting your arms and giving your shoulders its range of motion, it’s one of the most common areas we experience pain post-workout or activity. Symptoms vary from person to person, and remedies depend on the type of injury or strain you are experiencing. If you are experiencing muscle pain, contact us today on how we can help you!
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2018 Healthline Media UK Ltd. All rights reserved. MNT is the registered trade mark of Healthline Media. Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional.
Source: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322031.php
The treatment plan for middle back pain ultimately relies on the underlying cause of the problem. Understanding what is causing your pain and discomfort is a huge step in finding a solution. With as many vertebrae, spinal disks, muscles and ligaments as there are in the back, there are many different reasons for pain and areas that need to be assessed.
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2018 Healthline Media UK Ltd. All rights reserved. MNT is the registered trade mark of Healthline Media. Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional.
Source: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321195.php
Everyone it seems needs to have a good binge watching TV session every once and a while. It helps us de-stress, unwind, relax, and clear our heads, as well as being a form of entertainment. This process though, may not be always good for us as researchers are finding out. Being a couch potato may come with risks that exercise can’t reverse:
Participants were asked to rate their television viewing habits during leisure time as “never,” “seldom,” “sometimes,” “often,” or “very often” at baseline, visit 3 (1993-1995), and visit 5 (2009-2011). Researchers also tracked estimates of physical activity using the Baecke physical activity questionnaire, which asks respondents to estimate the duration and intensity of PA during the previous year. Demographic variables and body mass index (BMI) also were recorded. Results were published in The Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis (abstract only available for free).
For purposes of the study, researchers divided PA responses into 3 levels based on American Heart Association recommendations: “recommended” (75 or more minutes per week of vigorous intensity PA or 150 or more minutes of a combination of moderate and vigorous intensity PA), “intermediate” (up to 74 minutes per week of vigorous intensity PA or up to 149 minutes per week of a combination of moderate and vigorous intensity PA), and “poor” (no reported vigorous or moderate PA). They also reduced television-viewing categories from 5 to 4 after finding that no participant reported “never” watching television. Here’s what they found:
- Among all participants, 18.6% reported watching television “seldom,” 46.8% reported watching “sometimes,” 26.5% reported watching “often,” and 8.1% reported watching “very often.”
- Age, sex, and race-adjusted models showed a positive dose-response correlation between frequency of television viewing and VTE incidence (a total of 691 events during the study period), with participants who watched television very often having a 1.71 times higher risk of VTE than those reporting “seldom” watching television.
- The relationship of VTE risk to television viewing remained in place despite levels of PA. Participants who reported “recommended” levels of PA and watching television “very often” were found to have a 1.8 times greater risk of VTE than the seldom-watch groupa risk rating not much different from the 2.07 times increased risk associated with the group that reported watching television very often and having no PA.
- BMI did play a role. Obese individuals who reported watching television “very often” were found to have a 3.7 times higher risk of VTE than normal-weight individuals who reported watching television seldom. However, authors note that higher BMI did not explain the associations observed between television viewing and PA.
The relationship between sedentary behavior and poorer health may be well-known, but authors of this study believe they’ve added a new dynamicthe inability of PA to counteract the risk for VTE caused by prolonged sitting.
“These results suggest that sedentary behavior is not just the opposite issue from [PA],” authors write. While they acknowledge that individuals who engaged in more PA did lower their risk of VTE independent of television viewing frequency, the researchers also point out that “even individuals who met the recommended level of [PA], when they viewed TV very often, had an increased risk of VTE compared with those who met the recommended level and seldom watched TV.”
The results echo findings in a study from 2017 that concluded that risk of a mobility disability increased relative to television-viewing time, regardless of hours spent in PA.
[Editor’s note: for more information on the role of the physical therapist in the treatment of individuals diagnosed with VTE, check out this clinical practice guideline available at PTNow.]
Research-related stories featured in PT in Motion News are intended to highlight a topic of interest only and do not constitute an endorsement by APTA. For synthesized research and evidence-based practice information, visit the association’s PTNow website.
Source: http://www.apta.org/PTinMotion/News/2018/04/03/VTERiskTV/
Back pain is not something anyone wants to deal with, or live with. You or someone you know may suffer from back pain daily, and many times people do not even know the causes, or that simple exercises or treatments can be done to improve the quality of life. Find out what is causing your middle back pain, and how to treat it!
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Visit www.medicalnewstoday.com for medical news and health news headlines posted throughout the day, every day.
2018 Healthline Media UK Ltd. All rights reserved. MNT is the registered trade mark of Healthline Media. Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional.
Source: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321195.php
Do you have a job that requires you to sit at a desk for about 8 hours a day staring at a computer screen? Do you find that your neck feels stiff at times for no reason? We’re here to tell you that it could be related to sitting at your desk. The good news is that there are ways to stretch and exercise your neck and back to relieve the pain. The article below gives you a more thorough explanation as to why your neck is hurting and examples of exercises to try anywhere – even in your office.
Updated
As the Christmas-New Year break draws to a close, many of us will trudge back to office buildings and sit down in our cubicles to start the working year.
If the prospect of sitting in front of a computer for 40 hours (or more) a week for another 12 months triggers a sudden need to massage or stretch your neck, you’re not alone.
A 2010 study reviewing the global burden of diseases ranked neck pain as the fourth most common disability, and it’s a common problem affecting men and women in the so-called knowledge workforce.
Employers often rely on ergonomic adjustments to improve the health and comfort of their staff — lifting or lowering chair heights, repositioning computer screens or fiddling with the angle of keyboards.
However, a researcher from the University of Queensland has found regular exercise can do a better job of reducing neck and shoulder pain than ergonomic adjustments alone.
Dr Xiaoqi Chen, a physiotherapist and post-doctoral researcher, asked 760 Brisbane office workers to pair ergonomic adjustments with a set of regular strengthening exercises to study the effect on pain levels.
Those who performed the exercises regularly (at least two-thirds of the time) reported a reduction in neck pain at work.
“We found that general fitness exercises such as walking, running and cycling were useful, but neck and shoulder-specific strengthening exercises were more beneficial and there was a larger effect size with our meta-analysis,” she said.
Despite the high prevalence of neck and shoulder pain around the world, a lack of research means little is known about the numerous causes of neck pain and the best methods of prevention and treatment.
“Neck pain is a very complex phenomenon,” Dr Chen said.
“Some risk factors are modifiable, such as a lack of physical activity, a lack of physical capacity of the neck and shoulder muscles or a poor ergonomic set up.
“That’s good news because these are factors we can modify to improve neck pain.”
Two factors that can’t be controlled are age and gender.
Dr Chen said current research showed women were at a higher risk of developing neck pain, especially those with office jobs.
“We’re hoping that perhaps employers and industries would pay more attention to exercise because all this time people have been spending a lot of money and effort on ergonomic adjustments.
“It’s not to say that ergonomic adjustments are not useful, but perhaps we could start doing a combination of ergonomic adjustments as well as introducing exercises into the workplace which might benefit more people.”
Front raise
- Hold a weight (or resistance band) in each hand in front of your thighs, palms facing down
- Raise your arms in front of you, pausing when they reach shoulder height
- Slowly lower your arms to the starting position
Side raise
- Hold a weight (or resistance band) in each hand and rest your arms at your sides
- Raise your arms until they’re parallel with the floor, pausing when they reach shoulder height
- Slowly lower your arms to the starting position
Reverse fly
- Hold a resistance band in front of you at shoulder height
- Pull your arms, and the band, apart and pull your shoulders back
- Hold the stretch while gently squeezing your shoulder blades together
- Return to the starting position
These exercises strengthen your deltoid, trapezius and rhomboid muscles.
So why is it so hard to keep your back strong if you’re sitting at a desk all day?
“I reckon this is related to the computerisation of work in recent years,” Dr Chen said.
“And also these days people are using iPhones and iPads a lot more so they’re having to look down on their phones and also having to be in stationary postures for long periods of time.
“It’s definitely not a natural position to adopt and I reckon that might be related to why some of these people are getting neck pain.”
Strengthening your muscles takes time — up to 10 weeks if you’re making it a regular part of your routine.
Dr Chen said finding an exercise buddy and tracking your improvements was a good way to keep motivated and stay on track.
“We suggest people to start off with a weight that is about 50 per cent of their one repetition maximum to be safe and do about 10 to 15 repetitions of those, maybe about 20 minutes each time, three to five times a week for 10 weeks,” Dr Chen said.
“We would also strongly suggest to people, when they’re starting a new exercise, to consult their doctor and physiotherapist before doing so.”
Associate physiotherapy professor Dr Venerina Johnston is collecting data from Dr Chen’s research to see how employee exercise at work affects productivity.
She said many workplace health initiatives required staff to participate after work or during their lunch hour, but in this case employees were allowed to exercise during work hours.
“One of the criteria was that the organisation had to give the staff time off to do the exercises, which is about an hour a week, so that’s why we looked at productivity as one of our outcomes,” Dr Johnston said.
“If you’re going to give people time off to exercise, then you want to know what the impact is, negative or positive.”
She and Dr Chen said employers looking to incorporate exercise into strategies to improve employee health could foster competition by setting up a leaderboard or offer incentives to groups that completed strengthening exercises regularly.
Your sciatic nerve is a nerve that leads from your back down your leg and if it becomes inflamed or injured it can cause a lot of pain. However, there are potential solutions for pain relief. The article below gives a list of solutions to try. Chiropractic care is listed at the top because it is a method you can frequently seek. We often see patients with sciatica at Integrated Wellness in South Jordan, so if you suffer from sciatica schedule an appointment with us after continuing to read below.
Sebatian Kaulitzki/Getty Images
The most common cause is a herniated disk: When a disk develops a tear or crack and bulges into the spinal canal, it can pinch the sciatic nerve. Usually, symptoms clear up within about six weeks, but for some people, the pain can last far longer.
Ready to start feeling better? Here are a few treatments worthy trying:
Chiropractic Care
Sixty percent of people with sciatica who didn’t get relief from other therapies and then tried spinal manipulation experienced the same degree of pain relief as patients who eventually had surgery, found a 2010 study in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. The 120 people in the study saw a chiropractor about 3 times a week for 4 weeks and then continued weekly visits, tapering off treatment as they felt better. In people who responded to chiropractic care, benefits lasted up to a year. “Spinal manipulation may create a response in the nervous system that relieves pain and restores normal mobility to the injured area,” says study researcher Gordon McMorland, DC, of National Spine Care in Calgary, Alberta. “It also reduces inflammation, creating an environment that promotes the body’s natural healing mechanisms.”
Acupuncture
“You can get relief as soon as the first session, though it takes about 12 sessions to see improvement,” says Jingduan Yang, MD, assistant professor at the Jefferson Myrna Brind Center of Integrative Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University. A small study in the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine found that of 30 people with sciatica, 17 got complete relief and 10 saw symptoms improve with warming acupuncture, in which the needles are heated.
Yoga
A study in the journal Pain reported that people with chronic back pain who practiced Iyengar yoga for 16 weeks saw pain reduced by 64% and disability by 77%. Although yoga’s effects on sciatica are less clear, gentle forms may be beneficial. By strengthening muscles and improving flexibility, a yoga practice can help sciatica sufferers “move and function better so they don’t fall into a posture that aggravates the sciatica,” says James W. Carson, PhD, a psychologist at the Comprehensive Pain Center at Oregon Health & Science University. For extra grip and stability, try these Natural Fitness Grip Socks ($13, bedbathandbeyond.com ).
Trigger Point Massage
Don’t expect a chilled-out spa massage if you have sciatica. In this instance, trigger-point therapy is best, says Jeff Smoot, vice president of the American Massage Therapy Association. The sciatic nerve sits underneath a muscle called the piriformis, which is located beneath the glutes. “When the piriformis muscle gets tight, it pinches the sciatic nerve, causing tingling and numbness down into the leg,” says Smoot. He applies pressure to irritated and inflamed areas, or trigger points, in the piriformis muscle, as well as in muscles in the lower back and glutes. Typically, Smoot schedules treatments 7 to 10 days apart. If patients don’t see progress by the fourth visit, “they need to try another form of therapy,” he says.
Topical Preparations
St. John’s wort oil ($10, amazon.com), a liniment, is “one of my favorites for nerve pain,” says Tieraona Low Dog, MD, director of the fellowship at the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine. Apply the anti-inflammatory oil two or three times a day where there’s pain. Another option: an OTC cayenne pepper cream ($17, amazon.com); capsaicin, found in chiles, hinders the release of pain-causing compounds from nerves. For severe cases, Low Dog uses the prescription chile patch Qutenza, designed for shingles pain. “One application is effective for weeks,” says Low Dog.
Ice or Heat
Because the sciatic nerve is buried deep within the buttock and leg, ice or heat on the surface of the body won’t ease that inner inflammation. But the time-honored treatments can act as counterirritants—that is, “they give your body other input in the painful area, and that brings the pain down a notch,” says Ruppert. Apply an ice pack or a heating pad ($28, amazon.com) as needed for 15 minutes.
Devil’s Claw
The herbal medication devil’s claw is “quite a potent anti-inflammatory, working like ibuprofen and similar drugs to inhibit substances that drive inflammation,” says Low Dog. She generally starts patients on 1,500 to 2,000 mg twice a day. Look for a brand that has a standardized extract of roughly 50 mg of harpagoside, the active compound. Safety reviews show that the supplement is well tolerated by most people but should be avoided by patients with peptic ulcers or on blood-thinning medications. (Find supplements you can trust here.)
Pain Relievers and Muscle Relaxants
Taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, either OTC (like ibuprofen) or Rx, can ease the distress. Because painful muscle spasms may also accompany a disk herniation, doctors sometimes prescribe muscle relaxants or pain-reducing tricyclic antidepressants. (Just don’t make any of these 13 common mistakes you’re making with your pain meds!) A caveat: “These won’t help with the pain caused by pressure on the sciatic nerve,” says A. Nick Shamie, MD, a spokesperson for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Epidural Steroid Injections
People whose pain doesn’t lessen within about a month and who aren’t helped by other therapies may find their pain remedied by an x-ray-guided injection of steroid into the lower back near the sciatic nerve, says Raj Rao, MD, a spokesperson for the AAOS. “The hope is to reduce inflammation within that nerve branch,” explains Rao. Because of concerns about side effects, such as loss of bone density, the epidural shots are limited to three a year.
Exercise and Physical Therapy
Moving is usually the last thing people dogged by sciatica want to do, but it’s important to be physically active. “Lying in bed makes it more likely that the pain will last longer,” says Ruppert. “Exercise increases blood flow to the disk and the nerve, helping to get rid of the chemicals causing the inflammation.” Take 15- to 20-minute walks. If that hurts too much, give swimming or water aerobics a try; there’s not as much pressure on the back when you’re in the water, says Ruppert. It may also be worth seeing a physical therapist, who can prescribe stretching exercises to restore flexibility to the back or moves that strengthen core muscles, helping to stabilize the spine and reduce the likelihood of a similar injury.
Surgery
After 4 to 6 weeks of unremitting symptoms, patients may qualify for surgery. The Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial found that those who had surgery for a herniated disk had greater decreases in pain and disability 3 months afterward than patients who did not. The benefits lasted up to 4 years.
Source: https://www.prevention.com/health/health-concerns/best-treatments-sciatic-nerve-pain
When you visit a chiropractor, one thing that commonly happens is when the chiropractor aligns you, your back and/or neck are cracked. Some people are even capable of cracking their neck on their own. It is one of the body’s strange capabilities that sometimes leaves us wondering why it happens and how. The article below describes this in depth. Start reading the first part below and then follow the link to continue reading on!
By Tom Seymour | Last reviewed Tue 7 November 2017
Reviewed by William Morrison, MD
The term “cracking” when referring to neck cracking is the popping sound that occurs when quick motions loosen the joint and ligaments in the neck.
Any joint can be “cracked,” and it is common for people to also crack their knuckles, lower back, hips, ankles, and toes.
People often do this themselves, although it can also be done by a professional. In general, in the case of neck cracking, the professional who performs this maneuver would be a chiropractor.
In this article, we take a look at when neck cracking might occur, what the risks might be, and why chiropractors might do it.
There are three key reasons why joints, and specifically the neck, will crack:
Escaping gas
There is fluid in the joints that helps the bones and tissue to move together smoothly. This fluid contains oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide.
In the neck, there are paired joints, known as facet joints, that run up and down each side. Each of these facet joints has a capsule around it that is filled with fluid and gas.
When the joint capsule is stretched, gas is rapidly released in the form of bubbles. This release of gas makes a popping or cracking sound.
The process is also referred to as “boiling” or “cavitation.”
Movement
When a joint moves, it also affects the tendons and ligaments, which are the fibers connecting the bones and muscles in the joint.
If a tendon moves slightly out of place, it can make a snapping noise when it returns to its original position.
Similarly, the ligaments can tighten when the joint is moved and can make a cracking sound. This will often occur in the ankle or knee.
Arthritis
If a joint is affected by arthritis, the cartilage can lose its smoothness. As the joint surface becomes rougher, it can make a noise when it moves.
A person is normally advised not to try and crack their neck themselves if they are experiencing pain or problems with this part of their body. This is because there are nerves and blood vessels that run through the neck that can be damaged if cracking is not done properly. Gentle stretching is advised instead, as a home treatment.
If someone is experiencing pain or a lack of mobility in their neck, they are advised to go to a doctor to seek treatment.
Any pain, numbness in limbs, or loss of strength experienced by neck cracking should be assessed by a medical professional as well. Doctors will often recommend chiropractic care or referral to an orthopedic surgeon.
The chiropractor will examine the person to try and work out what is causing the problem. They will then try and restore normal body movement through gentle manipulation techniques.
Continue reading: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319944.php
Source: Medical News Today
When most people are in pain, they tend to turn to medicine for relief. Whether that be over-the-counter meds like ibuprofen or prescription painkillers, pills give quick but temporary relief. However, there is another way to manage pain that doesn’t involve any pills, and it is chiropractic care. Some of you probably already knew this if you are Integrated Wellness patients. Regular adjustments along with a little work on your own, can give you long-term relief instead of just temporary relief. Learn more about this by continuing on to the article below.
In 2011, the National Institutes of Health reported that 76 million individuals in the United States live with chronic pain. Of the adults who have pain, over 60 percent have had it for over a year. The most common types of pain, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are neck pain, lower back pain, and severe headaches or migraines. When patients visit traditional physicians about their pain, there is a good chance they’ll receive a prescription for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or opioids, or triptans for headaches. While these solutions might bring some relief, they’re not the only option available. Many find that chiropractic care, paired with exercise and other lifestyle adjustments, help treat the underlying cause of pain and allow the body to heal.
Possible Effects of Prescription Painkillers
Exploring natural options for pain management, such as chiropractic techniques, is a worthwhile pursuit, as prescription drugs pose the risk of dangerous side effects. The Cleveland Clinic, for example, states that painkillers decrease pain perception. This is troublesome because the body depends on pain signals to alert you to ailments and injuries. Other side effects related to pain medication include:
Chiropractic Care for Pain Management
Chiropractic techniques benefit individuals who live in pain, including those with conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome, shoulder pain, back pain, neck pain, headaches, arthritis and fibromyalgia, according to the NIH. When chiropractors perform spinal manipulations and manipulations of the extremities, they promote your body’s ability to self-heal. The treatments don’t just mask the symptoms; they help combat oxidative stress caused by free radicals and promote DNA repair on a deep cellular level.
The numerous benefits that chiropractic care offers prompted the American College of Physicians and the American Pain Society in 2007 to recommend that physicians consider spinal manipulation when self-care is not effective. In numerous studies, individuals who received chiropractic treatments for 12 weeks or longer experienced greater reductions in pain than those who did not. In many cases, chiropractic treatments were as effective as traditional prescription medications. Researchers continue to explore if the efficacy of chiropractic manipulations depend on the length and frequency of treatments.
Complementary Treatments and Lifestyle Changes
As researchers investigate why chiropractic care is so effective, they agree that patients experience the greatest benefits when they pair spinal manipulation with exercise and other lifestyle changes. Exercise helps relieve stress and improve range of motion and posture. It strengthens the core muscles that support the body and may help treat the underlying source of pain. The exercises that patients perform do not have to be strenuous. They can be gentle exercises that use a patient’s own body weight or even yoga. It is best to consult with a chiropractor regarding the best exercises to perform.
To aid with a patient’s pain management efforts, a chiropractor may also recommend relaxation techniques and electrical stimulation using a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator, or TENS, unit. The professional may also offer nutritional counseling and recommend dietary supplements, weight loss or lifestyle changes. For example, for pain that involves inflammation, a chiropractor might recommend consuming turmeric, a natural anti-inflammatory, and limiting refined carbohydrates. Refined, or simple, carbohydrates increase the body’s levels of cytokines, which cause inflammation, glucose and insulin problems, and other diseases, according to Harvard Medical School.
As a patient with pain, you have numerous options for managing your symptoms and regaining a healthy, active lifestyle without the use of drugs. Before discontinuing prescription pain medication, it is best to consult with a physician or chiropractor, as you may need to taper down the dose gradually to avoid experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Find a chiropractor in your area to begin reigning in your pain.
Source: https://blogs.palmer.edu/askpalmer/2016/11/22/can-chiropractic-care-help-with-pain-management-better-than-prescription-drugs/ The Palmer College of Chiropractic
Headaches and migraines are some of the most common causes of pain in men and women. Did you ever notice, however, that women seem to get more headaches than men? It’s not something of our imagination, either. Actual biological processes lead women to experience more headaches than men, overall. The article below explains this all. If you suffer from frequent headaches or migraines, make an appointment with us to discuss treatment options so you can have some relief!
Quora, CONTRIBUTOR
Why do women get more headaches than men? originally appeared on Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world.
Answer by Keck Medicine of USC, 500+ internationally renowned doctors at a leading academic medical center, on Quora:
Why Women Get More Headaches Than Men
No, it’s not that women are more sensitive to pain than men; there’s a biological reason behind the difference.
Throughout their lives, women are more likely than men to experience headaches. In particular, women are three times as likely as men to experience migraines, those nasty debilitating headaches that typically occur on one-side of the head and increase light and noise sensitivity, according to the U.S. National Medical Library.
The reason why women get more headaches than men can be explained in one word: hormones. Changes in estrogen levels can act as a trigger to a protective response from the brain.
“The migraine generator flips on, which communicates directly to the fifth nerve, also referred to as the migraine nerve, which is basically the freeway of pain on the face and head,” said Soma Sahai-Srivastava, MD, associate professor of neurology at Keck School of Medicine of USC and director of the Headache and Neuralgia Center at USC Neurosciences of Keck Medicine of USC. “Once this is flipped on, it spills toxic, inflammatory chemicals on the roadmap of the brain. Then the blood vessels start acting out, which produces throbbing; it’s like an orchestra on the surface of the brain.”
There are four occasions that bring on the most dramatic hormone fluctuations.
1. Before a period: Many women report having migraines right before they get their period and during the first few days, when estrogen levels dip. If this sounds like you, talk to your doctor about preventative medications so you don’t experience migraines in the first place. You may also want to consider taking birth control pills to help regulate the dip in your hormones.
2. Pregnancy: During pregnancy, estrogen levels rise rapidly and remain high until the baby is born. Many women find that their migraines improve during pregnancy, when estrogen levels are stable. (However, pregnant women often still experience other types of headaches including tension headaches.)
3. After giving birth: It’s after the baby is born that may be a troublesome time. Hormones shift again, with a sharp decrease in estrogen levels. New moms often don’t get a lot of sleep and are under increased stress — more triggers for migraines.
4. Perimenopause: The years leading up to menopause (perimenopause) can be particularly challenging for migraine sufferers as hormones shift up and down with seemingly no predictability. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has been shown to improve headaches in some women, make them worse in others and sometimes have no effect. You’ll need to work with your doctor to find the best treatment.
After menopause, when periods — and the hormone fluctuations that accompany them — stop, many women find their migraines improve, only to find tension headaches get worse.
Are you a migraine sufferer? See your primary care physician to find out what the most effective treatment options are for you.
This question originally appeared on Quora – the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world.