Headache during pregnancy: causes and treatment. Cure for headaches during pregnancy

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Headache during pregnancy is a fairly common occurrence in expectant mothers. According to statistics, every fifth woman suffers from it. Pain can be a symptom of a wide variety of pathological conditions, but then its characteristics will be different. Of great importance for the diagnosis of diseases is the nature of sensations, their localization, duration, conditions under which they arise, weaken or intensify.

Headache during pregnancy does not always mean that a disease is starting, in many cases it is the body's reaction to a new condition.

But be that as it may, it is important to determine the nature of the disease, to identify the factors that influence its appearance.

The article will discuss the causes of pain, methods of their treatment, medicines for headaches during pregnancy and much more.

Causes of painsensations

Recurrent pregnancy pains have many causes, but they are usually caused by the following factors:

• Changes in hormonal levels. A particularly severe headache during pregnancy in the 1st trimester, when colossal transformations take place in the body. This condition is also accompanied by an increase in body temperature, and many women mistake their ailment for a cold and begin intensive treatment.
• High blood pressure. The pressure usually rises a lot in the last weeks of pregnancy, and with it headaches begin.
• Lack of oxygen in the body.
• Overweight.
• Lack of trace elements and vitamins.
• The presence of problems with the spine, kidneys, blood vessels.
• Physical strain, stress, mental stress.
• Change in weather conditions.

One of the common causes of headaches during pregnancy is a neurological disease - migraine. It usually develops at a young age and is characterized by recurrent headaches, gastrointestinal disturbances, and visual impairment.

When migraine often hurts one part of the head, there is nausea, vomiting. The pain is intense, pulsating. In the classical form, the harbinger of pain is "flies" or flashes before the eyes.

It should be noted that migraine in the second trimester of pregnancy practically does not occur, this is due to hormonal changes in the body.

Factors that influence the occurrence of pain

The following factors can trigger an attack:

• Hunger or overeating.
• Eating cheese, citrus, chocolate, red wine.
• Sharp light.
• Major noise.
• Stress.
• Change in the weather.
• Lack of sleep.
• Fatigue.

Headache can also be a sign of very serious diseases, such as meningitis (inflammation of the brain), hematoma, cerebral hemorrhage, sinusitis. In all these cases, we are talking about a severe headache for the first time, which is also accompanied by symptoms that are characteristic of each specific disease. So, if the pain is severe and occurred for the first time, you should definitely consult a doctor, do not self-medicate and hope that it will pass by itself.

How to treat pain syndrome?

How to relieve a headache during pregnancy? Drug treatment in this condition is very limited, since most of the drugs have a negative effect on the development of the fetus. Treatment depends on the cause and nature of the pain syndrome.

Many women are helped by normal sleep, in a dark room in silence and complete peace.

Pregnancy headaches can be relieved by a light massage of the head, back of the head and neck - you need to completely relax and make circular movements with your fingertips.

Another first aid is washing your hair with warm water.

What can I try for a headache during pregnancy? Most likely to helpa compress with ice or just cold water, which should be applied to the temples, forehead and back of the head.

You can make compresses with cabbage leaves, which should be crushed so that they let the juice out.

What else can be done for headaches during pregnancy? Many women wrap their heads with a handkerchief or scarf, while tightening it so that pressure is felt.

Teas with mint, rosehip, lemon balm, chamomile have a mild analgesic effect. Very often just strong black tea helps.

Relieve a headache during pregnancy will help fresh air, at the first symptoms it is necessary to ventilate the room and do wet cleaning.

Persistent pain is very often due to low blood sugar levels. To normalize it, you need to eat a candy or a piece of chocolate, drink tea with sugar.

Traditional medicine

During pregnancy, it is not recommended to take many medications, however, approved drugs should be used only in emergency cases. But what can be done for mild discomfort? How to relieve a headache during pregnancy?

Folk remedies will help to cope with this problem:

• Herbal tea. It is simply indispensable in the early stages of pregnancy. Tea reduces emotional arousal, soothes headaches. If a pregnant woman has a fever, linden tea is best.
• "Asterisk". From a headache during pregnancy, a well-known ointment is very often used."Star". In a small amount, it is applied to the temples and wrists, it relieves pain well, soothes and relaxes. If the cause of the development of the disease is associated with a cold, the ointment should also be applied under the nose. This will relieve nasal congestion and greatly alleviate the general condition.
• Essential oils, the smells of which reduce malaise and relieve headaches. You can use aroma lamps or just drop oil on a soft cloth. Chamomile, grapefruit and cardamom oils have a very favorable effect on the condition of a pregnant woman. If there is a very severe headache during pregnancy, then inhalation with oils can be done. Fir, rosemary, pine oils should be used with caution.
• Drinking mode. During pregnancy, you need to drink much more liquid than in the normal state. In addition to compotes, fruit drinks, juices, you should definitely drink plain water.

Medicines for pain

Medication for a pregnant woman should only be handled by a doctor, he will select the best medicine from the list of allowed headache pills during pregnancy, in addition, he will prescribe additional remedies that will help cope with a cold if it is the main cause of malaise. Tablets are prescribed only after the cause of the attack is identified.

Before taking medications for headaches during pregnancy, you must carefully study the instructions, since most of the drugs are prohibited for taking in interestingposition.”

Pills that are allowed during pregnancy:

• "No-shpa". The medicine helps to relieve pain, it is practically harmless and is often prescribed for pregnant women.
• "Paracetamol". For headaches during pregnancy, preparations containing it are often used - Panadol, Efferalgan. They help at the peak of the pain syndrome, in addition, they are good antipyretics, so they are also prescribed for colds. Panadol Extra contains caffeine and is often prescribed for low blood pressure in pregnant women.
• "Citramon" (refers to illegal drugs). Pills are prescribed, extremely rarely and only if the headaches are permanent.

There are special preparations to fight migraines. But they can be used during pregnancy only as prescribed by a doctor and under his control.

With high blood pressure, the doctor prescribes a comprehensive treatment that will be aimed at reducing it.

Prohibited treatments during pregnancy

Especially in the first trimester of pregnancy, the use of aspirin and its derivatives can lead to the development of fetal defects (heart and lower jaw). It is forbidden to use aspirin in the last stages of pregnancy, it increases the risk of bleeding during childbirth and can provoke premature closure of the ductus arteriosus in the baby.

Also very toxic whenlong-term use that can change the composition of the blood are drugs of the analgin group ("Spazgan", "Spazmalgon", "Baralgin").

In addition, you can not use such popular, but dangerous drugs for headaches during pregnancy:

• "Amigren", it contains a small amount of narcotic substances;
• "Ergotamine" - increases the risk of uterine bleeding;
• "Dekapot" - the drug adversely affects the nervous system of the baby;
• "Fiorinal" and "Atenolol" lead to a slowdown in fetal development.

In addition to these drugs, there are others, the intake of which is strictly prohibited in the "interesting position". Therefore, before deciding what to do with a headache during pregnancy and how to treat it, you should definitely consult a specialist.

When should I see a doctor?

Do not self-medicate and self-diagnose. Since taking drugs can harm both the woman herself and the child.

When it is imperative to see a doctor:

• If the headache has become permanent.
• If it starts right after sleep.
• Pain is permanently localized in a certain area.
• Vision, hearing and sensitivity have deteriorated.
• Blood pressure rises or falls.

You should be prepared for what mightadditional examinations and tests will be required to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe adequate treatment.

Prevention of pain syndrome

It is always easier to prevent the development of an ailment than to treat it later. Particular attention should be paid to prevention and activities that are aimed at preventing headache attacks.

• With migraine, it is necessary to identify the factors that provoke the appearance of a headache. It is recommended to keep a diary in which to record all the episodes that caused this ailment. With a migraine, it is better not to eat cheese, chocolate, preservatives, sausages, chicken liver, nuts, avocados. Nutrition for this disease must be fractional, as overeating and hunger can provoke an attack.
• It is useful to always carry dried fruits, cookies, an apple with you during pregnancy, so that you can have a quick snack if necessary. These foods can quickly increase blood sugar and eliminate hunger.
• A pregnant woman should rest more, walk more often in the fresh air.
• Every night try to get enough sleep. It is important to sleep about the same number of hours, an increase or decrease in sleep time can provoke another attack. This is the so-called weekend headache.
• If the work is to stay in the same position for a long time, then every 30 minutes you need to get up, walk, stretch your muscles.
• You should avoid noisy companies and harsh sounds.
• For the prevention of headaches, it is good to take a warm shower every day and swim in the pool.

Vitamins and minerals

Multivitamin complexes are good for preventing headaches during pregnancy. They strengthen the immune system and solve some problems associated with pain. Minerals and vitamins help restore balance in the body. With frequent headaches, it is recommended to eat foods rich in calcium, magnesium, selenium, potassium, vitamins B, E, as well as pantothenic acid and Omega 3.

Often, all these useful elements are included in multivitamins for pregnant women, so you can safely drink them and they have proven themselves well as preventive agents against headaches in women who are in an "interesting position".

Doctor's recommendation

So, doctors recommend the following measures for headaches in pregnancy:

• It is necessary to consult a doctor, tell him about the symptoms, localization of pain and possible causes of its occurrence.
• Keep a diary in which to record all information about the intensity, nature and duration of the disease. You should also write down other symptoms that accompany the pain.
• If pain is accompanied by a cold, it is necessary to be treated with cold medicines.
• One of the common causes of pain is an uncomfortable pillow for sleeping.
• Women during this period are characterized by frequent mood swings, whichcan also cause headaches. Doctors recommend that you think positive, communicate more with positive people, do not fall into despair and remain calm in any situation.

So, if you have a headache during pregnancy, you need to eliminate the symptoms, but the most important thing is to cope with the cause of this ailment and, of course, not harm yourself or the baby.