Experts differentiate several types of headaches. Migraines in itself tend to occur more often in women, in addition, exacerbation of this condition can often coincide with the childbearing period. Migraine headache is often one-sided, pulsating in nature. It increases with physical activity and walking, can be accompanied by nausea or vomiting. Patients also note a poor tolerance of various sounds and bright light, at the time of the attack - a significant deterioration of the condition. The effect of pregnancy on migraine is ambiguous: in about 40% of cases, pregnancy can trigger the development of migraine or aggravate its course. In the remaining 60%, seizures during pregnancy, on the contrary, become less frequent, easier to pass or do not change at all.
Frequent tension headaches are extremely common today. They are characterized by a lack of a clear localization, usually evaluated as compressive, as a "helmet" or "helmet", sometimes accompanied by pain and increased tone of the circumcranial muscles. There is an episodic form, when headaches last from half an hour to 7-15 days, and a chronic form in which pain can be almost constant. Tension headaches bring with them severe emotional disorders and a vegetative dystonia syndrome. Characteristic of their subsidence after 8-10 weeks of pregnancy.
Psychogenic headaches in depression and anxiety disorders are a kind of "cry of desperation" for women from disadvantaged and low-income families. Clinical manifestations are similar to tension headaches and are often provoked by stresses. Compressing or bursting headaches in pregnant women can be due to the fact that a woman has chronic cerebral venous insufficiency. Her initial symptoms most of these patients are noted before pregnancy, and with her onset of pain intensifies. Headache is more often diffuse or localized in the temporal areas, is strengthened in the prone position, when the woman tilts her head, coughs, the transition of the cold room to warm. Pain decreases if you drink a cup of tea or coffee, if you take a short walk. Such a patient by virtue of his own experience is preferable to lie on a bed with a high head - (a symptom of a "high pillow") - in this position, the headache worries less often.
Frequent headaches during pregnancy can manifest benign intracranial hypertension. This pathological condition debuts with a headache in the first or second trimester of pregnancy. The headache in most patients is bursting, diffuse and permanent, but its intensity may vary. Pain is intensified at night or early in the morning, with coughing, sneezing, tilting the head. Possible reduction of visual acuity, double vision. As a rule, recovery occurs spontaneously. Intracranial hypertension in a pregnant woman does not adversely affect the fetus, however, if it increases, a woman needs treatment.
When help is needed urgently!
It should be aware that during pregnancy, there may be an exacerbation of some serious central nervous system diseases that manifest as a headache, which may require emergency medical attention. The cause of such a headache may be an acute pathology of cerebral vessels (subarachnoid or intracerebral hemorrhage, thrombosis of intracranial veins and sinuses). A sudden sudden severe headache is common, which is often accompanied by vomiting, impaired consciousness, epileptic seizures, focal neurological symptoms.
Headache is noted and with such complications of the second half of pregnancy, as gestosis (late toxicosis of pregnant women), with arterial hypertension, developed or aggravated during pregnancy, with brain tumors, severe infections (including AIDS).
If there is a headache during pregnancy, especially if it develops suddenly, accompanied by fever, vomiting, visual impairment, swelling of the limbs and face, immediately consult a doctor to prevent organic damage to the brain! With a neurological examination, pathology can not be identified at all, so the basis for an accurate diagnosis and successful treatment is a carefully collected history. The doctor will ask the woman about the nature of the pain (for example, burning, dull, constant, throbbing), its location, the time of appearance and the duration of the periods of amplification. Clarifying the time of occurrence of pain, focus on events in the life of the patient associated with psychoemotional stress. Find out specific factors that could contribute to the development of headaches (for example, migraine triggers the use of chocolate, cheese or wine). In any case, the cause of the headache should be established by a neurologist who will prescribe the examinations and, according to their results, will select the necessary treatment.
Tips for every day
Treatment of frequent headaches during pregnancy is not an easy task for a doctor, since it is almost impossible to find an absolutely safe medication. At the same time, adherence to simple guidelines will help a woman prevent headaches or reduce their intensity and incidence.
• Since pregnancy is a period of certain experiences, a woman should be able to relax. Some in this case help relaxation techniques, behavioral psychotherapy.
• If you are sensitive to noise, avoid loud music, make a quiet phone call, reduce the sound of the TV and radio.
• Rest often during the day. But do not sleep too long - excessive sleep alone can cause a headache.
• Observe diet, avoid long breaks between meals - hunger sometimes also causes a headache.
• Ventilate the room more often.
• Straighten up! The cause of the headache can be a long reading with the head tilted over the book, working at a computer or a sewing machine. Pay attention to this, take breaks in work, straighten your back and perform a small gymnastics in the workplace.
The main thing is not to hurt!
Even in the absence of serious illness, headache often forces a woman to resort to medication. The use of any medication during pregnancy requires an assessment of the relationship between possible negative consequences (primarily for the fetus) and benefits. The doctor individually appoints treatment taking into account the condition of both the woman and the fetus.
Fortunately, as a rule, headaches, which deliver many unpleasant minutes to a woman in the first trimester of pregnancy, completely pass at the beginning of the second, and the future mother can enjoy the beautiful and unique state of waiting for her baby.