Headaches
Headaches are a common health complaint in women.
Signs & Symptoms
Sinus Headaches
- Pain in your forehead, cheekbones and nose. The pain is worse in the morning.
- Increased pain when you bend over or touch your face.
- Stuffy nose.
Tension or Muscular Headaches
- A dull ache in your forehead, above your ears, or at the back of your head.
- Pain in your neck or shoulders.
Migraine Headaches
- One side of your head hurts more than the other.
- You feel sick to your stomach or vomit.
- Light hurts your eyes. Noise bothers you. The headache is worse with activity.
- After the headache, some people have a drained feeling with tired, aching muscles; others feel great.
Migraines can occur with or without an aura. With an aura, spots or flashing lights or numbness occur 10 to 30 minutes before the headache. About one-third of all migraines occur with an aura.
Certain things trigger migraine headaches:
- Changing hormone levels, menstruation.
- Use of birth control pills or the patch.
- Change in sleeping patterns.
- Stress.
- Aged cheeses, cured meats, red wines.
Causes
Sinus Headaches
A sinus headache occurs when fluids in the nose aren’t able to drain well and a buildup of pressure occurs in the sinuses. A cold, allergies, dirty or polluted water, and airplane travel can cause a sinus headache.
Tension or Muscular Headaches
Common causes are tense or tight muscles in the face, neck or scalp, reading for long periods of time, eyestrain, stress and lack of sleep.
Migraine Headaches
Migraine headaches happen when blood vessels in your head open too wide or close too tight. They tend to run in families and affect about 25% of women at some time during their lives. They occur more often in women than in men.