Consumption of chocolate, cheese, or MSG may trigger excessive migraine headache. If menstruation is the trigger of a migraine it is called menstrual migraine.

As experienced by Ms. W. (18 years old) who came to a doctor with a headache. She had an episodic headache, which she gets approximately 2 times a week. The headache sometimes only felt at one side of her head, but sometimes also on the both sides.

The headache is very severe accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Stimulation of light or sound will aggravate headache. At the time before, during, or after menstruation, then the frequency and intensity of headache will be felt more heavily.

The case which is experienced by Ms. W is a form of migraine headache. Migraine headache occurs episodic, not continuous. At the time of the attack, the pain is felt pretty bad and often requires the patient to rest completely.

Mild physical activity will spur even an greater headache. Stimulation of light or sound will aggravate headache attacks,  patients would generally prefer to shut himself in the room.

Well, some form of a migraine headache is exacerbated by menstruation.  This form of headache is called a menstrual migraine.

The estrogen hormone has a very large role in migraine headache. Approximately 60% of women suffering migraine will experience a headache attack just before or during menstruation.

In most cases, the attacks will appear 1 or 2 days before the start of menstruation until the third day of menstruation. Another critical period is the emergence of migraine attacks during ovulation.

The estrogen hormone  has a major impact on one’s pain. The estrogen hormone which decrease associated with an increased intensity of pain.

Pill consumption would spur a sudden drop in estrogen at the beginning of the menstrual cycle. This is what explains why the use of birth control pills can worsen migraine attacks. Most migraine sufferers will experience improvement in symptoms at menopause.

How do I know menstrual migraine?

One important step in the treatment of migraine headache is identifying what triggers an attack. In many cases certain foods will boost migraine attacks. Consumption of chocolate, cheese,  MSG is said to be a cause of migraine headache attacks.

In the case of menstrual migraine, it is menstruation which triggers migraine attacks. In 2008 a measuring instrument is developed in the form of a short questionnaire to determine a menstrual migraine which is called MMAT (Menstrual Migraine Assessment Tools).

This questionnaire consists of the following 3 questions:
1. Does your headache associated with your menstrual occurred 2 days before menstruation until the third day of menstruation?
2. During menstruation, does your headache became more severe?
3. Is light more disturbing during menstruation?

The  on 250 women showed that this simple measure can detect menstrual migraine accurately. Answer yes to questions 1 and the other has a sensitivity up to 94%.

What should I do if I suffer menstrual migraine?

One important step in the treatment of migraine is to recognize and avoid what triggers migraine attacks. In the case of menstrual migraine, it is very difficult to do. Menstrual period could not be avoided, unless in the state of pregnancy or menopause.

There are several important steps that can be done to reduce the frequency and intensity of menstrual migraine attacks carried out before the period:

1. Eat a balanced regularly.
Avoid an empty stomach, low blood glucose levels will spur headache attacks. Also avoid eating carbs in significant amounts.

Consumption of sweet foods in a large number will lead to rapid reduction of blood sugar.  Decrease in blood sugar will also spur migraines.

2. Drink enough.
Dehydration will spur migraine attacks.

3. Get Enough sleep. Lack of sleep or too much sleep will accelerate migraine attacks.

4. Avoid foods or beverages that can trigger migraine attacks.
Food is preserved, too salty or too sweet can race migraine attacks. Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks can also spur a migraine attack.

5. Mild exercise can help prevent migraine attacks.
Some relaxation techniques can also help prevent migraine attacks.

When attacks occur frequently, you can take migraine attacks preventive medicine  (eg: amitriptilin, flunarizin). Individual therapy. Discuss the most appropriate therapy for you with your physician.

Osteoporosis is a disease that affects the bones. It is characterized when the amount of bone mass decreases substantially and developed hollow bones, thin and extremely sensitive, more prone to fractures. It is part of normal aging and is more common in women than in men. The disease progresses slowly and rarely shows symptoms before it happens something more serious like a fracture, which is usually spontaneous, i.e. not related to trauma. If they are not made diagnostic preventive osteoporosis can go unnoticed until it has greater severity. Osteoporosis can have their development delayed by preventive measures.

Menopause Risk Factor:
Women over 40 who suffer any fracture in this age group are generally thin – which features a smaller bone formation – or had early menopause. Other risk factors include: being white, maintaining a sedentary lifestyle and have a diet low in calcium.

The greatest threat of disease is fracture, which interferes with the quality of life. In many cases, breaking a bone difficult movements, affect breathing and self-esteem of the patient. A hip fracture, for example, often disabling, requiring implant or screw. About 20% of women undergoing surgery required to correct the problem after a year die because of complications. Of those who survive, 50% are left with some kind of dependency, requiring special care.

Fractures:
The biggest challenge is to prevent the first fracture. As the disease weakens the bones, no need to suffer major impacts for it to happen. Any injury, however small, can cause fracture. The most common are the spine, femur and forearm. Many bring serious consequences for the quality of life. The stage of menopause is a critical period for the development of osteoporosis. At this stage, ovulation ceases and decreases the production of the hormone estrogen. The hormone is a protective factor, as it helps keep calcium “stuck” to the bone.

More than half of vertebral fractures do not receive medical care. Fractures are silent, often confused with muscle strains or arthritis. After the first fracture, women may have additional fractures, suggesting that osteoporosis may be a disease of rapid progression. The accumulation of vertebral fractures without treatment can cause pain and even loss of height.

The examination is essential from the age of 65, when the risks of fracture are much greater. Densitometry can prove that there was no loss in bone mass normal cases, losses that occurred within the bone pattern in relation to the young woman or bone loss that make up the established disease.

Osteoporosis symptoms in Men:
While he prefers the female population, osteoporosis can also reach men. Typically, the development of disease is influenced by factors such as alcoholism, age and chronic use of corticosteroids, used in the treatment of rheumatic diseases, asthma and allergies. However, a good bone formation, calcium-rich diet, physical activity and adequate exposure to sunlight are important factors to prevent osteoporosis.

Treatment and Prevention:
Osteoporosis can be prevented and treated. A diet rich in calcium is essential for both the developed and the problem for those who want to prevent it. The woman needs 1,200 milligrams of calcium daily. Dairy products and some other foods are the source of the substance. A glass of milk has 300 milligrams, a cup of yogurt has about 400 milligrams and a big slice of cheese has 200. Broccoli, spinach, cabbage and fish are other foods that should be consumed. The production of vitamin D obtained through sun exposure of 30 minutes, is another important point, in addition to regular physical activity that contributes to bone health. Exercises with weights, walking and swimming are good options. Prevention should start in childhood.

One of the simplest exercises is walking. The exercises should not increase the risk of falling or excessive burdens on any bone, and that exercise is a proposal to increase bone mass and muscle mass, ie, functional capacity, to prevent falls and reduce the number of fractures. The impact of physical activity is essential for the development of the skeleton during childhood and adolescence and maintain bone mass in young adults.

In addition to medical treatment, the patient with osteoporosis can take simple measures to prevent fractures, and wear shoes with rubber soles, avoid mats, paying attention to the steps and lean on handrails, use proper lighting in bathrooms and maintain anti-slip flooring in the bathroom and the box. Great care is required after taking medicines that can cause dizziness.

One of the most common causes of why many of the modern-day women face problems in conceiving a baby is low progesterone infertility. A low count of progesterone affects the reproductive ability of females on various fronts. Ovulation can become problematic, while miscarriages can also occur – all due to the presence of inadequate progesterone in the female body system. Progesterone levels go down, and the bodily equilibrium is hampered, generally due to excessive and unnecessary consumption of antibiotics and food with harmful chemicals in it. A highly stressful life also proves to be harmful in this context. All these factors combine to make the female reproductive system malfunction. As a result, the issue of infertility raises its head. Even the hormonal balance, which is so crucial in the ovulation timings as well as the creation of the Corpus Luteum (that would prepare the uterus for implantation) goes haywire. Read the rest of this entry »

Infertility in women is derived from a physical disorder known as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Women suffering from this condition are unaware they are producing excessive insulin and as a result, high levels of male hormones or androgen secretion is the immediate reaction to their bodies. Women become insulin resistant making them prone to acquire diabetes. Such is the case of women who endure the delicate syndrome of PCSO. Read the rest of this entry »

The age when the early signs of menopause takes place varies among women. Some would start to manifest the signs in their thirties, while others may show the signs in their late forties. Either way, the experience can surely be that of great discomfort and burden. Read the rest of this entry »