Headaches and Migraine
A common PMS symptom is having mild to severe headaches and migraines for no apparent reason. This is because hormonal changes can affect the body’s pain receptors; they may fluctuate and send random signals to the brain. Existing data suggests that 8 out of 10 women experience headaches several days before their periods start. In addition, almost 60% of women suffering from migraines reported having attacks before, during, or right after their menstruation.
Moreover, experts explained that headaches and migraines before menstruation happen because of serotonin fluctuation. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that carries messages from the brain to different body parts. It plays a vital role in different body processes, like digestion, wound healing, bone health, nausea, sexual desire, mood, and sleep. Estrogen may trigger the overproduction of serotonin and increases the number of serotonin brain receptors, making it unbearable for most patients.
More scientific data is needed to solidify the relationship between migraine, headaches, and PMS, but there is enough data to conclude that the three conditions are interrelated.
