Sniffling after a period, maybe it's a migraine!
Lots of us know about some of the more common pre-symptoms of a migraine but we don't all realize that post-migraine feelings might actually be just as related. The cause of these symptoms is the neurological sequence that is shutting down after we have a migraine. 70% of women who do have migraine headaches say their is an association with their periods.
Recent studies have shown that it is actually more common to have migraines without warning than with warning auras, and yet about 10-15% of women will have both pre and post migraines.
For women migraines associated with the menstrual cycle are generally harder to treat. But other women might have migraine symptoms that precede the actual headache pain by a day or even several days. And these symptoms may be those that are commonly recognized to be associated with migraines: like nausea, vomiting, fatigue.
Most migraine symptoms are in the front of the head, the back of the head and the neck. But it is also possible to get a condition known as facial congestion or swelling that can even be mistaken for a sinus infection.
Actually migraine symptoms can be worsened with coughing, or bending and women start to get pain with normally non-painful conditions, like blowing of the nose. So make sure you think about when you are having those sinus “infection” symptoms.
Migraines are caused by a variety of physiological changes, but the dilation of blood vessels, and the release of special substances called vasoactive neuropeptides (like substance-P, calcitonin gene related peptide, and neurokinin) as well as estrogen are the cause. Don't take antibiotics, don't just use nasal strips or even vapo rubs, and don't have sinus surgery! Migraine medication or hormone management not an antibiotic is more likely to be the cure! Any of my Gals having these symptoms? Call!