Pregnancy is a milestone in a womans life that can change her and her partner. When a woman with a pre-existing illness becomes pregnant, she may be putting herself and her child in a risky situation. A woman with migraine, although not a very severe condition, can be at risk especially with the medications she takes. It has been found out that a migraine-preventing medication Topamax, has been linked to hypospadias, a congenital urinary tract disorder. It is a drug that is used in preventing migraine attacks as well as epilepsy but was later reclassified from Category C to Category D because of Topamaxs high association with birth anomalies. Being pregnant can be a stressful time for a woman as she can have a lot of physical changes and stress can trigger migraine attacks.
How Will I Know if its Migraine?
Before we can learn the ways on how to prevent migraine, we first must learn on how to identify the difference between a migraine headache and a stress or tension headache. Migraine is a vascular headache which is a result of the dilatation of the blood vessels in your brain. Usually, people with frequent migraines experience an aura before the attack which could be a dot, line or jagged flashes of light. This can also be accompanied with nausea and vomiting.
How Can I Manage Migraine?
Prevention is better than cure may be too clich but that is never the case when dealing with migraines. The best way for anyone to prevent migraine attacks from happening is to know what triggers them. The common factors that can cause migraine attacks are stress and hormones. Studies have shown that women are likely to experience migraines than men because they tend to have more hormonal disruptions. In pregnancy, hormones tend to fluctuate more which is why pregnant women are greatly at risk in having migraine attacks. Having said that, it is advised that you keep a migraine diary which will be your guide on the things that trigger your attacks. Upon the onset of the attack, take a rest or nap and keep the room as dim and silent as possible. A lot of people with migraine are sensitive to light and noise as it can worsen the attack. Relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and yoga are also helpful in dealing with migraine. Application of warm or cold compress on the sides of the head, eyes and at the back of the neck can help soothe the pain away. If the pain is beyond your threshold and the discomfort is intolerable, you can try and take some drugs. Prior to taking any medications, make sure to ask your doctor if its safe because some medications, can have negative effects on you and on the fetus such as the Topamax side effects. In your next doctor appointment, it is advisable that you ask for a migraine medication from your physician to guarantee that it is safe for you and the fetus.
How Will I Know if its Migraine?
Before we can learn the ways on how to prevent migraine, we first must learn on how to identify the difference between a migraine headache and a stress or tension headache. Migraine is a vascular headache which is a result of the dilatation of the blood vessels in your brain. Usually, people with frequent migraines experience an aura before the attack which could be a dot, line or jagged flashes of light. This can also be accompanied with nausea and vomiting.
How Can I Manage Migraine?
Prevention is better than cure may be too clich but that is never the case when dealing with migraines. The best way for anyone to prevent migraine attacks from happening is to know what triggers them. The common factors that can cause migraine attacks are stress and hormones. Studies have shown that women are likely to experience migraines than men because they tend to have more hormonal disruptions. In pregnancy, hormones tend to fluctuate more which is why pregnant women are greatly at risk in having migraine attacks. Having said that, it is advised that you keep a migraine diary which will be your guide on the things that trigger your attacks. Upon the onset of the attack, take a rest or nap and keep the room as dim and silent as possible. A lot of people with migraine are sensitive to light and noise as it can worsen the attack. Relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and yoga are also helpful in dealing with migraine. Application of warm or cold compress on the sides of the head, eyes and at the back of the neck can help soothe the pain away. If the pain is beyond your threshold and the discomfort is intolerable, you can try and take some drugs. Prior to taking any medications, make sure to ask your doctor if its safe because some medications, can have negative effects on you and on the fetus such as the Topamax side effects. In your next doctor appointment, it is advisable that you ask for a migraine medication from your physician to guarantee that it is safe for you and the fetus.
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