There are many factors that can cause headaches. It can be genetic,but it rarely occurs, or it can be caused by substances, such as two amino acids – tyramine or phenylethylamine – found in food, like chocolate, cheddar cheese, soy foods, nuts, and vinegar.
But for women, the most common contributor of recurring headaches is the changing of their hormone levels.
These are the factors that contribute to the rising and falling of women’s hormone levels:
1. Menstrual cycle
-estrogen and progesterone (two main hormones of the female reproductive system) levels fall before the menstruation period starts.
2. Pregnancy
-estrogen rises, but falls after giving birth
– a relief from migraine to most women, but sometimes, headaches occur during the early stage of pregnancy, but lessens or goes away after that
3. Perimenopause (before the menopause stage)
– 2/3 of women agree that on menopausal stage, migraine is lessened, or is already gone.
4. Taking in oral contraceptives, and
5. Undergoing hormone replacement therapies
There are also other factors that can trigger headaches:
- Skipping meals
- Too much or too little sleep.
- Intense lights, sounds, or smells
- Severe weather changes
- Alcoholic beverages, especially red wine
- Too much caffeine or caffeine withdrawal
- Stress
- Processed meats, hard sausages, and smoked fish
- Monosodium glutamate (MSG), a flavor enhancer
- Aged cheeses
- Soy products
- Artificial sweeteners
