The body experiences a large influx of hormones, along with an increase in the amount of blood. Rapid weight gain may also occur. Together, these changes may make certain types of headache, such as tension headaches, more likely.
Some other pregnancy symptoms may also influence these headaches or make them worse. Additionally, a pregnant woman may have some trigger foods that cause irritation or symptoms such as headaches. These trigger foods may vary among individuals, but some common culprits include dairy products and chocolate. In the second and third trimesters, a woman may be less likely to experience headaches due to hormonal changes, as the body has usually adjusted to these changes by this stage of pregnancy.
However, some women continue to experience tension headaches from hormonal changes throughout their pregnancy. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a common experience for many pregnant women. Some will experience a condition called preeclampsia , which occurs when someone who usually has normal blood pressure levels suddenly develops high blood pressure after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Preeclampsia increases the risk of many medical emergencies, including seizures and stroke. The condition may also reduce the oxygen flow to the fetus. A common symptom of preeclampsia is a headache that will not go away. Some other symptoms include:. These symptoms do not occur in every case of preeclampsia, which is one of the reasons why it is important to check in regularly with a doctor throughout pregnancy. Headaches during pregnancy can manifest in various ways.
For example, they can cause different types and levels of pain. Medically speaking, headaches are either primary or secondary. Primary headaches are not a symptom of a health condition, whereas secondary headaches occur when an underlying condition is the cause. Secondary headaches usually lead to a number of other symptoms.
Tension headaches are the most common type of headache during pregnancy. Tension headaches cause mild-to-moderate pain in the head. Many people describe the pain as feeling as though they have a tight band around their head.
Migraine headaches may also occur during pregnancy. A migraine headache often begins as a dull ache that grows into a piercing, throbbing pain, which may or may not radiate. Women who suddenly stop their morning coffee and sodas may experience caffeine withdrawal headaches. Those who also suffer with nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy can become dehydrated.
This can also bring on a headache. Migraine headaches are a common type of headache in pregnancy. These painful, throbbing headaches are usually felt on one side of the head and result from expansion of the blood vessels in the brain. The misery is sometimes accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light. A small percentage of women with migraines also have an aura with the migraine. Most headaches during pregnancy are primary headaches. This means that the headache pain happens by itself.
Primary headaches include:. About 26 percent of headaches during pregnancy are tension headaches. Tell your doctor if you have chronic headaches or migraine during pregnancy or if you have a history of migraine. Some women with a history of migraine get fewer migraine attacks during pregnancy.
Migraine has also been linked to complications that happen later in pregnancy or after the birth of your baby. Secondary headaches are a caused by a complication in the pregnancy, such as high blood pressure.
Tension headaches are common in the first trimester of your pregnancy. This may happen because your body is undergoing several changes at this time.
These changes may trigger headache pain:. Some foods may also cause headaches. Your trigger foods may change during pregnancy. Common foods that may cause headaches in some people include:.
Headaches during your second or third trimester of pregnancy may be a sign that you have high blood pressure. About 6 to 8 percent of pregnant women ages 20 to 44 in the United States have high blood pressure. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC warns that this treatable condition can cause serious complications for both mother and baby. This is most common after week 20 of pregnancy. Your doctor may prescribe medication to treat your high blood pressure.
Regular exercise is also very important to help balance your blood pressure. Talk to your doctor before taking your regular headache pain medication during pregnancy.
The CDC warns that these pain relief drugs can be harmful to your growing baby, especially if taken during the first trimester. Many women may take acetaminophen Tylenol during pregnancy. However, some studies suggest there may be effects from taking acetaminophen as well. Your doctor can recommend alternative medications to treat headache during pregnancy and natural headache remedies, such as:.
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