Headaches during pregnancy are usually common. They mainly result from hormonal changes (increased estrogen causes vasodilation, increasing the likelihood of headache occurrence). In addition, changes in habits such as drinking less coffee, more stress, irregular eating, dehydration, metabolic changes, etc. can cause headaches. However, it is a symptom very unspecific and may occur independently of gestation, that is, its cause must be investigated further.
Generally, in these cases, when there are no other symptoms of severity, the treatment is symptomatic (of pain), with simple analgesics always prescribed by the doctor, being the investigation done in recurrent cases or without clinical improvement with the use of medicines or other approaches ( see below). IS fundamental know your age, personal background, and detailed pain characteristics (where exactly does it hurt (point), what kind of pain - stabbing, weight, pulse, tightening, burning - is it on one side of the head, all over the head or just on the nape of the neck - is it intense? from zero to ten - zero is the weakest pain in life and ten is the worst) - is the strongest in life - does it wake up from sleep, have nausea or vomit in crises - radiates ("spreads") to somewhere is restricted to that specific region - how long have you had pain - is it cyclical (back and forth) or continuous, lasting for days - when does the pain last for how long have you had before? of the month in which it occurs most frequently - worsens with light, sound, or certain foods - improves with something - is worsening, over time, or has new concomitant symptoms, and in the family is frequent, etc.), Symptoms, concomitance of symptoms with fever or other signs / symptoms of severity (abdominal pain, vision, edema in hands and feet), etc.
If there are only the symptoms mentioned in the question, at the same time, it can be "physiological" headache of gestation, due to the hormonal changes and changes in habits mentioned above, or tension headache, migraine (migraine), vision problems or wearing unsuitable glasses but can also be much more serious pre eclampsia, meningitis, aneurysms / brain tumors, if there are other signs and / or concomitant symptoms (such as increased blood pressure, fever and vomiting); it is impossible to give the diagnosis only with this data.
To avoid headaches or treat them without medication, follow some recommendations:
- Stress or fatigue are factors that can trigger seizures, and should be avoided;
- Try doing lymphatic drainage for pregnant women or try massaging with a professional. They help to reduce stress and promote blood circulation;
- Have healthy eating habits - avoid fatty foods such as chocolates, yellow cheeses, citrus foods, and sausages;
- Try to do physical activities for pregnant women. Hydrogynas or yoga can be good ideas.
- Eat more often throughout the day and in smaller amounts;
- Try doing other relaxation exercises or even acupuncture;
- Avoid being exposed to very intense light, such as standing on the beach in the sun, especially without wearing head and eye protection;
- Strong smells can also cause headaches. Avoid exposure to cigarette smoke, strong odors, smell of paint, etc .;
- Avoid locations with very high noise levels;
- Chamomile tea, in the amount of 1 cup per day, does not impair pregnancy and avoids pain by containing a little caffeine;
- Avoid traveling to high altitude locations;
- Try to maintain a regular sleep schedule. Too little or too much sleep does not help;
- Some pain relieves a lot after rest, or if the person can at least relax. Warm water compresses around the eyes or even the nape of the neck can help a lot.
In the case of a headache in the nape of the neck during pregnancy, a medical practitioner or preferably your gynecologist should be consulted for evaluation (complete history and detailed physical examination) and further examinations if deemed necessary. Based on the information obtained, you can make the correct diagnosis and treatment, case by case.
