When you have a headache during pregnancy: how to help yourself

Headache associated with pregnancy

The main cause of headaches during pregnancy is hormonal changes in the body that affect the tone of blood vessels.

A common problem for pregnant women is migraine. This is the name for unilateral throbbing headaches that get worse with movement. At the same time, other symptoms may occur: nausea, vomiting, nasal congestion, lacrimation, photophobia. Before the onset of a headache, an “aura” often appears - flashes and flickering before the eyes, tingling or numbness of the face.

Migraine is most severe in the first semester, and usually disappears after childbirth. At the same time, women who suffered from migraines before pregnancy usually stop having headaches after conception.

Against the background of a migraine, a tension headache (TTH) can occur - a dull pain of a pulling or squeezing nature in the back of the head, forehead and temples, often accompanied by nausea. Typically, TTH is provoked by physical or mental fatigue, emotional distress, and insomnia. To get rid of pain, it is enough to fully rest and get enough sleep.

Other factors that can cause headaches in a pregnant woman include:

• increased blood flow due to the formation of uteroplacental circulation;
• decrease (in the first trimester) or increase (in the second and third trimesters) of blood pressure;
• lack or excess of sleep;
• eye strain when working at a computer for long periods of time;
• frequent stressful situations;
• anemia;
• staying in rooms with poor ventilation;
• constant inhalation of tobacco smoke;
• tendency to develop hypoglycemia (low blood sugar concentration);
• visual disturbances;
• lack of fluid in the body;
• giving up coffee.

Causes of high blood pressure during pregnancy

If a woman has previously been diagnosed with hypertension, then you should not be surprised at high blood pressure during pregnancy. On the contrary, it is necessary to monitor changes in the condition even more carefully and follow the doctor’s recommendations. If a woman was taking medications regularly before pregnancy, they may need to be changed. At the very least, you will need to make sure that the drugs will not harm the unborn baby. Typically, medications for pregnant women are selected separately and individually.

The causes of high blood pressure can be stress, excess weight, diabetes, smoking and various diseases. Heredity also plays an important role. A predisposition to high blood pressure may not appear immediately, but if it exists, then even at the pregnancy planning stage it is worth taking care to ensure that there are as few factors that provoke arterial hypertension as possible.

Pathological causes of headaches

In some cases, headache is a symptom of various diseases:

• preeclampsia – blood pressure additionally increases, vomiting is possible;
• diabetes in pregnant women - accompanied by headache, itching of the genitals, increased urination;
• cervical osteochondrosis;
• intracranial hypertension;
• arteriovenous malformation;
• subarachnoid hemorrhage;
• stroke;
• meningitis;
• benign or malignant tumors.

What can arterial hypertension indicate?

High blood pressure is not always an independent problem; sometimes it is only a symptom of another disease or condition, for example, gestosis. Preeclampsia

- This is a complication of pregnancy, sometimes it is also called “late toxicosis”. A symptom of gestosis is not only high blood pressure, but also swelling, as well as an increased level of protein in the urine. Preeclampsia can lead to failure of the kidneys or other vital organs.

High blood pressure may also indicate fetoplacental insufficiency, i.e. interfere with the flow of oxygen to the fetus. “Oxygen starvation” can cause developmental arrest and death of the unborn child. In addition, high blood pressure can trigger premature placental abruption.

When is it necessary to consult a doctor?

It is necessary to consult a specialist and undergo diagnostic examinations if:

• sudden onset of severe headaches, their intensification and frequency;
• the appearance or intensification of pain during physical activity;
• the occurrence of additional symptoms - nausea, vomiting, difficulty swallowing, high temperature, increased blood pressure, pulsating tinnitus, increased urination, swelling, numbness of the limbs or face, visual or speech disturbances, lethargy, confusion.

How to reduce a sore throat? What antiseptics can I take?

During pregnancy, it is allowed to use a number of antiseptics for sore throats, so it is not necessary to endure sore throat and other unpleasant symptoms during this period. Medications that expectant mothers can take include:

• ambazon, which has an antimicrobial effect against streptococci, daily dose 4–5 tablets 0.04–0.05 g;
• the combination of lysozyme + pyridoxine exhibits an antiseptic effect against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, fungi and viruses. Vitamin B6 in its composition has a protective effect on the oral mucosa. Prescribe 2 tablets 3-4 times a day.

In addition, warm drinks, which are indicated in unlimited but reasonable quantities, help reduce sore throat.

Headache treatment

You should not take medications on your own, as they have a negative effect on the development of the fetus.

The best choice is non-drug medications:

• compresses (cold - on the back of the head or warm - on the face);
• herbal (mint, lemon balm, rosehip, chamomile) teas;
• sweet black tea;
• cold and hot shower;
• washing your hair with warm water;
• relaxing massage of the collar area and feet;
• rest in a dark, quiet room.

As an “first aid”, you can rub the “Golden Star” balm into the temples or wings of the nose, or take paracetamol once. But in any case, you need to consult a doctor. He will determine the cause of the pain and select a medication.

Medicines containing acetylsalicylic acid - aspirin, analgin, citramon, baralgin, spazgan - are strictly contraindicated.

What drugs are dangerous for pregnant women?

The group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is not recommended for use during gestation. However, if your headache is very severe and other medications do not help, then you should adhere to the following rules:

1. Avoid the use of analgin-based products as the most toxic of all drugs in this group.
2. It is not recommended to take combined analgesics that contain several components that relieve pain. These include: “Pentalgin”, “Caffetin”, “Solpadeine”.
3. It is better to give preference to medications with one active ingredient (preferably paracetamol-based).
4. Try not to take two or more tablets in one day, and also avoid long-term use.
5. If possible, avoid taking pills in the first trimester, when the formation of fetal organs and systems occurs.

Prevention

Help prevent headaches:

• walks in the open air;
• swimming;
• frequent change of activities throughout the day;
• breaks when working on the computer every half hour;
• maintaining a daily routine that includes proper rest;
• balanced diet;
• consumption of a sufficient volume of fluid (1.5-2 liters per day);
• avoiding stress, overwork, noisy, smoky and poorly ventilated rooms;
• quitting smoking and alcoholic beverages;
• exclusion from the diet of chocolate, grapes, hard cheeses, Chinese dishes, and flavor enhancers.

It is impossible to find out the cause of the pain on your own. Therefore, if you experience any discomfort in the abdominal area, you should consult a gynecologist to avoid dangerous complications.

Take care of your health and contact a qualified physician if you experience any symptoms.

How to deal with high blood pressure

Special medications help lower blood pressure, but only a doctor can prescribe them for a pregnant woman. Self-medication in this matter can be very dangerous. Medicines are prescribed based on the results of a comprehensive examination. It is also better not to experiment with dietary supplements, despite their “naturalness” and “naturalness,” they can cause allergies and lead to other complications that are especially dangerous during pregnancy.

But you shouldn’t rely only on medications, while forgetting the simple rules of a healthy lifestyle. Controlling your own weight, regular exercise (if not contraindicated by a doctor), proper nutrition and giving up bad habits helps normalize blood pressure.

What can a pregnant woman take for a debilitating dry cough?

Antitussive drugs, like mucolytics, are prohibited from taking during pregnancy at all or are allowed under the supervision of a doctor after assessing the risks and benefits. Thus, the popular centrally acting antitussive drug butamirate can be taken only in the second and third trimesters and only after consultation with a doctor. The peripheral drug prenoxdiazine is also used with caution during pregnancy. Thus, when counseling a pregnant woman with a dry cough, she should be advised to immediately visit a doctor.

Indications for use

Indications for use of Nurofen:

• headache, migraine;
• toothache;
• neuralgia;
• myalgia;
• pain in the back;
• rheumatism;
• algodismenorrhea;
• joint pain;
• osteoporosis;
• rheumatoid arthritis;
• pain resulting from any injury.

Nurofen is often used for colds. It relieves inflammation and lowers body temperature, improving the general well-being of the patient.

Nurofen for influenza should be taken only to combat fever - the drug does not have antiviral activity and cannot speed up recovery.

Nurofen at temperature

Can be used if body temperature is more than 38.5°C. If fever persists after three days of anti-inflammatory treatment, you should definitely consult your doctor.

Nurofen for headaches

Relieves the pain of tension. Has a high safety profile. Eliminates symptoms for up to 8 hours. At the same time, it eliminates inflammation.

Nurofen for toothache

The drug is effective for pulpitis, relieves pain during the recovery period after surgical treatment. The medicine can be given to children in the form approved for them during the eruption of baby teeth.

Nurofen for menstruation

Very quickly and effectively eliminates painful cramps, improves a woman’s well-being during menstruation. Depending on how you feel, you can use up to 3-4 tablets per day.

Nurofen for chickenpox

Used only to normalize body temperature. It does not speed up the healing process, since it does not affect viruses and does not destroy the smallpox pathogen.

It can cause purulent complications, so it is not recommended for this diagnosis.

Nurofen for migraines

Eliminates severe headaches, fights intolerance to sounds and bright light. Can be used at the prodrome stage, as well as directly during an attack.

Contraindications

Contraindications to the use of Nurofen are as follows:

• complete/incomplete combination of bronchial asthma, recurrent polyposis of the nose and paranasal sinuses and intolerance to Aspirin or other NSAIDs;
• allergy to Nurofen;
• erosion/ulcer of the gastrointestinal tract, bleeding of ulcerative origin;
• history of perforation and bleeding of a gastrointestinal ulcer caused by the use of any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug;
• severe liver/renal failure;
• acute liver diseases;
• hyperkalemia;
• severe disturbances in the functioning of the cardiovascular system (NYHA class four);
• recovery after coronary artery bypass surgery;
• bleeding of any origin;
• decompensated heart failure;
• hemorrhagic diathesis;
• third trimester of pregnancy;
• individual fructose intolerance, sucrase-isomaltase deficiency, glucose-galactose malabsorption;
• hemophilia, blood clotting disorder.

Particular caution should be exercised when treating with Nurofen in patients with a history of gastritis, colitis, enterocolitis, bronchial asthma, allergies, lupus erythematosus, and Sharpe's syndrome. Also, patients with severe dehydration and nephrotic syndrome should be treated under the supervision of a doctor.