ARE HEADACHES SIDE EFFECTS OF PCOS?

A headache is a common health condition characterized by pain or discomfort in the head or upper neck region. Headaches vary in severity, duration, and location, and are caused by a variety of circumstances. Tension headaches, migraines, cluster headaches, and sinus headaches are among the many types of headaches.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal condition that affects the ovaries, causing irregular menstrual cycles, increased levels of androgens (male hormones), and the formation of tiny cysts on the ovaries.

While PCOS is not known to cause headaches directly, there are a few indirect ways in which PCOS may contribute to headaches. Individual experiences may differ, and not everyone with PCOS will experience headaches as a side effect.

 

How PCOS contribute to headaches?

As discussed above even though PCOS doesn’t cause headaches directly it may indirectly contribute to headaches. Let’s see the potential connections between PCOS & Headaches:

1. Hormonal imbalance:

Insulin resistance and high levels of androgens (male hormones) are two features of PCOS that indicate a hormonal imbalance in the sex hormones. Hormonal changes can affect a number of body systems, including the vascular system and those that control pain perception. In certain people, changes in hormone levels may result in headaches.

2. Menstrual irregularities:

Many people with PCOS have irregular menstrual cycles or even amenorrhea (period absence). Hormonal variations associated with these irregular cycles may contribute to headache development, as changes in hormone levels can affect blood vessel dilatation and inflammation, both of which are related with headache onset.

3. Obesity:

Many persons with PCOS have difficulty managing their weight, and obesity is widespread in this community. Excess weight can cause hormonal imbalances and inflammation, which have both been related to headaches. Obesity-related diseases such as sleep apnea might further raise the risk of headache development.

4. Inflammation and Oxidative Stress:

Oxidative stress and low-grade inflammation are frequently present in PCOS patients. These elements may cause headaches by influencing blood vessels and nerve pathways involved in pain perception.

5. Insulin Resistance and Blood Sugar Fluctuations:

Insulin resistance is a defining feature of PCOS. Some people experience headaches when their blood sugar levels shift quickly, such as hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) or postprandial hyperglycemia (high blood sugar after meals).

6. Stress and Mental Health:

Coping with the difficulties of PCOS, such as reproductive worries, body image issues, and symptom management, can contribute to increased stress and associated mental health problems. Stress and some mood disorders are proven headache triggers in vulnerable persons.

Does PCOS treatment leads to headaches?

Not just being diagnosed by PCOS has headaches as its side effects but some people may also experience headaches as a side effect of PCOS treatment. However the later one depends on the type of medication that is being used. For instance:

1. Birth control pills :

Hormonal birth control tablets are frequently administered to PCOS patients to regulate menstrual cycles and treat hormone abnormalities. While some people may have headaches as a result of hormonal birth control, this is not a universal response.

2. Metformin:

In people with PCOS, metformin is frequently used to increase insulin sensitivity and control blood sugar levels. Although they are not a frequent metformin side effect, headaches might happen to certain people.

3. Clomiphene Citrate:

This medicine is frequently used to promote ovulation in PCOS women who are attempting to conceive. Headaches are not a well-known clomiphene citrate adverse effect.

4. Spironolactone:

Spironolactone is occasionally used to treat PCOS symptoms such as acne and excessive hair growth. While headaches are not a typical adverse effect, they might occur.

Therefore, some people who use medication to treat PCOS may develop headaches as a side effect like explained above.

However, there are numerous additional potential side effects of medicine, including:

• Nausea
• Breast tenderness
• Possible weigh gain or loss
• A mild rise in blood pressure etc
• Mood changes
• Irregular bleeding
• Blood clots
• Vaginal discharge changes etc.

Hence treating PCOS with medicine is not the ideal option because it has many adverse effects, as discussed above, and it also does not address the fundamental cause of the problem, thus the treatment is not permanent.

So to solve a problem we should first identify the root causes.

Root causes of PCOS:

PCOS is hormonal disorder which is causes basically due to hormonal imbalances. So finding the root cause of these hormonal imbalances helps us to treat PCOS.

 

There are ten modern lifestyle root causes for hormonal imbalances related to PCOS:

Food related root Causes:

1. Food toxicity: Foods high in additives, preservatives, and chemicals can contribute to hormone imbalances by altering the endocrine system.
2. Inflammation: Diets high in processed foods, sweets, and bad fats can cause the body to become more acidic and inflammatory, disrupting the body’s hormonal balance.
3. A lack of micronutrients in our diet: Because these nutrients are essential for a variety of hormonal actions, a lack of critical vitamins and minerals may interfere with hormone balance.
4. Insulin resistance: Meals with a high glycemic index can promote insulin resistance: Eating meals with a high glycemic index can create insulin resistance, which affects hormone levels, particularly insulin and androgens.
5. Excess male hormones: Eating foods high in chemicals, steroids, or hormone-disrupting components may result in an increase in male hormones (androgens), which may contribute to hormonal disorders.

Exercise Related Causes:

1. Sedentary lifestyle: It involves spending most of one’s time sitting down: Excessive sitting and a lack of exercise can lead to weight gain, insulin resistance, and hormonal imbalance.
2. Excess body fat over the ovaries: Insulin resistance and inflammation brought on by excess body fat, especially in the area of the belly, may be linked to hormonal irregularities.
3. Lack of muscle mass: Lack of physical exercise and muscle mass can affect insulin sensitivity and hormonal balance in general.

Sleep related root causes:

1. Poor sleep quality (Lack of Deep Sleep): Poor or insufficient sleep can throw off the body’s hormonal balance, especially the hormones that control hunger and stress (leptin and ghrelin).

Stress related root causes:  

1. Chronic Stress: Prolonged exposure to high levels of stress can cause the dysregulation of various hormones, including cortisol, upsetting the body’s overall hormonal balance.

Due to above mentioned root causes one can have hormonal imbalances which in turn result in PCOS. Now this root causes can be treated if one can maintain a healthy lifestyle. For this few changes in eating habits and life style is required.

This process is nothing but treating PCOS naturally which has no side effects. By treating PCOS naturally headaches caused due to this disorder can be prevented easily.

Let’s see the natural treatment of PCOS:

This involves a 5 pillar strategy one should adopt in their day-to-day life.

1. Eat Right: Embrace living, water-rich, whole, plant-based foods that nurture our genetic potential. By opting for local and seasonal choices, we honour nature’s wisdom. Increase consumption of this type of food can improve insulin sensitivity and digestion. Avoiding specific foods including fried and processed foods, refined carbohydrates, drinks, alcohol, and caffeine aids in managing PCOS. Eliminating packaged and processed foods liberates us from epigenetic imprints, elevating our hormonal health. Your body is best at digesting when you are active and when there is sunlight. Thus eating or drinking when your body wants you to sleep and when it’s dark disrupts the system and compromises the metabolism. So it’s important to stop midnight snacking. Adapt to a consistent daily eating window of only 12 hours say 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

2. Move More: Begin a journey of holistic lifestyle improvements in which staying active is more than just exercise. Constant activity throughout the day promotes epigenetic expression and hormonal homeostasis. To unlock the power of epigenetic triggers, engage in joyful physical activities, dance, or simply meditative walks.

3. Breathe Aware: As we learn more about Pranayama, or the science of breathing, we get access to a powerful gateway for supporting gland function and hormone balance. We transcend the commonplace and boost our hormonal wellbeing by harnessing the breath’s epigenetic power.

4. Sleep Better: Unlock the secrets of deep sleep, a transformative practice for healing and regeneration. With the art of YogNidra, we embrace epigenetic potential, unearthing hormonal harmony in the realm of dreams. Rejuvenate your entire being through this exquisite dance with the epigenetic clock.

5. Mind Free: Explore the realms of emotions, thoughts, and stress resilience, where writing, gratitude, and emotional practices serve as our compass. We empower our hormonal landscape by embracing epigenetic intelligence and shifting our story from stress to serenity.

 

In conclusion the best method to treat any problem is to treat the cause and not the symptoms. Thereby treating PCOS is the solution for the headaches caused due to PCOS. Further the method we use for treatment is also important as few treatments even though seem to be effective initially will have side effects later. Hence treating PCOS naturally is the advised instead of medication as the later one has various side effects.