I read a headline this morning on NPR's Health Blog - "Why Women Suffer More Migraines than Men" and as most chronic migrainers would do, I eagerly clicked the link hoping for some new insight into this lifelong affliction of mine. Yes, I know why women suffer more migraines than men, I've researched this topic for years, I've suffered for decades, but after losing two nights' sleep this past weekend and one entire day to migraine, I was hopeful. A chance to read a bit of good news on the research front was exactly what I needed. Early on, the article tells us that "Today scientists know a migraine is all in your head..." Ugh... like I haven't seen that old chestnut pulled out countless times during the last 35 years of migraines. Okay, so maybe I'm being a bit snarky at this point, but lack of sleep tends to do that to a soul.
As I read on, I found that the researchers' conclusions point to hormones - estrogen to be specific. Seriously? This warrants an article? Is this supposed to be "new" information? Most any woman who has suffered from migraine from an early age can attest to the fact that hormones have attributed to the frequency and severity of her migraines. Sure, she may have other triggers as well, I have dozens, but hormones are almost always an instigator and no reputable doctor would be expected to leave it out of early migraine discussions. Numerous articles and studies have already been done to support this fact and some of us even make allowances in our lives, recognizing the potential for hormone fluctuations as we track our cycles each month or the gradual shift in our hormonal levels as our bodies change during our lives.
