Hormones and Headaches – BodyLogicMD Physicians Help Patients Find Relief

June 10, 2010 - PRLog -- Denver, CO -- This week is recognized as National Headache Awareness Week and the bioidentical hormone doctors at BodyLogicMD want those who frequently suffer migraines to know that an underlying hormonal imbalance may be to blame.

Approximately 70 percent of all headaches are actually experienced by women. Most headaches referred to as “migraines” aren’t really migraines at all – they’re oftentimes caused by a hormone imbalance. The symptoms are very similar and are easily misconstrued by both the doctors and the people experiencing them.

“When my patients complain of severe headaches, I look closely at their levels of estrogen and progesterone. Typically the progesterone levels will be too low in relation to their estrogen,” shares Denver bioidentical hormone expert Dr. Joseph Agnello.

Dr. Agnello is a part of BodyLogicMD, a national network of highly trained physicians who specialize exclusively in bioidentical hormone therapy programs, helping both men and women suffering symptoms of hormone imbalance.

For women, unbalanced estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and other hormones can be directly responsible for these debilitating headaches. Hormones can get out of balance for various reasons, including PMS, menopause, stress, fatigue, menstruation, pregnancy, oral contraceptives (i.e. birth control pills), and postpartum.

Differentiating between migraines and hormonal headaches can be a difficult task because the symptoms are so similar. While a pain reliever may help with a migraine, when it comes to hormonal headache relief, individuals may need much more. A hormonal headache is usually unilateral - meaning it affects only one side of the head –and the pain can be best described as a throbbing sensation. In addition, hormonal headaches may also cause nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light and can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days. The intensity of the headaches varies among women, with some experiencing mild to moderate pain, while for others it can be more severe.

“Many of the women that come to me have been told by their primary care physician that they are suffering from migraine headaches and so they are prescribed pain medication or birth control pills – neither of which treat the underlying hormonal issues,” says Dr. Agnello. Once the hormonal imbalance has been assessed and treated using a combination of proper nutrition and bioidentical hormone therapy, if necessary, most women find that their headaches become a lot less frequent or disappear completely.

Dr. Agnello’s tips for dealing with hormone headaches:
1.Diet- a healthy diet is essential. Avoid simple carbohydrates, refined sugars, and processed foods. Don’t skip meals.
2.Decrease/Eliminate Toxins- avoid endocrine disrupting chemicals such as BPA and DES in your environment. (found in water bottles and household plastics)
3.Avoid identifiable migraine triggers and practice a healthy lifestyle.
4.Nutritional Supplements- Make sure to talk to your doctor about taking a rich multivitamin that can support hormone balance. Magnesium and vitamin B12 have long been thought to help headache sufferers so be sure to include these in your diet.
5.Track your migraines. Write down when your migraines occur. Bring your results to your healthcare professional to review. A free downloadable headache diary is available at www.headaches.org.
Treatment of hormonal headaches can vary drastically among women, so if you are suffering from the symptoms mentioned, and your traditional treatment is not working, it is advisable that you have your hormone levels tested by an expert physician who specializes in hormone imbalance issues.

About Dr. Agnello
Dr. Joseph Agnello’s passion for preventive medicine is deeply rooted in his own personal journey through andropause (the male menopause), during which he suffered symptoms including chronic fatigue, weight gain and difficulty concentrating. Ultimately, he found relief through a combination of nutrition, exercise and bioidentical hormones. His success inspired him to make the same options available to his patients.

About BodyLogicMD
Founded in 2003, BodyLogicMD physician-owned practices make up the nation’s largest and fastest growing network of the most highly trained physicians specializing in natural bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. Integrated with fitness and nutrition programs, BodyLogicMD’s medically supervised programs are for men and women suffering from hormone imbalance associated with menopause and andropause. Also BodyLogicMD is currently featured as an expert resource on Oprah.com; Suzanne Somers’ latest bestselling books “Knockout: Interviews With Doctors Who Are Curing Cancer And How To Prevent Getting It In The First Place” and “Breakthrough: Eight Steps to Wellness” lists BodyLogicMD as an expert resource, and her book, “Ageless: The Naked Truth About Bioidentical Hormones” dedicates an entire chapter to BodyLogicMD. Florida Trend cover story December 2009, features BodyLogicMD as the national leaders in the growing anti-aging industry; BusinessWeek cover story March 2006, features the BodyLogicMD business start-up story.

Contact:
Jill Swartz
BodyLogicMD
Denver, CO
561-703-5851
jswartz@bodylogicmd.com
http://www.bodylogicmd.com/