Posts Tagged ‘Fatigue’

Headaches during Pregnancy – Causes and Treatment

It is common to have headaches during pregnancy, especially in the first quarter and if you have always been susceptible to them, pregnancy can worsen the problem. Headaches during pregnancy are even more painful because their treatment options are more limited. Some women who regularly suffer from chronic headaches, such as migraines, may have fewer episodes of them. Other women who rarely experience any headaches can have them all of a sudden.. And others, who are usually victims of pre-pregnancy, chronic headaches, can have even more.

Causes:
Many women experience headaches during pregnancy, especially in the first and third trimesters. The hormonal changes that affect estrogen levels, along with an increase in blood volume and circulation are the most likely causes.
Headaches during pregnancy are probably caused by hormones and changes in how blood circulates. If you have given to caffeine, it can also make the head pounds. Other possible reasons include fatigue, nasal congestion, high blood pressure, stress and hunger. Headaches can also be caused by excessive sun exposure and dehydration.
Migraines are different. Some women who experience migraines often find they have fewer problems with them during pregnancy. Others find that these painful episodes becoming more frequent and intense when they are pregnant.

Causes of more frequent headaches during pregnancy include:
- Stress, Fatigue
- Low blood sugar
- Dehydration
- Sleep disorders
- Sinus congestion
- Removal of caffeine

Treatment:
Most headache medications such as aspirin and ibuprofen are not recommended for pregnant women. Paracetamol, however, is considered safe for occasional use.
There are few things that can also be tried to cure the headache:

- A cold towel
Apply a warm compress around the eyes and nose for sinus headaches and a cold compress on the base of the neck for tension headaches.
- Treat the cold
Cod and stuffy nose can give you a headache. Try to ease the pain with a steam inhalation with one or two drops of peppermint oil added.
- Beat the heat
Sun exposure, use an umbrella or dupatta to cover the head andd sunglasses to protect the eyes from glare. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated too.
- Eat little and often
Blood sugar is a common cause of headache. Try eating small, frequent meals. If you are moving, keep some snacks (cookies, fruit, and whole wheat crackers) in the bag.
- Get a massage
Treat yourself and o for a professional massage and shampoo. Massage works especially well for tension headaches, which are based in the muscles of the neck, shoulders and back. If using essential oils, tell the provider you are pregnant. Some essential oils are best avoided during pregnancy.
- Undergo testing
Sometimes pregnancy can affect the eyes, causing headaches. A trip to the ophthalmologist can help.
- Alternative treatments
Experts believe that therapy color green calm of mind and is particularly effective for stress headaches. You can also try yoga and breathing exercises as Anulom viloma eliminate stress.

Some doctors approve taking acetaminophen (Tylenol), but should not take any pain reliever for headache pain, including herbal products, without first consulting a health professional.

While most headaches during pregnancy are harmless, others can be a sign of a more serious problem. In the second or third trimester, headaches may be a sign of preeclampsia, a serious condition that includes high blood pressure.

If you have a migraine for the first time during pregnancy, or if you have a headache that feels unlike any you’ve experienced before, call your healthcare provider to make sure it is not a sign of more serious problems.

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Leg Cramps during Pregnancy – causes, tips and treatment.

Leg cramps are a common problem for many women during pregnancy. Most leg cramps are caused by fatigue of carrying the weight that is put into textron during pregnancy. As you gain more weight, leg cramps may increase. Cramps can also be aggravated by pressure from the expanding uterus on blood vessels that return blood from the legs to the heart and from nerves to the legs. Leg cramps can occur at any time, but most likely it occurs at bedtime.
Leg cramps start during the second trimester and may get worse as the pregnancy progresses and the belly gets bigger. While, these cramps can occur during the day, but they are most noticeable at night and they can interfere with the ability to sleep well at night.

Causes:
Several things can lead to painful leg cramps during pregnancy.
For starters, the muscles that withstand the increasing weight of your baby, and probably feel the tension. Growth of the uterus (womb) is also putting pressure on the main vein in your legs. This, combined with the effects of progesterone, a hormone of pregnancy, affects the blood flow and therefore, the muscle tone in the legs.

Leg cramps may also be happening because they lack certain nutrients and salts such as calcium or magnesium. You can have low levels of these circulating in the blood because your baby is getting what it needs from supplies and leaving your body short of these nutrients.However, it is unclear whether taking supplements such as calcium or magnesium salts, helps prevent cramps.

Tips and Treatment:
Person must try these tips to fend off leg cramps:
- Avoid standing or sitting with legs crossed for long periods of time.
- Stretch the calf muscles regularly during the day and several times before going to bed.
- Rotate the ankles and toes when you sit, eat dinner or watch television.
- Take a walk every day, unless the doctor has advised not to exercise.
- Avoid getting too tired. Lie on the left side to improve circulation to and from the legs.
- Stay hydrated during the day by drinking fluids regularly.
- Try a warm bath before bedtime to relax the muscles.

There are lot of home remedies that can also help to cure the problem:
- Soak your feet in warm water every day before going to bed. This helps to relax the calf muscles and prevent cramps and swelling in the evening. Add the mint to the water and soak your feet in reliving the pain instantly. If your feet swell during the day, then you must use a compression of hot water and a towel or a hot water bottle on the feet to soothe muscles. Sitting for the day and complete their tasks in this way or take a short nap to make sure your body some rest.
- Taking a magnesium supplement in addition to a prenatal vitamin may help some women avoid leg cramps. Well, having leg cramps is a sign that you need more calcium, and calcium supplements. Although it is certainly important to get enough calcium, there is no good evidence that taking calcium supplements help prevent leg cramps during pregnancy.

If you have a cramp, immediately stretch the calf muscles: Straighten the leg, heel first and slightly flexible toes toward the shins. It may hurt at first, but will relieve the spasm and pain will gradually disappear. A doctor can also be called for help if the signs continue to persist for long time.