More Reasons Why Women Why Women Get More Headaches

4. Stress Affects Women More

Stress is a key trigger of migraine, and recent figures show that women are more likely to be stressed than men. Figures released by the Health and Safety Executive show that women suffer 70% more work-related stress than men.

Women's brains respond differently to stress hormones, making women perhaps less able to cope with stress. Another study by Parashar and colleagues 2014 found that most migraine without aura was predominantly related to stress.

One theory is that migraine occurs because the nerves in the neck and the nerves in the brain share passageways. When we are stressed, we tense our shoulders, impinging on the nerves in the brain, and causing migraine.

5. Women are Hardwired for Migraines

The propensity for migraines has been found in a gene, which is more likely to lead to migraines in women than men. However, that's not the full story. Migraines serve an evolutionary benefit. They alert us to changes in our environment: bad weather conditions, smoke, harsh light, heat.

The brains of migraineurs are hypersensitive to changes.

Professor Andrew Charles, of the University of California's Goldberg Migraine Program, says:

"There is a lot of speculation that migraine historically made women react more to any change...This may have given them some sort of evolutionary advantage."

Migraines may have made women seek better conditions. For example, migraines triggered by bad weather may have alerted our prehistoric ancestors to the changing seasons and allowed them to move to a more hospitable environment. Thus, migraine - and the increased sensitivity it brings - may have increased the odds of survival.

6. Those Extra Pounds Carry Extra Risk

Being overweight increases the risk of migraine in both men and women, but women are at particular risk. A 2011 study of 3700 women of premenopausal age found that women with a body mass index of 40 or more were at a threefold risk or migraine.

A 2015 review in the Journal of Headache and Pain found that obese and morbidly obese women were at a 44% increased risk of migraine. Obese and morbidly obese men were not at a significantly increased risk.

Why this might be is not sure, but there are several theories.

READ Easy Ways to Reduce Your Portions: Cut Calorie Intake and Lose Weight

One is that fat cells trigger an inflammatory response, which may affect the blood vessels of the brain and cause migraine. Another is that the same part of the brain that causes migraine is responsible for hunger, so women who experience migraines are more likely to be obese (rather than vice versa). Another theory is that obese people are less likely to exercise, and failure to take sensible regular exercise is a trigger factor.

7. Your Choice of Contraception

Although the Pill can prevent menstrual migraine in some women, in up to 10% of women the Pill and other forms of hormonal contraception can cause migraines and tension-headaches. It's thought that the drop in oestrogen in the Pill-free week can be the cause.

Taking the Pill continuously for two- to three months can help.

Copper coils can raise levels of prostaglandins, which can also trigger migraine in some women.

READ Side Effects Of The Contraceptive Pill

8. Women Pop Too Many Pills

Women are four times more likely to develop medication overuse headache. That's where you take medication to control migraine and end up taking more and more medication to control migraine.

Consultant neurologist, Brendan Davies, cautions his patients that if they take a painkiller (opiate, ergot, triptan, or even over-the-counter medication) more than ten to fifteen days a month for three months or more, the medication might be causing their headaches. Especially if their headaches are getting worse.

The only recommended solution to prescription overuse headache is to stop painkillers completely for at least six to eight weeks. Those who have been using opiates to control migraines may need to be hospitalised until withdrawal symptoms ease.

After several days of withdrawal from prescription painkillers, migraineurs should begin a programme of preventative treatment.