National Headache Foundation: Tori Spelling's Postpartum Migraine Attack

CHICAGO, Oct. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The news that actress Tori Spelling was rushed to the hospital with a "horrendous migraine" which occurred a few weeks after the birth of her third child, clearly illustrates the role of hormone fluctuations in migraine headaches. At least 70% of migraine sufferers are women, with the majority relating the acute headaches to hormonal changes, during their menstrual periods, pregnancy, and menopause. Until puberty, the occurrence of migraine is equal in girls and boys. With the onset of menstruation, there is a female predominance in migraine headaches.

For some women, the initial onset of migraine may occur after the birth of a child, due to hormonal changes after delivery. Treatment of migraine attacks in this "post-partum" period is especially complex if the mother is breast-feeding. Although some migraine headache drugs, including the triptans, are acceptable during lactation, it is best to discard the breast milk for 48 hours following treatment. The new mother experiencing severe headaches should contact her physician, as well as the pediatrician if she is breast-feeding. Many of these migraine attacks are prolonged, and the use of a corticosteroid may be recommended.

Seymour Diamond, M.D.
Executive Chairperson
National Headache Foundation
Chicago, Illinois

About the National Headache Foundation
The NHF is a nonprofit organization that has pioneered the way headaches have been diagnosed and treated over the last 40 years. No other organization provides such comprehensive educational resources and tools to people with migraine and headache disorders, their families, physicians who treat these diseases, allied healthcare professionals and to the public. The leaders of the organization are world-renowned experts in the field who have pulled together many easy-to-use tools and resources to help people better understand headaches and options for headache care. This information is available on the NHF website at www.headaches.org or by calling 1-888-NHF-5552 (M-F, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT).

SOURCE National Headache Foundation