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這篇文章是替朋友找的資料
朋友懷孕後常有頭痛的問題, 又不想吃藥, 問了醫生也無解
所以我想說上網幫她找找國外的資訊, 順便簡單翻譯成中文
(我只針對朋友的情況稍作翻譯)
也放在自己 blog 上給有類似問題的人參考

Headaches during pregnancy 懷孕期的頭痛
(Reviewed by the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board)
http://www.babycenter.com/0_headaches-during-pregnancy_2035.bc

Is it common to get headaches during pregnancy? 懷孕期間的頭痛是正常的嗎?
It's not unusual to get tension headaches when you're pregnant, especially in the first trimester. Tension headaches — the most common kind of headache — can feel like a squeezing pain or a steady dull ache on both sides of the head or the back of the neck. If you've always been susceptible to tension headaches, pregnancy can make the problem worse. (是很常見的問題, 尤其在懷孕初期.)

Experts don't know exactly why carrying a child tends to make your head ache more often, but one good guess is the hormonal free-for-all that's taking place in your body. Going cold turkey on caffeine can also make your head pound. (專家目前還不確定什麼原因造成懷孕時期頭痛, 不過最主要的猜測是因為赫爾蒙改變)

Other potential culprits include lack of sleep or general fatigue, sinus congestion, allergies, eyestrain, stress, depression, hunger, and dehydration. (其他的原因有可能是睡眠不足, 疲勞, 靜脈壅塞, 過敏, 眼睛疲勞, 壓力, 躁鬱症, 飢餓, 以及身體缺水)

For most pregnant women, headaches tend to diminish or even disappear during the second trimester, when the flood of hormones stabilizes and the body grows accustomed to its altered chemistry.

What about migraines? 關於偏頭痛
Migraines are another common type of headache. Experts estimate that about one in five women has a migraine headache at some time in her life, and about 15 percent of migraine sufferers get migraines for the first time when they're pregnant (most often in the first trimester).

Migraine headaches cause moderate to severe throbbing pain, typically on one side of the head. They last from four to 72 hours (if untreated) and are aggravated by physical activity. They are also accompanied by other symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light and noise.

Some migraine sufferers have what are known as migraines with aura — that is, headaches that are preceded by symptoms that may include visual changes (such as bright flashing lights or blind spots), sensations of numbness or "pins and needles," weakness, and speech disturbances. These symptoms may start as long as an hour before a migraine and may last up to an hour.

Fortunately, about two thirds of women who are prone to migraines notice that they improve during pregnancy. (This is more likely if your migraines tended to be worse around your periods or started when you first began menstruating.) Others notice no change or find that their headaches become more frequent and intense.

Even if you're part of the unlucky minority whose migraines don't improve during pregnancy, you can at least take some solace in the fact that migraine sufferers don't appear to have a higher risk of pregnancy complications than other women.

What kind of pain medication can I take? 可以使用哪些止痛藥?
Acetaminophen is safe to take as directed on the label, but most other headache medications — such as aspirin and ibuprofen, as well as most prescription migraine drugs — aren't recommended for pregnant women. Consult your practitioner about which medications you can take if you're prone to severe migraines.

If you're having frequent, debilitating headaches, the benefits of certain medications may outweigh any possible risks to your baby, although some drugs will remain strictly off-limits.

What else can I do to relieve the pain? 還有什麼方法可以減輕頭痛?
Here are a few more suggestions that may help you ward off a headache or get relief once you have one:

Figure out what's triggering the pain (找出頭痛的主因)
Headache docs often recommend keeping a "headache diary" to help identify specific triggers. Write down anything you've eaten in the 24 hours preceding the onset of a migraine and what you were doing when it started. (頭痛醫生常建議 "頭痛日記", 紀錄下你頭痛前 24 小時內吃過什麼東西, 以及你做了什麼, 還有什麼時候開始頭痛)

Some common migraine triggers include foods that contain monosodium glutamate (MSG), nitrites (common in processed meats like hot dogs, salami, and bacon), sulfites (used as a preservative for salads and also found in many dried fruits), artificial sweeteners, certain beans and nuts, aged cheese and cultured dairy products (like buttermilk and sour cream), certain fresh fruits (bananas, papayas, avocados, and citrus), smoked fish, chocolate and carob, and things that are fermented or pickled (like soy sauce or sauerkraut), as well as glaring or flickering lights, loud noises, excessive heat or cold, strong odors, and tobacco smoke. (一些常見的頭痛原因包括食物含有味精; 亞硝酸鹽--常見的有熱狗, 香腸, 培根; 亞硫酸鹽--例如水果乾; 代糖; 某些豆類或堅果類; 過期起司以及加工奶製品; 燻魚; 巧克力; 發酵或醃漬品--像是醬油或酸菜; 另外還有光線過亮或閃爍, 噪音, 過熱或過冷, 強烈氣味, 以及香菸)

Use a compress (冷敷)
For a tension headache, apply a warm or cool compress to your forehead or the base of your skull. Cold compresses tend to work best for migraines. (冷敷前額或者後腦)

Take a shower (沐浴)
For some migraine sufferers, a cold shower brings some fast — if temporary — relief. If you can't take a shower, splash some cool water on your face. A warm shower or bath can be soothing for tension headaches. (洗冷水澡是最快速的方法. 如果不能沐浴時, 潑些冷水在臉上. 也可以用溫水沐浴或者泡溫水澡幫助身體放鬆)

Don't go hungry or thirsty (別讓自己飢餓或口渴)
To prevent low blood sugar (a common headache trigger), eat smaller, more frequent meals. If you're on the go, keep some snacks (crackers, fruit, yogurt) within reach. Avoid straight sugar, like candy, which can cause your blood sugar to spike and crash. (血糖過低容易造成頭痛. 吃少量, 多吃幾餐. 平常也可準備一些小零食--蘇打餅, 水果, 優格.  避免直接吃糖, 像是糖果, 很容易造成血糖失調)

And don't forget to drink plenty of water to stay well hydrated as well. Sip water slowly if you have a migraine and have vomited. (大量喝水. 當你有頭痛或偶吐時記得小口慢慢喝)

Avoid fatigue (避免疲勞)
Try to make time for naps in your day. If you're having a migraine, try to sleep it off in a quiet, dark room. (找時間小睡. 當有偏頭痛時, 試著在安靜並且黑暗的地方小睡)

Get some exercise (運動)
Some evidence shows that regular exercise can reduce the frequency and severity of migraines and reduce the stress that can cause tension headaches. If you're prone to migraines, get started slowly — a sudden burst of activity could trigger one. (And don't exercise once a migraine has started because it will aggravate the headache.) (定期運動可減少頭痛的發生.  先從簡單運動開始--如果已經開始頭痛了那暫時不要運動)

Try relaxation techniques (嘗試一些疏解壓力的方法)
Biofeedback, meditation, yoga, and self-hypnosis are helpful in reducing stress and headaches in some sufferers. (打坐, 瑜珈, 自我催眠)

Try massage (按摩)
Consider getting a full-body massage to release tension in the muscles of the neck, shoulders, and back. If you can afford it, look for a trained prenatal massage therapist. (全身按摩可以幫助紓解脖子, 肩膀, 以及背部肌肉僵硬.  如果經濟許可, 請專業按摩或 spa 治療)

If a professional massage is only a pipe dream, ask your partner to rub your back and head — or slip into a salon for a professional shampoo. Some women who suffer from tension headaches swear by massage, although some studies question whether it's effective in preventing or relieving headaches. (如果經濟不許可, 那也可請先生幫你按摩背部以及頭部--或者也可到髮廊洗頭髮讓小姐幫你按摩頭部.)

Consider acupuncture (針灸)
Acupuncture treatment is considered safe during pregnancy, although whether it's effective for headaches is an issue of some debate. If you'd like to give it a try, ask your healthcare provider for the names of acupuncturists and keep her posted on your treatments. If you'd like to see a practitioner who's also an M.D., call the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture at (800) 521-2262. (針灸在懷孕期是安全的.)

Can a headache be a sign of something more serious? 頭痛是否有可能是其他問題的徵兆?
Yes. Most headaches during pregnancy are unpleasant but harmless, but a headache can be a sign of a more serious problem. If you're having a migraine or other severe headache for the first time ever, you'll need a full medical evaluation to be sure nothing else is going on.

In the second or third trimester of pregnancy, a headache could be a sign of severe preeclampsia, a serious pregnancy-induced syndrome that includes high blood pressure, protein in the urine, and other changes.

When should I call my healthcare provider? 什麼時候應該連絡醫生?

Call your provider right away if:

• You're in your second or third trimester and have a bad headache or a headache for the first time, which may or may not be accompanied by visual changes, sharp upper abdominal pain, sudden weight gain, or swelling in your hands or face. You'll need to have your blood pressure and urine checked right away to be sure you don't have preeclampsia. (If you've been having any problems with high or rising blood pressure, call even if you have a mild headache.)

• You have a sudden "explosive" headache, violent pain that awakens you from sleep, a headache that doesn't go away, or one that feels unlike any you've ever experienced.

• Your headache is accompanied by a fever and a stiff neck.

• Your headache is getting worse and you experience any other problems such as blurry vision or other visual disturbances, slurred speech, drowsiness, numbness, or a change in normal sensation or alertness.

• You have a headache after falling and hitting your head (or any other kind of head injury).

• You have nasal congestion, as well as pain and pressure underneath your eyes or other facial or even dental pain. You might have a sinus infection that will need to be treated with antibiotics.

Even if you've had headaches before, talk to your healthcare provider about them so she can decide what kind of evaluation and treatment might be best for you during your pregnancy. If you're a migraine sufferer, you won't be able to take most of the medications you've used before — ask your caregiver before taking any medication other than acetaminophen.

If you feel like your eyes are straining and notice that you get headaches after reading or looking at a computer screen, have your vision checked by an eye doctor. Finally, don't hesitate to call your practitioner whenever a headache just has you worried.