A Case of Chronic Headache in a Menstruating Woman Requiring Headache Medication Four Times Weekly Managed With Nutritional Psychiatric Intervention
2026 Volume 2 Issue 1 Pages 456-462
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2026 Volume 2 Issue 1 Pages 456-462
Background: In patients with chronic headache accompanied by agitation and fatigue, a nutritional psychiatry perspective is important to assess nutritional imbalance, including insufficient iron intak e.
Case: A 34-year-old menstruating woman presented with headache, agitation, difficulty waking, col d intolerance, postprandial sleepiness, constipation, bruxism, and menstrual pain, and used analgesic s more than four times weekly. Her height was 160 cm, body weight was 56 kg, and body mass index was 21.9 kg/m2. Because skipped breakfasts, a high-carbohydrate diet, nighttime processed f ood intake, and insufficient protein and iron intake were suspected, nutritional intervention include d protein intake targeted at 1.6 g/kg/day, increased iron-rich foods, carbohydrate adjustment, and s upplementation with heme iron, B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin D, and magnesium. Headache, col d intolerance, agitation, and depressed mood improved, and analgesics became unnecessary.
Conclusion: Comprehensive nutritional intervention including adequate intake of protein and iron worth considering in women with chronic headache and agitation.
