Migraines – they hit when you least expect them, especially your children. If there was a difference between a headache and a migraine, it’s just that they’re much worse than you think.
Your child’s migraines may last anywhere from 30 minutes to 6 hours, and sometimes around 24 to 72 hours as well! These headaches are often dismissed by many in schools and society, which is why it is extra important to be aware of them since they affect children’s academic lives and daily productivity. The quality of their lifestyle is compromised when care is not exercised in the case of these headaches.
We’ll cover what exactly you need to know about migraine headaches, diet and nutrition, and what you can do to prevent them in the first place. Here’s what you need to know about severe headaches in children.
Migraines occur when there’s a change in neurological activity in the brain, interfering with normal thinking patterns as a result of complex neurological alternations. Your child’s headache may occur once a month, once a week, or even once a year. A chronic migraine impairs children’s activities and is denoted by 15 to more headaches a month. Kids who have parents with a history of the ailment have a 50% chance of developing Migraine headaches over the course of their childhood.
Migraines are very common in children and especially for girls who are going through physiological changes due to puberty. The headache manifests in different ways in children based on their age and is denoted by its sudden onset. Boys are likely to get a Migraine even before the age of four while girls go through it due to hormonal changes during puberty. Around 3.5-5% children experience these headaches around the world. Boys experience severe migraines mostly before puberty and infants are prone to this condition from 18 months of age. Children show signs of the ailment through problems related to poor vision, strong odours, increased headaches due to loud noises and often by talking about a sick feeling in the stomach along with extreme sensitivity to light. Infants between the ages of 8 months old to two years old are susceptible to migraines too!
The common causes of migraine headaches in children are:
These headaches have specific triggers which activate them and contribute to increasing intensities. By being aware of these triggers, you will be able to downsize the frequency of Migraines in your kids. The most common triggers in children are:
Not sleeping and waking up on time results in migraine headaches in children. They can be avoided by fixing sleep schedules and snooze times for kids.
Not drinking sufficient water results in migraine headaches in kids. Ask the school permission for letting your child drink water during classroom hours to prevent them.
Eating junk food or processed foods, sugary snacks, and skipping meals contribute to migraines. Feed your child nutritious snacks in between meals and make their diets healthy to prevent occurrences. Long breaks between eating hours may also lead to headaches in kids.
Sudden bouts of exercise or overexerting muscles lead to migraines in kids. Make sure your child is hydrated before exercising and limit exercise hours to regular chunks every day rather than going on temporary bouts or exercise binges,
From flashing lights, loud noises, and changes in the weather, children experience migraines due to these alterations in their environment. Worrying about environmental changes also leads to anticipatory anxiety which causes migraines.
Computer screens sometimes flicker and contribute to glare which triggers migraines. Tell your child to take frequent breaks in between use times when using computers or playing video games for long hours.
Health issues related to abdominal pain, sinus infections, cold and flu cause migraines in children. Abnormally low blood sugar levels and periods cause it as well.
Ask your child to stop grinding their teeth or clenching their jaw to prevent migraines from occurring. Jaw tension causes muscle spasms which act as a trigger for them, which is why we recommend your kids to avoid teeth grinding or jaw clenching.
The following are the signs and symptoms of migraine headaches in children:
Visit your child’s doctors and go for a consultation if you feel your child is experiencing Migraines. Diagnosis ranges from:
Your child’s Migraine condition severely affects their life and may even disable them during certain activities or moments in everyday life.
Chronic headache bouts may interfere with your child’s school going activities. Your child may fall behind class work which is why it’s important to inform concerned teachers and academic supervisors beforehand so that your child can catch up on schoolwork. Frequent absences are common in children who experience recurring migraine headaches. Lack of focus in classes and not being able to concentrate consistently are other factors which affect children as a result of these headaches.
Children may miss out on social events and be sent home from them due to sudden episodes of Migraines, making them feel left out and different. Mood changes, lack of focus, and irritability are the effects of a migraine which may affect their interactions in social circles. Some children get headaches during weekends when relaxing which may interfere times spent with family and friends.
Children won’t be able to participate in strenuous sports activities due to muscle spasms or twitching as a result of overexerting, which thus leads to migraines. Skipping school and sports activities is common amongst children experiencing these recurring headaches.
Knowing specific causes and triggers of migraine headaches leads to the starting point of effective treatment. Journal the features of a headache and note diet and lifestyle routines and you’ll be making progress in migraine management in no time.
The following treatment and management methods work best for these headaches in children:
Beta blockers and agents like Methysergide and Cyproheptadine are most effective for prophylaxis Migraines in children and block the Serotonin 5-HT2 receptors.
If your child is experiencing a sudden onset of migraine, try applying the following home remedies and you’ll see a difference:
You can help your child prevent Migraine headaches and even lower their frequency through the following methods:
By understanding the ins and outs of migraine headaches and becoming a loving and caring parent, you can help your child manage headaches whenever they strike, wherever they go. Talk to a doctor or concerned medical specialist to assess your child’s needs and run diagnostics for migraines. The important aspect of treatment is preparing for the long haul and making lifestyle and dietary changes to accommodate treatment methods. Be patient, prevent triggers, maintain diet and sleep cycles, and give your child the correct medications on time and you’ll be on the road to healthy migraine management.