Migraines are a common neurological disorder that continues to affect more people by the day. Children are no exception. According to a report, more or less 39 million American men, women, and children alike have them.
As adults, it may be difficult to imagine children suffering from migraines. Many parents dismiss their kid’s migraines as another ordinary headache. This actually contributes to why most cases in children are undiagnosed.
Here’s a list of some critical facts about migraines in children. Migraine Research Foundation shared all this information in their blog.
Similar to adults, children with the condition may experience some of these symptoms:
Signs and symptoms of migraines may differ depending on the age of the child. Here’s a quick summary of how different age groups of children display symptoms.
Compared to adults, children have shorter and fewer attacks. However, their migraines can be just as debilitating and disruptive for their health and quality of life.
Children who are migraineurs frequently miss school and inactive in participating in school activities. Teens with migraines can develop anticipatory anxiety, which occurs due to constant worry about the next possible episode.
Some children and teens experience chronic migraines, which means they have more than 15 attacks per month. Only those who get migraines for three months or more in a row get a diagnosis of chronic migraines.
Teenagers may experience other symptoms such as daily headaches, sleep problems, cognitive issues, dizziness, fatigue, anxiety, and depression.
If there are children in your life with migraines and you want to help them, the first thing you must do is ask them to take a rest during an attack. Also, encourage them to reduce their stress and avoid triggers.
Doctors often educate families about migraines. Their common recommendations to prevent attacks are as follows:
Here are some other suggestions to help ease the pain during attacks:
Relying on medications can help ease the pain of migraines for the time being, but focusing on its root cause is the solution for long-term relief.
In a study involving 101 migraine patients, researchers found a connection between migraines and a misalignment in the upper cervical spine. If either the C1 or C2 bone gets misaligned, migraine is a likely result. This can occur in both children and adults.
These two bones are vulnerable to misalignment than any other bones in the spine due to their flexibility to move in many different directions. They hold a crucial job of protecting the brainstem. Therefore, their misalignment can result in damage in the brainstem, leading to abnormal blood flow to and from the brain. Even more, it can affect the other functions of the central nervous system.
Upper cervical chiropractors use a gentle technique to adjust the bones and return them in their proper positions. Their corrections are often the vehicle of the body to start its course of natural restoration. Once successful, the brain and body can communicate properly once again. In addition, the whole nervous system can resume its optimum performance.
Many children and adults experience improvements in their migraines under upper cervical chiropractic care. Some even report complete resolution of their migraine episodes.
The content and materials provided in this web site are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to supplement or comprise a medical diagnosis or other professional opinion, or to be used in lieu of a consultation with a physician or competent health care professional for medical diagnosis and/or treatment. All content and materials including research papers, case studies and testimonials summarizing patients' responses to care are intended for educational purposes only and do not imply a guarantee of benefit. Individual results may vary, depending upon several factors including age of the patient, severity of the condition, severity of the spinal injury, and duration of time the condition has been present.