When to Call the Doctor About Your Child's Headache Migraine

Most parents are well aware that children get headaches, in fact, studies have shown that more than 90% of school aged children get some type of headache.  In most cases these are nothing to be worried about, and a little aspirin or similar type of medications is all that is needed for treatment.  However, there are times when headaches in children are more severe and it is important for parents to know when to call the doctor about your child's headache migraine.

How Common Are Child Migraines?

While most parents are aware that kids get headaches, what they might not know is that a migraine headache in children is more common than most people realize.  It is estimate that somewhere between 4% and 10% of children experience a child headache migraine, and research has shown that approaching 6% of the population has at least on migraine attack before the age of 15.  Many adults with headaches started having their headaches as children, with 20% reporting the onset before age 10.

Knowing whether a baby gets a migraine is obviously difficult, but there is some evidence gathered from parents of older children diagnosed with migraines that remember the same pattern of behavior in the children during a migraine attack when the child was younger.  This research suggests that infants as early as 4 months might experience a child migraine headache.  So all of this research suggests that migraines in children are similar to the statistics of the adult population.  Children are also susceptible to the same types of headaches as adults, and migraine headaches, tension-type headaches, and cluster headaches are all documented as possible childhood headaches.

The impact of a child headache migraine on the lives of adolescents can be as dramatic as it is for an adult, and may impeded their participation in school or interfere with their participation in after school activities.  For these reasons you will want to address these issues as soon as possible and seeking proper treatment.

When to call the doctor?

So, how does a parent know when to call the doctor about their child's headache migraine?  This article presents some general guidelines you can use that are recommended by medical professionals.  Always err on the side of caution and when in doubt call your family pediatric doctor for their recommendations.

If a childs headache symptom continues for more than a couple of hours you should consult your family doctor.  Also if your child complains of severe pain or any other unusual symptoms it is best to call your physician immediately.  You should also call your doctor if your child's migraine symptoms include any of the following: Occur at least once a month Headaches that wake a child from sleep. Keep him or her out of school

•      Personality changes.
•      Follow an injury, such as a blow to the head
•      Worsening or more frequent headaches.
•      Complaints that "this is the worst headache I've ever had!"
•      The headache is different than previous headaches.
•      Feature persistent nausea, vomiting or visual changes
•      Are accompanied by fever, along with neck pain or stiffness

Knowing the type of headache is important for an accurate diagnosis.  To this end your doctor will ask for some basic information to help them determine the type of headache and the proper course of treatment.  Your family doctor will ask you to describe your child migraine symptoms in detail to try and determine if there is a pattern or specific triggers.  It is advisable for the parent to keep a headache diary of each episode to assist you and your doctor with a proper diagnose.

A headache diary will describe the symptoms of your child headache migraine, when it occurred, the specific symptoms shown, how long it lasted, whether there was an aura element, and any causes or triggers that you might have identified.  This information will prove very valuable for a proper diagnosis.  Your can find examples of headache diaries online that are free to download.

Chronic Headache Migraine - Preventative Ways to Keep Them From Happening

hronic headache migraine is just no fun at all. If you suffer from migraines, there is bad news and good news.

The bad news is that there is no cure for migraines. Despite what you may have seen on TV or heard on some radio infomercial, migraines just cannot be cured.

The good news is that in some cases you can head them off (preventative treatments) or at least modify their severity (abortive treatments).

Foods that can trigger migraines

The first form of preventative treatment is to cut out foods that can trigger headaches such as those that contain tyramines, nitrites or monosodium glutamate.

In fact, one fourth of headache sufferers say that certain foods trigger their head pain. This is because many foods contain substances that can provoke the release of the neurotransmitters implicated in causing headaches.

Food with tyramines

Headaches can be triggered by foods containing the substance tyramine, which is a member of the amines group of organic chemical compounds. As such, it may influence the release of the neurotransmitter serotonin - which, in turn, can trigger a headache. Common foods that contain tyramine include:

Chocolate

Aged cheese

Vinegar (relish, salad dressings, sauces, catsup)

Organ meats (kidney liver)

Alcohol (especially red wine)

Sour Cream

Soy sauce

Yogurt

Yeast extracts

Food with nitrites

Headaches can also be triggered by foods containing nitrates as preservatives. It is estimated that in the United States there are 12,000,000,000 pounds of nitrite currently used to give meats a pink color and enhance their taste. Foods containing nitrite include:

Smoked fish

Corned beef

Bologna

Pastrami

Pepperoni

Canned ham

That old devil, monosodium glutamate

Monosodium glutamate (commonly called MSG) may also cause headache pain. It is a flavor enhancer that is often sold under the trade name Accent. An estimated 20,000 tons of monosodium glutamate are used yearly to add flavoring to foods.

Preventative medications

NSAIDs. NSAIDS are most often used in preventative treatment of those who suffer from chronic migraine. Typical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin and others) or aspirin can help relieve mild migraines. There are also drugs in this family marketed specifically for migraine headaches. These are typically a combination of acetaminophen, aspirin and caffeine. One example of a combination drug sold over-the-counter is Excedrin Migraine.

Prescription medications

The Food and Drug Administration have approved a number of prescription drugs for use in preventing migraines. This includes cardiovascular drugs, antidepressants and alpha blockers.
The most popular of the cardiovascular drugs used to prevent migraine headaches are Inderal, Depakote and Sansert. Some migraine sufferers have also found they can prevent the onset of headaches with calcium channel blockers such a Verapamil, Wellbutrin and Nimotop.

Tricyclic antidepressants

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) do have an anti-migraine effect, but are not usually considered to be the first choice in preventing migraines. However, they may be of help to some migraine sufferers, especially those who have both migraine and tension-type headaches. The antidepressants used most often in the treatment of migraines are Elavil, Sinequan, Vivactil. Norpramin and such SSRIs (Serotonin Update Inhibitors) as Prozak, Xoloft and Paxil.

What is the Cause of a Headache Migraine? - Find Out Here!

Headache in a migraine is simply worse than just being a simple headache.

I have been suffering from migraine headache attacks from as long as I can remember, and I think I have had migraine headaches regularly at least once a month, which usually used to last for a few days, even sometimes a week when I suffered the most.

If you have migraine then you surely would be aware of the kind of severity its headache can unleash on your head, which can simply cause all the activity in your life to come to a halt.

But have you ever wondered what the cause headache migraine is? Although the actual cause headache migraine is not clearly understood by science, but it is clearly recognized as a neural syndrome.

The Cause

Certain nerve cells with some extraordinary and activity could cause certain blood vessels to constrict and dilate successively, which causes a disturbance, further aggravated by the release of certain materials like serotonin and prostaglandins, which can cause headache migraine.

But I can easily recall how stress can add to your pain. In fact for a person suffering from migraine, nothing can cause headache migraine like the emotional stress. The pain is also increased or initiated by certain sensory perceptions. Those who suffer from migraines become very sensitive to bright light, sounds and smells, and become very irritable.

My migraine headache kills me when I go out in the sun, which can be very difficult as you need to do it every day to move around and most importantly, to get to work. Certain perfumes also cause headache migraine. If you are suffering from migraine headaches as well, then the best way to control and prevent them is to learn about what can cause them to occur.

What you Can Do Now To Prevent Migraines From happening Ever Again!

Want to learn more about migraines and how to deal with them? Pick Up This Free Migraine Relief Mini Course.

What People don't want you to know is that there are many natural methods out there which will work much better than medicine and surgery combined. See Migraine Relief Solution a super guide which will give you back the life you deserve using only natural methods.

Headaches and Migraines - A Pain Relieving Guide For Prevention and Cure

If there is one malady that has affected almost every human - it's a headache. Commonly, a headache is a general term for any pain felt in the head. This pain usually arises due to a combination of factors and therefore, it is essential that one understands these factors before looking for a cure. Understanding the origins of a headache or migraine can usually help one in curing and preventing them till a certain extent.
Broadly speaking, there are four categories of headaches -

1.    Myogenic - Muscular headache which arises due to strain and tension in muscles.
2.    Vascular - These are caused due to an unbalanced blood flow near the head or brain. Fever headaches and migraines are common vascular headaches.
3.    Inflammatory - These headaches usually result in a swelling of the head and are caused by allergies such as common cold, flu, etc.
4.    Traction - Such headaches are rare as they are caused when nerve fibres are pulled or stretched. Brain tumours, cysts, aneurysms, etc are common reasons for traction headaches and surgery is necessary for effective treatment.
 
Migraines - A severe type of Headache
Migraines are a mysterious class of headaches and science advocates a large number of different factors which usually lead to one. A migraine typically consists of other problems such as extreme sensitivity to light or sound (or both), blurry vision, nausea and general bodily discomfort. Though the exact cause of Migraine headaches is still not clear, the general consensus is that they are caused by chemical imbalances in the brain. However, there are several other factors too which lead to migraine problems such as -
·         Dietary, Hormonal or medicinal factors - Irregular eating patterns, certain citrus foods, cheese and even chocolate have been noted to trigger migraine symptoms in sensitive people. Certain people experience such headaches when they are undergoing hormonal changes or when certain medicines react to their natural body processes.
·         Lifestyle or Environmental factors - Watching too much television, listening to loud music consistently, change of place or weather, etc can also lead to severe migraine problems.
 
Cure for Headaches and Migraine
 
There are plenty of cures available today that can effectively treat all kinds of headaches (over 200!) and even Migraines. These treatments come in the form of natural therapies such as oil massages, acupuncture techniques and various stress-busting exercises or prescription drugs that are sold over-the-counter. Medicinal pills work best if the pain is mild and not frequent as they provide quick relief.

However, relying on tablets for recurring headaches can be dangerous as they can alleviate strong side-effects. In such cases, relying on natural therapy is advisable as they help in bringing a positive change to one's lifestyle in the long run. Acupuncture is a popular remedy for common headache and migraine issues. It is believed that certain points in the body such as the temple are known for controlling headaches and migraines. Calming these points can instantly cure them.

Interior Home Lighting Precautions

Households didn't seem to know the possible hazards lighting can do if installed and placed improperly and inappropriately. Reading the paragraphs below will enlighten households the importance of proper interior lighting.

Insufficient or excessive lighting can harm our eyes and cause migraines.

There is a common misconception that reading in dim light can damage your eyes. Eyes, in fact, are hardier than that. The absence of light isn't likely to do any permanent damage, nor is reading in too much light. Rather, insufficient or excessive light can cause eyestrain, a problem the Mayo Clinic describes as temporary. Eyestrain manifests itself by way of several symptoms including aching eyes, dry eyes, itching eyes, watering eyes, headaches and/or a sore neck

Insufficient or excessive lighting can result in serious accidents

Dark rooms or rooms with not enough light are conducive to accidents. A simple misstep because of dim light in a long flight of stairs can cause serious injuries. While too much glare coming from a source of light can have a blinding effect which can greatly affect the vision.

Insufficient or excessive lighting can lead to depression and other psychological complications

During winter, because of the absence of the sun, the surroundings look heavy, dull, sad and bleak. Thus the term hibernation is always associated during winter time when people tend to locked up in their rooms and spent the rest of the day laying around and inactivity.

Insufficient or excessive lighting can spoil the beauty of interiors

A perfectly interior decorated room with all of its decors, the colors breath synchronicity and oneness will be futile without a lighting system to accentuate it. As we all know that lighting, no matter how simple it is has the power to create a different look, has the power to turn a dull looking space into a relaxing and cozy one.

The Benefits of Reflexology Treatment

Western medicine ideology is rooted in the language used by doctors and researchers. Their choice of words reveals their belief systems and the models they use to understand the way they think medicine works.

Western medicine perceives the human body as a battleground on which wars are waged against invaders and tumors. What they fail to realize is that diseases are not separate from the person. In fact every disease can be more accurately called an expression of the patient's lifestyle, beliefs, and energies. Cancer is not a tumor, for example: it is a systemic disorder that can only truly be cured by helping to support the body, not by attacking it with chemical bombs. The tumor is merely one physical expression of the systemic disorder, and simply removing the tumor does nothing to cure the disease.

Western medicine's approach to cancer has focused on getting rid of the physical symptoms -- cutting out tumors with sharp instruments or attempting to shrink tumors with chemotherapy. But a critical analysis of these methodologies shows that treating tumors does little or nothing to actually improve the quality of life or the lifespan of cancer patients.

The body is designed to heal itself provided it has the proper support to do its job.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is based on a concept of balanced qi (pronounced "chee"), or vital energy, that is believed to flow throughout the body. Qi is proposed to regulate a person's spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical balance and to be influenced by the opposing forces of yin (negative energy) and yang (positive energy). Disease is proposed to result from the flow of qi being disrupted and yin and yang becoming imbalanced. Among the components of TCM are herbal and nutritional therapy, restorative physical exercises, meditation, acupuncture, and remedial massage.

Body malfunction, stress, injury or dis-ease, is the result of the body being in a state of chemical and neurological imbalance, and vital energy pathways are blocked, which prevents the body from functioning effectively. Reflexology is an effective method to restore and maintain the body's natural equilibrium and encourages healing. The practice of Reflexology has been around for thousands of years.

Reflexology is a holistic non-invasive therapy that helps restore and maintain the body's natural state of equilibrium and facilitate healing. In reflexology, the feet, hands and ears are viewed as mirror images of the body, with reflexes corresponding to every part and organ of the body. Stimulating these reflexes encourages natural healing. Reflexology is beneficial for all ages.

Effects of Reflexology

Reflex treatment helps to clean the organism by stimulating the natural emunctories : intestines, kidneys, lungs, sinuses, skin...

Reflexology is under the Hering law (American homeopathe): "The natural healing of organ malfunctions, seen through symptoms which evolve from the interior to the exterior, from above to below and from the present towards the past." In this way cures for elimination attacks can be established the next day or shortly thereafter which are of either a physical or psycho-emotional order. These treatments are followed by a great vitality and relaxation.

Benefits:

Reduced stress and deep relaxation,

Improved circulation,

Improved elimination of toxins,

Revitalized energy,

Stregthens immune system,

Creation of an overall state of wellness,

Restoration of the body's equilibrium,

Restoration of the natural functioning of all systems,

Preventative health care

Common ailments relieved:

Headaches, Migraines

Arthritis,

Bronchitis,

Back pain,

Heart problems,

Blood Pressure reduced,

Chronic Pain reduced,

Better Sleep/No Insomnia,

Fatigue,

Diabetes,

Indigestion,

Sciatica,

PMS,

Asthma

What to expect when you visit a Reflexologist:

A regular session lasts for about 60 minutes, with the first session being slightly longer since a thorough case history questionnaire is required. The interview takes about 15 to 20 minutes depending on the client's condition and the indications for Reflexology. The client remains fully clothed throughout the session.

Another Supplement Tied to 20% Less Seizures?

In those who suffer from migraine headaches and seizures, anything that can help to reduce the number of attacks they have is a welcome addition. Clearly lifestyle and supplementation play a strong (if not stronger) role in the management of both migraine headaches and seizures along with the mainstream medical approach of pharmacological management. For many sufferers, this information is rarely shared by their physicians.
Before we illuminate today's brain protecting nutrient, we need to cover a little basic physiology. Those of you with very good memories will undoubtably recall that the cells of our organs are made up of a lipid bilayer. Consider our membranes as sort of a fatty moat made up of bunches of molecules that look like a head with legs. On the outsides of both sides of the moat we have the heads, which are soluble in water. The legs that dangle from the heads face toward the center of the moat, meeting each other in the center. These legs are made up of fats that do not dissolve in water.
All by itself, not much can pass through this moat. Things that dissolve in water can make it past the heads, but not the legs in the center. Things that are fat soluble can't make it past the heads to get into the moat at all. A relatively impenetrable moat.
But things still need to get in and out of the cell. The cell needs to get messages in and out, it needs nutrients in and out and things manufactured inside the cell need to get outside of the cell.
The cell does this through the use of pores embedded in the membrane. Some go all the way through the moat, some only go partway. An important factor of how well messages are transmitted, or NOT transmitted, is the health of the cell membrane. Lower quality fats (such as trans fats) will impede healthy cell communication.
On the flip side, higher amounts of healthier fats in the cell membrane ensure that messages that are supposed to be passed along are passed along. Overall, it just makes for a healthier, happier cell.
What does this mean for a condition like epilepsy? Seizures and migraine headaches can occur when a cell is not healthy enough to communicate effectively with its neighbor. This can mean that an inhibitory neuron (that shuts down its neighboring cell) may not be effective at calming a connecting cell. Or, it could mean that an individual brain cell fires before it is supposed to fire, beginning a cascade of wild messages that trigger a headache or a seizure.
A recent study in the March issue of Epilepsy and Behavior demonstrated that the fish oil DHA was able to lower seizure rates. The study was small and non-randomized, but is consistent with our understanding of what triggers seizures as well as prior studies.
Of the ten people in the study receiving 1,000 mg of DHA, 6 had a reduction in the number of seizures. One patient had a marked reduction in seizure activity. Overall, the reduction in seizure activity was 16%. Quite an accomplishment for something as safe and inexpensive as fish oils.
Of course, the big question is, why had fish oils not been a recommendation prior to this study? Even that single patient with the marked reduction in seizure activity could've had a massive impact on his or her quality of life by such a simple intervention long before this study.