Learn the Symptoms of Migraines in Children

Migraines are a cause for concern among upper cervical chiropractors in Boise, Idaho. A recurring type of headache, a migraine displays moderate to severe pain on one side of the head. It is a complicated neurological condition that brings about other symptoms in addition to a throbbing and pounding headache. 

Migraine Facts and Its Symptoms

People with migraines may experience some or all of these symptoms when attacks occur:

• Visual disturbances
• Nausea and vomiting
• Sensitivity to light and sound
• Dizziness or vertigo
• Mood changes
• Abdominal pain

Many adults experience migraines, but children can have them too. According to the Migraine Research Foundation, 39 million people in the United States suffer from migraines. Of this figure, 10% are young children, and 28% are adolescents or teens.

Children often experience only a few or short attacks of migraines. However, they can be just as disabling and may impact their quality of life.

Migraines can affect children as young as 18 months old. Whenever a child or kid in your life shows signs and symptoms of migraines, you should not ignore it.

Genetics and environmental factors play a significant role in causing disabling symptoms of migraines. A child may acquire migraines if one or both his parents have it as well.

How Migraines Affect Kids and Teenagers

The signs and symptoms of migraine vary in every child or teenager. For the youth who are suffering from this neurological condition, it can be disabling. Because of migraines, children may develop anxiety and can be inactive in sports. They may also miss classes and social events in school or fail to join weekend activities with family and peers of their age. 

Chronic migraines are much worse form of this condition. Kids who have it experience more than 15 headache days each month over a three-month period. Doctors say attacks of chronic migraines can last for more than 4 hours, and it can happen consecutively within three months.
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Here are some symptoms to watch out for in children or anyone who is suffering from chronic migraines: 

• Head pain
• Dizziness or vertigo
• Depression and anxiety 
• Sleep disturbances
• Extreme exhaustion
• Concentration problem

​​To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and migraines download our complimentary e-book.

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Signs to Look for Before Migraines Begin

Parents may notice the following in their kids before a migraine attack begins:

• Loss of appetite
• Frequent yawning
• Moodiness and irritability
• Sudden food cravings
• Sensitivity to light, touch, smell, and odor
• Sleep talking and sleepwalking
• Night terrors

The signs and symptoms above often appear before a migraine attack. Children may or may not have an aura before a headache starts. These are visual disturbances that serves as a warning of an impending head pain. 

Children may experience migraines following exposure to certain triggers. This includes changes in sleep patterns, skipped meals, stress, sudden weather change, too much light exposure, loud noises, strong odors, and hormonal fluctuations. 

Diagnosis of Migraines in Children

Most of the time, migraines on kids and teenagers are undiagnosed. Health care professionals conduct physical examinations, diagnostic tests on blood, lumbar puncture, and neuroimaging or MRI to confirm migraines in children.

Here are the questions that doctors ask children or the parents to diagnose migraines properly:

• What’s the level of pain?
• From which part or side of the head did it start? 
• How often are the migraine episodes? 
• How long do they last?
• How disabling are they?
• What triggers the migraines?
• Which symptoms occurred during the start of the recent episode?
• What did you do to care for them?
• Do parents have migraines too?

Migraine Management and Care

If a child experiences chronic or severe migraine attacks, the parents should seek medical help from a family doctor or health care provider. Management of migraine pain begins with changes in the child’s behavior, habits, and lifestyle. Proper medication can also help. 

Here are some of the common and effective ways to manage and care for migraines: 

• Staying in a calm environment
• Establishing regular sleep hours
• Minimizing visual and noise distractions
• Eating wisely and healthy
• Getting regular exercise
• Trying to manage stress or anxiety
• Striving for a balanced lifestyle

Upper Cervical Chiropractors in Boise May Help

Parents should not ignore if their kid experiences signs and symptoms of migraines. Scheduling a therapy with an upper cervical chiropractor can help minimize your child’s migraine attacks. These professionals can offer upper cervical chiropractic care, a natural therapy which can help reduce episodes and severity of migraine symptoms.

This form of care focuses on the critical part of the nervous system, the atlas. This bone can misalign easily due to a trip and fall, sports injury, or simply a child’s roughhousing. A misalignment of the atlas can be causing migraines to occur in your child. We can help by adjusting the bone of the upper cervical spine and positioning it correctly. 

The corrections are safe for children and adults alike as it does not involve loud cracking of the neck or spine. Once this bone is back in alignment, an improvement in migraines would follow.
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Visit our practice at Upper Cervical Health Centers in Boise, Idaho or call 208-559-0541 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Grayson Blom. We advise that you share with us a detailed history of your child’s migraines, including his or her symptoms, so we can provide customized care for his or her health.

References: 
https://migraineresearchfoundation.org/about-migraine/migraine-facts/
https://migraineresearchfoundation.org/about-migraine/migraine-in-kids-and-teens/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/migraine-headache/in-depth/migraines/art-20047242

​​​​To schedule a consultation with Dr. Blom click the button below or call 208-559-0541