Archive for the ‘children’ Category

About Children Headaches

Friday, October 10th, 2008

There are many health related problems that occurs in the lives of children and adults and one of them is called headache. Sometimes, this sickness can come with other symptoms like cold, flu, or sore throat. Headaches comes in different ways, but the most common way is usually not serious but comes often and often .Stress and emotional strains is one of the major causes of headache and on most occasions, this is a fallout of tension, and since many adults pass through emotional stress, tension headache is common with them. This illustrates some possible areas of pain resulting from tension headache.

There is another type of headache called migraine headache. This type of headache usually starts from the teenage years , and the causes can be traced to the use of alcohol, caffeine or other drugs, neurotransmitters which is changes in the chemical level of the body, coughing, sneezing, dehydration, dental problems like pains, in the grinding of the teeth or from the canal root, eating and drinking cold food and drinks, emotional stress, exposure to smokes or fumes, eyestrain, fever, high altitude, lower oxygen levels, high blood pressure which leads to hypertension,.

Medicines can cause headaches as well, and many medicines are in this category.

Though not common, headache may be a sign of a serious illness. When this is the case, the person may notice symptoms like vomiting, dizziness or changes in the vision. Headaches can equally be caused by injuries or illnesses like:

*A head injury.
* Injury to the brain,
* Injury of the skull,
* Bleeding in or around the brain,
* Brain tumor, this leads to swelling within the brain.
* Encephalitis which is an infection of the brain or the membranes surrounding the and the

Spinal cord.

* Stroke, which is a problem that occurs when the arteries that supplies blood to the brain blocks or bursts or is blocked by a blood clot.
* A rupture of the blood vessels with bleeding in or around the brain.

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Kids Migraine Treatment

Thursday, October 9th, 2008

Journaling: Diamond often asks patients to keep a headache diary, where parents and kids can document the onset time, severity and duration of pain in hopes of seeing a pattern and identifying the trigger.

Preventative medications: Triptan drugs like Imitrex help stabilize the size of blood vessels if taken at the onset of the headache. But if the child or teen’s migraines are frequent enough (i.e. weekly in occurrence) to impair normal functioning, Sperry said he considers prescribing preventative medications that are used daily — often for a matter of years.

Calcium-channel blockers, some seizure medicines, antidepressants and beta blockers commonly are used, but most of the drug groups include constipation, insomnia or drowsiness side effects, Sperry said. So it’s a matter of weighing the benefits with the drawbacks.

“Lots of times, the migraines are so debilitating that families are willing to try these drugs out. I can’t tell you how delighted they are when this kind of stuff works,” Sperry said. “As much as you don’t want to put your kid on drugs, parents get desperate when all their children want to do is go lay down and crawl in a hole and things have spiraled out of control.”

Biofeedback: The Diamond Headache Clinic uses a non-drug therapy technique for children and adolescents. The method teaches patients to control bodily functions — such as heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature and muscle tension — to train their anatomical response to stress. The clinic conducted research on biofeedback and found 90 percent of kids, who are in the prime of their lives in terms of imagination and visualization abilities, who participated in the therapy showed significant symptom reduction.

Hospitalization:
When intensely stubborn, “status” migraines go on for days and are resistant to drugs, Sperry said it’s time for a di-hydro-ergotamine IV. This treatment should stop the episode in 24 to 48 hours.

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Triggers Migraine in Kids

Monday, October 6th, 2008

Genetics: Younger kids are predisposed if their parents have a migraine condition. If one parent has migraines, there is a 40 percent risk that the child will get them, according to the Diamond Headache Clinic. If both parents experience migraines, the probability of the child getting them rises to 70 percent.

Stress: “Nowadays, society is just way too busy and over-stimulated and stressed. People with sensitive nervous systems are easily affected by anything that causes adrenaline to speed up,” Diamond said. “All the medicine in the world isn’t going to help if you’re still going 100 mph because the body needs a cool-down time so it can detoxify.”

Her clinic sees an influx of adolescent patients at the beginning and end of the academic year, when anxiety over homework and extracurriculars is the greatest. This held true for Jennie Kamrath. Her migraines were not nearly as pronounced on the weekends and during extended breaks from school.

Diet: Certain foods or beverages with caffeine, chocolate, yellow cheeses, nitrates, artificial sweeteners and additives can aggravate the condition. And for many children and adolescents, these processed, sugary items are consumed in large quantities, which has unsettling biochemical consequences, Diamond said.

Also, the timing of meals can play a role. “For some of my kids I take care of, this is a big issue,” Diamond said. “They’re getting up at 6:30, 7, eating, and then eating again at 10:30 if they have an early lunch period. They may not have food again until after 4, and that’s a long time to go without caloric intake.”

Sleep: An irregular pattern or an inadequate number of hours can do a lot of harm for those who experience migraines, Sperry said. Again, anything interrupting the physiological norm will have health ramifications.

Light: Bright or fluorescent lighting is the kiss of death, Jennie Kamrath said.

Odors: Overpowering scents such as cleaning products, perfumes, smoke and chlorine can activate migraines, too, Sperry said.

Hormones: Before puberty, boys and girls experience chronic headaches equally, according to the Diamond Headache Clinic. But after teen girls begin menstruating, they are three times more likely to suffer from them than their male classmates because of the hormonal shifts.

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Children and Headaches

Thursday, October 2nd, 2008

Children are just as susceptible to headaches as adults are. Too much exertion, heat, loud sounds, and bright lights can cause children to have headaches, and if a child feels a great deal of tension, they may have tension headaches as well. Of course, headaches also often accompany fever if a child is ill.

Unfortunately, children cannot take the same pain medication for headaches that adults take, and most children?s medication may not be strong enough to deal with the pain. Young children don?t know how to express how much pain they are in, and may not even realize that what they have is in fact a headache.

When a child can tell you that they have a headache, the first thing you should do is use an over-the-counter children?s pain reliving medication. You can also teach the child some relaxation techniques to help reduce or relieve tension headaches. Remember that the children?s medication may help, but it typically is not strong enough to completely get rid of a headache. Sleep will often take care of a child?s headache.

The child should be given plenty of fluids as well. Often, dehydration will cause a headache, and children tend to lose a lot of body fluids in their day to day activities. If you can keep the child properly hydrated, you will reduce or even prevent headaches.

Since light can cause headaches, consider getting a pair of sunglasses for your child as well. There are sunglasses that are made specifically to prevent headaches, and they make these sunglasses for children as well. Children spend a great deal of time in bright lights - whether the light is artificial, such as fluorescent lighting, or natural, such as sunshine.

If your child has frequent headaches, you should take him or her to your healthcare provider to determine the cause. For frequent painful headaches, prescription medication may be needed.

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Children and Headaches

Friday, August 8th, 2008

All About Children’s Headaches

Does your child frequently complain about having a headache? Headaches may be common, but they’re not normal. The problem with headaches in children, however, is that they may be more difficult to diagnose in terms of cause and effect. This is especially true with younger children, because they frequently lack the verbal skills or experience to effectively communicate what is wrong or what they are feeling.

Our examination is designed to discover the three possible causes of headaches: physical, chemical and emotional issues.

Tension headaches are the most common type of headache found in children (just like in adults) and usually involve about 75% of all childhood headaches. Episodic tension headaches occur several times a month, while chronic tension headaches are much more frequent – more than 15 occurrences in a month. Recent studies seem to point to a genetic link to these types of headaches, where previously, none was thought to exist. Triggers may be lack of sleep, tension in the home or school environment, second-hand cigarette smoke, skipped meals, poor nutrition, eye strain and bright lights.

Migraine-type headaches, though more infrequent, also affect children and if a parent suffers from migraines, their child is 50% more likely to experience them as well. Put a different way, in 70%-90% of all children with migraines, there is a family history of migraines as well. Migraine triggers include foods, such as chocolate and caffeine, lack of sleep, missed meals and, particularly in females, hormonal changes.

Children’s headaches can also be caused by chronic ear and sinus infections, onset of menstruation, strep throat or fever. While most parents reach for over-the-counter pain relievers to deal with their child’s pain, this approach may produce certain undesirable side effects and even trigger rebound headaches.

There are many drug-free alternative ways to deal with children’s headaches. Naturally, we think a thorough chiropractic examination is the best place to start. We’ll conduct a full screening to pinpoint triggers and identify and correct any nerve interference from the upper spine that might be involved. Locating and correcting vertebral subluxation in pediatric patients has been quite successful in relieving the pain, frequency and duration of their headaches in a relatively short span of time.

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Tension Headache and Vertigo

Monday, June 9th, 2008

Migrainous vertigo is the term used to describe vertigo (a sense of spinning or dizziness) that accompanies a migraine headache.

Post-trauma headaches — Headaches that occur within one to two days after head trauma are relatively common. Most people report a generalized dull, aching, constant discomfort with intermittent exacerbations. Other common accompanying symptoms include vertigo (sensation of spinning), lightheadedness, inability to concentrate, problems with memory, becoming tired quickly, and irritability. Post-trauma headaches may continue for up to a few months, although headaches that are not beginning to improve within a week or two after a traumatic event should be evaluated.

Basilar-type migraine predominantly affects young women and children. Symptoms may include any combination of double vision, vertigo (sensation of movement or spinning), difficulty hearing, pain in the toes or fingers, double vision, ringing ears, difficulty with balance, and altered consciousness.

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Migraine Symptoms in Children

Wednesday, May 28th, 2008

Migraines typically begin in childhood, adolescence or early adulthood and may become less frequent and less intense as you grow older. In addition to physical suffering, severe headaches often mean missed school days and trips to the emergency department, as well as lost work time for anxious parents.

Children’s migraines tend to last for a shorter time. But the pain can be disabling and can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, lightheadedness and increased sensitivity to light. A migraine tends to occur on both sides of the head in children.

Children may also have all of the signs and symptoms of a migraine — nausea, vomiting, increased sensitivity to light and sound — but no head pain. These “abdominal migraines” can be especially difficult to diagnose.

The good news is that some of the same medications that are effective for adults also work for children. Your child doesn’t have to go through the pain and disruption of migraines. If your child has headaches, talk to your pediatrician. He or she may want to refer your child to a pediatric neurologist.

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When to Seek Medical Advice For Headaches?

Thursday, May 22nd, 2008

Pain is often one of your body’s ways of signaling illness. But headache pain, even when it’s severe, usually isn’t the result of an underlying disease. Occasionally, however, headaches may indicate a serious medical condition, such as a brain tumor or rupture of a weakened blood vessel (aneurysm). Always be sure to tell your doctor about any headache that concerns you. Even if you have a history of headaches, see your doctor if the pattern changes or your headaches suddenly feel different.

If tension headache disrupts your life, don’t hesitate to talk to your doctor. The condition is a biological disorder for which there’s effective treatment. Many people can manage their headaches by working with their doctors to develop a comprehensive, individualized treatment plan that involves lifestyle changes, medication and complementary therapies.

In addition, see your doctor or go to the emergency room immediately if you have any of these warning signs and symptoms:

* Abrupt, severe headache, often like a thunderclap
* Headache with a fever, stiff neck, rash, mental confusion, seizures, double vision, weakness, numbness or speaking difficulties
* Headache after a head injury, especially if it gets worse
* Chronic, progressive headache that is precipitated by coughing, exertion, straining or a sudden movement
* Onset of new headache pain after age 50

Call your doctor if your child has head pain that’s severe or that causes him or her to miss school or other activities. A child who’s too young to tell you what’s wrong may cry and hold his or her head to indicate severe pain.

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Headaches in Children

Wednesday, May 21st, 2008

Chronic tension headaches in children are similar to headaches in adults and are often caused by stress, anxiety or depression. Although adults may not always realize it, children can experience tremendous stress — ranging from peer pressure and unreasonable parental expectations to difficulty in school and physical or sexual abuse. And all children, even very young ones, can experience depression.

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Precautions with OTC Analgesics

Wednesday, May 14th, 2008

Children and teenagers should not use aspirin for the treatment of headaches, other pain, or fever, because of the risk of developing Reye’s syndrome, a life-threatening neurological disease that can lead to coma and even death.

Patients with balance disorders or hearing difficulties should avoid using aspirin because aspirin may aggravate these conditions.

Patients with active ulcers of the stomach and duodenum should not take aspirin and non-aspirin NSAIDs because they can increase the risk of bleeding from the ulcer and impair healing of the ulcer.

Patients with advanced liver disease should not take aspirin and non-aspirin NSAIDs because they may impair kidney function. Deterioration of kidney function in these patients can lead to rapid and life-threatening deterioration of their liver disease.

Patients should not overuse OTC or prescription analgesics. Overuse of analgesics can lead to the development of tolerance (increasing ineffectiveness of the analgesic) and rebound headaches (return of the headache as soon as the effect of the analgesic wears off, usually in the early morning hours). Thus, overuse of analgesics can lead to a vicious cycle of more and more analgesics for headaches that respond less and less to treatment and occur more frequently.

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