My migraines have become more frequent….should I just stop my preventive treatment?
Migraine comes in cycles of good and bad periods. Sometimes there is an obvious reason (less sleep, more stress, a new medication, hormonal changes….) but sometimes it is not that clear why migraines keep coming at an increased pace. If your migraine frequency is rising…
Is acupuncture useful for migraine prevention?
Acupuncture involves fine needles piercing the skin to alleviate pain. The theory is believed to be based on the needle promoting the pain killing chemicals, endorphins to be released and thereby assisting in pain control. There are multiple studies on the use of acupuncture for…
Why do women get more migraines?
Prior to puberty, migraine occurs in about 2-4% of children, with boys being more affected than girls. This changes at the onset of puberty, when migraine becomes more common in females than males. In fact, girls are more likely to have their first migraine during…
My child has headaches… should I be worried?
Headaches are very common in children. In fact, over 50% of children will experience headaches during their childhood or adolescence1. The vast majority of headaches are benign, meaning that there is no underlying disease causing the headache. Children also often get headaches in the context…
Do children get migraines?
Yes. Children and adolescents can get migraines. Although migraines are more common in adults, approximately 8% of children and adolescents will experience migraines prior to adulthood1. Migraines become more prevalent as children age, with teenagers being more susceptible than young children. However, young children can…
Should my child fill a headache diary?
Completing a headache diary is an essential step not only in diagnosing but also in treating your child’s headaches. Headache diaries allow you and your doctor to access an objective summary of information on your child’s headaches, such as how severe they are, how frequent…
I heard that colic and migraines are related. Is it true?
It does appear that there is an association between infant colic and future risk of migraine. Several studies have found that infants with colic are more likely to go on to develop migraines than infants without colic. However, not every child who had colic as…
My child gets recurrent abdominal pain or vomiting…are these migraine equivalents?
There are many potential causes of recurrent abdominal pain and/or vomiting in children. If your child is having one or both of these symptoms, you should talk to your doctor so that they can determine the underlying cause. Although there is a group of disorders…
Should my child take migraine prophylaxis?
As is described above, migraine prophylaxis is typically considered when there are 8 or more migraine days each month. However, there are circumstances where prophylaxis may be appropriate with less frequent migraines. For example, if your child has debilitating migraines that make him miss school…
How can I help my teen to deal with migraines?
In addition to seeing your physician about recommended acute and preventive treatment options, there are many things that you can help your teen with that do not require prescriptions. Several lifestyle issues have been shown to significantly contribute to the severity of migraines. Maintaining…