Headache / Migraine
Migraines are painful headaches often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light. Children's headaches occur for the same reasons adults get headaches.
Migraines are disabling headaches that most likely stem from problems with the nerves and blood vessels in the head. Migraine headaches typically last from 4-72 hours. They may occur as often as several times a week to only once a year.
Is migraine genetic? - Yes, migraines have a tendency to run in families. Four out of five migraine sufferers have a family history of migraines. If one parent has a history of migraine, the child has a 50% chance of developing migraines, and if both parents have a history of migraine, the risk jumps to 75%.
Symptoms
- Moderate-to-severe, throbbing pain in the head, eye pain
- Most commonly one-sided pain; less frequently both sides of the head are affected
- Pain located near the eye on affected side
- Pain that worsens with exertion or physical activity
- Sensitivity to light and/or sound
Reasons
- Lack of or too much sleep
- Skipped meals, getting hungry or not eating enough
- Bright lights, loud noises, or strong odors
- Hormone changes during the menstrual cycle
- Stress and anxiety or relaxation after stress
- Some weather changes
- Alcohol
- Caffeine (too much or withdrawal)
Facts
About 16-17% of the population get a migraine headache sometime in their life – that means over a billion people worldwide at some point get migraine. The World Health Organization estimated in 2003 that 303 million people worldwide were migraineurs. A 2004 article suggested that there are almost 20 million migraine attacks happening every day.