Let's Talk About Headaches and Migraines in Children

It may seem like children shouldn’t have a care in the world. But the truth is that many children suffer from headaches – including often-debilitating migraine headaches. If you suspect that your child may need migraine treatment and are searching for an ER near you, we hope the following information provides some initial insight into the condition.

What You Need to Know About Migraines and Children

Unfortunately, there’s not one simple cause of adolescent migraines. Some may start with your child simply stating that he or she doesn’t “feel right.” Others may experience triggers such as light, smells, sounds, or physical activity. And still others may lose their balance, experience muscle weakness, or notice an aura of light preceding the migraine attack.

Common Denominators

You may be curious to know whether or not there are any common denominators that parents can look for that contribute to adolescent migraines. In fact, following are some of the more common triggers that medical professionals have been able to group together:

• Stress
• Missing or delaying meals
• Menstruation
• Certain foods such as cheese, chocolate, aspartame, processed meat, and more
• Inadequate levels of sleep – too much or too little
• Barometric weather changes

What You Can Do at Home

Before searching for an “emergency room near me” to find ways to prevent your child’s migraine, there are a few things you can try at home to provide comfort. Three of the top items are making sure that your child gets enough sleep, eats a balanced meal at least three times a day – including drinking an adequate amount of water – and being physically active for a minimum of 30 minutes a day.

When to Seek Emergency Treatment for Your Child’s Headache

Although every situation will vary depending on any number of factors, following are the top four reasons to seek emergency medical care for your child’s headaches:

• Your child has migraines that cause them to awaken from a deep sleep
• Your child’s headache impacts their vision, personality, coordination, or school performance
• Your child describes their headache pain as “the worst ever”
• Your child starts to exhibit signs of depression or anxiety

Remember, Express ER has emergency care near you to treat not only childhood headache and migraine concerns, but medical concerns for patients of all ages.