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Horrific Headaches
How to Cope with
Childhood Migraines
Childhood Migraines
By Megan Kopp
"Be sympathetic to these children because they are in agony," says parent Liza Janco, of Fishers, Ind. "If you have other children in the house, it's especially important for them to understand they should try to be quiet and respectful until the headache sufferer has had a chance to heal."
While most migraines are hereditary (meaning that a child who suffers from migraines usually has a parent or grandparent or another close relative who also had migraines), there are key factors that can bring on the headache. Common triggers are hunger, lack of adequate sleep, caffeine (found in chocolate bars and soft drinks), nitrites (preservatives in hot dogs and some processed meats) and MSG (a flavoring in some packaged food products).
Once the contributing factors are identified, you can adjust your child's habits to avoid the common triggers, Dr. Zacharowicz says. He speaks from medical and personal experience, having lived with migraines himself since he was a child.