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Eight million children in America suffer from severe migraine headaches, resulting in over one million missed days of school. But researchers say they have now found a way to ease the pain of migraines, and keep those kids in class.

Two years ago, J.W.’s migraines were chronic and severe.

“School was calling, saying ‘J.W.’s sick, he’s throwing up, his tummy hurts, his head hurts’,” Kaye, J.W.’s mom, remembers.

“I can only describe it with one word, and that is – well, two words: serious pain,” says J.W.

Researchers at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital tracked migraine headaches in 96 kids, over a five-year period. They found the best way to minimize migraines was to use a “multidisciplinary” approach.

“They not only provided medications, but they also provided education to the parents about eating habits, sleep habits,” explains Dr. Thomas Burns, Director of Neuropsychology at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

The parents learned to make sure their kids got a good night’s sleep.

The kids also learned to keep track of common migraine triggers – like caffeine, chocolate and processed foods.

And they were taught to notice the warning signs.

“By educating the family and the child as to when those symptoms start,” says Dr. Burns, “the child is then able to identify that they’ll be coming on – and they can modify some of the things in their own lifestyle, to help reduce the effect of the migraine.”

The kids also learned relaxation techniques – such as yoga, massage and warm baths.

The result – much less pain, and fewer missed days of school.

“Initially the children missed about five days of school per month. Following the intervention, that dropped all the way down to a little over one day,” says Dr. Burns.

From weekly, severe migraines that sometimes lasted all night, J.W. now endures about two mild headaches a month.

His mom is thrilled. “He’s taking his medicine and he’s going back to class. So, he has really adapted well, as far as having a migraine onset at school.”

What We Need To Know

• Symptoms of a migraine include auras, dizziness, nausea, sensitivity to light and fatigue. (Dr. Thomas G. Burns, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta)




• Keeping a food journal or a headache diary, that tracks diet and headache onset, may provide some insight as to the cause of the migraines. (New York Methodist Hospital)




• Environmental migraine triggers can include changes in the weather, high altitudes, bright lights, loud noises and strong odors.(U.S. Food and Drug Administration)




• When using medications to treat migraines, it’s important to watch for side effects – such as weight gain, nausea, anxiety, and drowsiness. (Dr. Thomas G. Burns, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta)

Resources

• The National Migraine Association




• The National Headache Foundation




• American Council for Headache Education

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