MIGRAINE - A POPULAR “HEADACHE” AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN

Migraine or severe recurring headache is now a popular health concern with school children, even at the primary or elementary levels. 

Medical Professionals say the real reason for migraine is unknown. It is common among sensitive adults and IT professionals.

What causes migraine at such a young age?

Basically, children who fail to stick to a systematic routine and are over anxious are easily caught by such headaches.It has a hereditary factor also(an inherited neurological condition).

Children of 5 to 10 years, experience bilateral pain, abdominal cramps and vomiting during migraine. They usually sleep off soon in a cool, quiet, dark room. Blurred vision, photo phobia, phono phobia, irritability are also common. These kids are mostly allergic too. 

In children, migraine is often under diagnosed. So, keeping a headache diary is advisable. Depending on frequency and reasons, it helps in seeking treatment when required.ie, when kids start missing school and social functions...

Generally there are many factors that trigger migraine headaches. It can be anything that the person is unable to or has difficulty to cope with. Sudden change in climate, surroundings, loud noises, penetrating smells, vehicle exhausts, smell of gasoline, watching too much of television, playing too much of video games, working for long on the computer, vision corrections or change of spectacles, rush and crowd, heavy traffic, hot sun, untimely head baths, irregular food habits, some types of foods and junks, improper sleep cycles, out of the way physical exertion, over expectations, force to undertake undesirable tasks, anxiety to execute assignments, difficulty in handling project works, pressure to study well and be a topper, emotional strain, restrictions to get engaged in pastimes of hobbies of one’s choice, wrong postures while reading story books or using computers, stress as kids realize and face difficult situations in life  etc.

Most parents often fail to comprehend the real reason behind such headaches and assume it as an escape or excuse mechanism adopted frequently by their kids to keep off from certain situations like exams or visit to ancestral homes or social events. Employed parents seldom get adequate time to be with their ward and assess their genuine needs. Situation aggravates with single parents or when parents are incompatible or have divided opinion … 

Children often need a patient hearing during their growing ages. When left under the care of maids, the way some queries are handled varies widely. For example, girls enter puberty nowadays at the end of elementary level, unlike former years. As they observe a classmate in a different state, they may have innumerable doubts. The manner in which relevant details are communicated to create awareness and empower girls is quite important. It should not have a frightening element at all. Restrictions if any should be imposed after logically clarifying all the doubts aired. They should be given proper information on all aspects including exploitation and pedophilia. These are stages in the life of a growing child when they need parental support to the maximum. So parents should try their best to be with their kids or ensure care by grandparents.

Follow a better lifestyle to cope with migraine:

• It is always advisable to enroll small children in nearby schools, walk able distance, wherever feasible. This avoids chances of getting tired after to and fro traveling and saves a lot of time. 

• Children should sleep for minimum 8 hours continuously every day. This is essential for proper growth also. A good sleep refreshes you for another productive and healthy day. So children should be trained to go to bed early and to wake up early in the morning. So, depending on parental convenience and the biorhythm of the child it can be any slot between 8pm to 4am; 9pm to 5am or 10pm to 6am. 

• Children who have difficulty to cope up with travel should be taken on long distance trips every weekend. It’s a pressure that they can’t bear.  In the present day nuclear families, leaving kids alone at home is not at all safe either. So, adjust and find good options, depending on one’s circumstances. 

• Some kids are basically adamant by nature, while some others are perfectionists or day dreamers. All such behaviour discrepancies heavily affect their relations with peers and elders. It also causes lot of stress in generating good work outputs. Such cases should be handled carefully. Seek professional help where necessary for Cognitive behaviour therapy by experts. Kids should be facilitated properly to set a positive attitude for life and to mould them into good human beings. “Catch them young” is the agenda for success here. 

• Present day syllabus is heavy and needs lot of hard work on the part of toddlers. Competition is also quite high. All parents wish their kids to be toppers everywhere. It’s fine as long as the children have the talent and capacity to achieve their parents’ desires. Otherwise it would be a huge burden on small children. So I feel parents should shun their ego and evaluate their wards holistically, instead of academic evaluations alone. Targets should be on par with ability and attainable through hard work. There should be proper support where necessary, on time and appreciations for all achievements. 

• Every child is unique and is a personality unto them. Don’t expect kids to bloom out into either parent or grandparent; but facilitate them to identify their true self and help them follow their destiny. Let them have their choice and opinions where ever it affects them to the extent practically possible and as far as it is right. Parents should tune their minds to tolerate their wards and accept them as they grow as different individuals. Make rectifications or intervene only when their path is dangerous or futile.

• Most kids are now fond of junkies. A total ban on such foods is not easy. So limiting such items on rotation and offering any one, once a month is better. Even biscuits contain chemical substances that gradually affect human brain. Home made broiler chicken at frequent intervals cause hormonal changes in growing children. Preservatives and colouring agents in junk foods are mostly carcinogenic too. Children should be gradually be empowered to know the drawbacks of these items and promoted to GO GREEN!

• Kids who are fond of reading adopt cozy postures to read story books and play video games. This should be discouraged. Reading books in moving vehicles is also not advisable.

• Good foods – Dates, nuts, strawberry, carrots, beetroots, spinach, so on. Eat foods that contain vitamin A for eyes, enough proteins and other vitamins, minerals and anti oxidants.

• Eliminating body toxins in time is a major requirement for children. Proper bowel movements and urination go hand in hand. Children often with hold passage of urine simply because public toilets are untidy. This can trigger migraine in many children. So facilitate children to eliminate waste as and when they need without hesitation. It should become a habit. 

• Adequate water intake is another habit to be ensured. Dehydration alone can trigger headaches. So children should be trained to drink adequate liquids at hourly intervals. Let them carry pure filtered or boiled water where ever they go. On holidays, children can be given natural diuretics - say barley water, puncture vine(njerinjil) or natural foods like water melons, ash gourds, cucumbers, which help in flushing out toxins.

• Intake of water can also be encouraged in a different supplementary way. Taking a lime juice after brushing teeth; a fruit juice after bath; milk before going to school, buttermilk or lassi during snack time, plain soup and curd during lunch; rice/wheat/corn flakes with milk or ragi with milk during evening snacks. Let kids take variety of nuts to avoid hunger at intervals. Almonds, peanuts, cashews, walnuts, pista are all fine for kids. Substitute fried snacks with traditional and indigenous items like Rice ada, therali, kozhukatta(rice balls), banana stew, jack payasam, tuber puzhukku and so on. A plain vegetable or fruit salad is also a good option. Children should be given a sumptuous breakfast and should never skip their dinner or any meals. 

• Children should be provided with separate beds at proper age. This not only helps them to adopt proper posture for sleeping, but also instills an independent growing up feeling in their minds. Pampering too much followed by harsh punishments would only spoil kids. Train children to relax in “savasana” posture before they sleep. (keep legs apart; hands straight and by the side of body; looking at the ceiling …) 

• It is always good to provide proper lighting in study areas and while watching television. If children have spectacles and have to study at a stretch for long hours, tube lights and proper ventilation are the best options. 

• Its better that kids don’t watch television on weekdays. If permitted, limit time to less than half an hour. On weekends and holidays, let them watch for a maximum of an hour. Occasionally they can watch a movie on home theatre. Family get - together can also encompass theatre shows and movies as outings to help kids rewind after a term exam or some cultural event or youth festival or so. 

• Set a daily routine and stick to it. Follow balanced nutritious diet. Take food on time or before hunger strikes the bell. Empty stomach is an excellent triggering factor for migraine.

•  Take bath in regular time every day. An oil massage at least twice a week would do wonders. Better take bath after sunrise and before sunset every day. During severe periods, use of pre boiled medicated water using thriphala (amla/nellikka, kadukka thanikka- dry fruits of Emblica officinalis, Terminalia chebula, Terminalia bellarica) is also excellent. 

• Play outdoors every day with peers. Exercise daily – walk a short distance with grandparents, swimming, cycling are all fine. All these enhance “happy hormones” in youngsters. Yoga or sun salutation can tune one’s body with mind and spirit and in turn provide inner peace. 

• Maintain good inter personal relations by adjusting, cooperating, sharing and tolerating each other. Cultivate good habits. Follow good manners. Be obedient. Have a positive mind set and attitude. All this can ensure a stress free life as you take medicine.

 Lead a life free of stress and migraine…