Migraines are not exclusively experienced by adults. Even children can and do have migraines. I tell you this as a Williamsburg upper cervical chiropractor. As many as 10% of children live with migraines. More boys have migraines than girls, but this changes when puberty sets in.

Read on to learn more important information about migraines in children. If the children in your life experience migraines in Williamsburg, we will introduce you to a safe and effective form of therapy that can bring a solution to their neurological condition.

CAN CHILDREN INHERIT THEIR PARENTS’ MIGRAINES in Williamsburg?

The answer is no. However, children may inherit the genetic predisposition to migraines. In fact, there is a 50% likelihood that a kid will have migraines if one of his or her parents has migraines. The chance increases to 75% if both parents have migraines. Also, when a person lives with migraines, there is a 90% chance that he or she has a close family member with the same problem.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF MIGRAINES IN CHILDREN

Your child has migraines and not just ordinary headaches if he or she experiences some of these hallmark signs and symptoms. Most of these are similar to the symptoms that adults display. Aside from the throbbing or pulsing headache, these are some of the signs of migraines:

• CONCENTRATION PROBLEMS
  If your child has a short attention span and finds it difficult to concentrate, ADHD may not be the one to blame; it could be migraines. Headaches may also accompany concentration issues.
• DIZZINESS
  Vestibular migraines afflict as much as 40% of adults with migraines. On the other hand, dizziness tends to be the more common symptom in youngsters and teenagers.
• EXHAUSTION
  Due to the pain of enduring extreme headaches and other debilitating symptoms, your child may have low energy. Don’t think of it as laziness when it could be fatigue from migraines.
• INSOMNIA
  Migraine patients often have a hard time sleeping. This only adds to the concentration problems, exhaustion, and potential mood disorders.
• ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION
  These are not symptoms but are often associated conditions with migraines. Anxiety and depression often accompany migraines. Since migraines are neurological, having mood or mental health disorders makes sense because they are all related to the functioning of the brain.

Several other symptoms of migraines may come even before the headache phase. Below is the list of symptoms that may arise during the prodrome phase. They may occur during the 24-hour period before a migraine headache. Watch out for these signs so you can predict when a child’s next migraine episode may start.

• SENSORY SYMPTOMS
  Children may display oversensitivity to sensory stimuli. For example, loud sounds, strong smells, and bright lights can be annoying and painful. Migraines may also affect the sense of touch and taste.
• BEHAVIORAL CHANGES
  Children may show irritability and moodiness that is beyond what is normal for their age. They may also become sad or withdrawn all of a sudden. Loss of appetite is also common as a child may eat less but ironically still has certain food cravings.
• LETHARGY
  A child may also become disinterested in doing the things that he or she typically finds enjoyable. He or she may display frequent yawning, not due to exhaustion but more due to inadequate blood flow to the brain, which can also bring about a migraine episode.
• SLEEP DISTURBANCES
  This is more than just difficulty sleeping. Symptoms may involve sleepwalking, talking in one’s sleep, or night terrors.

NATURAL REMEDIES FOR MIGRAINES IN CHILDREN

Firstly, as a Williamsburg upper cervical chiropractor, I encourage parents and their children to keep a migraine journal to help in determining and monitoring personal migraine triggers. These triggers may involve stress, weather changes, food sensitivities, skipped meals, sleep patterns, hormone fluctuations, and sensory stimulation. Once you have identified your child’s triggers, help them avoid the triggers if possible.

Lastly, you should address the heart of the issue. Some parents find it surprising when they learn that migraines can be due to an atlas misalignment. Correction of the atlas misalignment has resolved many cases of migraines in various studies, and that is precisely what upper cervical chiropractic does. To help you decide whether to give it a try, here are some things you should know about this niche within the chiropractic field.

UPPER CERVICAL CHIROPRACTIC HELPS MIGRAINE PATIENTS OF ALL AGES

How does upper cervical chiropractic work? When the topmost bone in the neck (the atlas) misaligns, it can have an immense impact on the central nervous system (CNS). For example, since the atlas surrounds the brainstem, even the smallest degree of misalignment can affect the proper function of the brainstem. As a result, migraines can develop. Atlas misalignment can also limit blood flow to the brain and hinder drainage of cerebrospinal fluid. These are two huge factors in the occurrence of migraines.

For the CNS to restore its normal function, correction of the atlas misalignment must be made. Upper cervical chiropractors employ gentle adjustments to encourage the atlas to move back into place, making it a safe relief option for patients of all ages. Gentle adjustments also hold longer, which allows more time for the soft tissue to steady and heal.

If your child has been experiencing migraines, upper cervical chiropractic care may be the solution you have been searching for. To learn more about this effective therapy, contact Via Vitae Chiropractic in Williamsburg, Virginia, and schedule a no-obligation consultation. This could be your child’s first step toward overcoming migraines for good. You may soon see improvements in your child’s school performance and overall health.