Thunderclap Headaches | Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

A thunderclap headache is a severe headache that, as suggested by the name, strikes suddenly, like a clap of thunder. It typically reaches its peak severity within one minute of the onset and fades gradually over the next few hours. Thunderclap headaches are considered a medical emergency because they act as a warning sign for serious medical conditions.

Do I have a thunderclap headache or a migraine?

The most noticeable difference between migraine and thunderclap headaches is the intensity of the pain they produce. Migraine attacks are notorious for being very painful, but those who have experienced a thunderclap headache have called it the worst headache of their lives. This is true even for chronic migraine sufferers.

Unlike migraines, thunderclap headaches are associated with a host of conditions ranging from benign to potentially fatal. The most common are vascular disorders in the brain. One frequent cause of thunderclap headaches is called a subarachnoid hemorrhage, which is bleeding in the membranes around the brain caused by small ruptures in the arteries of the head or neck. Other potentially life-threatening causes include:

Ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke
Hypertensive crisis (severe elevation of blood pressure)
Head injury
Infections such as meningitis or encephalitis
A blood clot in the brain
A ruptured blood vessel in the brain

How are symptoms different between thunderclap headaches and migraines?

What’s the difference between thunderclap headache and migraine?

1. There are a few main differences between thunderclap headache and migraine but because thunderclap is really rare and is similar to many other types of head pain causes, it is not often diagnosed.

The biggest difference is in time duration.

2. A migraine may come on slowly, with prodromal symptoms, and aural symptoms long before the head pain. These symptoms may include;

Confusion
Dizziness
Sensitivity to light
Loss of concentration
Yawning
Fatigue
Increased urination, etc.

The head pain will also come on slowly and last between 4-72 hours. But a thunderclap headache is very sudden and severe with no warning. It rises to its peak pain within 60 seconds and can last from a few minutes to hours.

3. Migraines can be incredibly severe and crippling but a thunderclap headache is regarded as the worst headache you’ve ever had in your life.

What are the symptoms of a thunderclap headache?

Confusion can be a symptom of a thunderclap headache

Regardless of the cause, the most common symptom of thunderclap headaches is sudden and severe pain in the head. This pain usually peaks within the first 60 seconds of the headache starting and lasts at least five minutes. It can be felt anywhere on the head or neck.

There may be other signs and symptoms associated with thunderclap headaches, including:

Nausea and vomiting
Numbness
Changes in vision or temporary vision loss
Difficulty speaking and thinking
Fever
Seizures
Confusion

How is a thunderclap headache diagnosed and treated?

Thunderclap headaches are usually diagnosed in the emergency department through a combination of medical history questions and imaging tests. In some cases, a spinal tap may be needed. Because thunderclap headaches tend to be a symptom of a secondary condition, all efforts should be aimed at identifying and treating the underlying problem.

Sometimes it may not be possible to find what’s causing the thunderclap headache. In those cases, the thunderclap headache is considered primary, meaning that it is not the result of any other medical condition. Primary thunderclap headaches are more common in younger adults and may be triggered by coughing, working out, or sexual activity.

Although not all thunderclap headache episodes are life-threatening, it is crucial to seek medical attention right away if you experience a severe and sudden headache of any kind. A thunderclap headache, if not detected early, can lead to severe and potentially lethal complications.

Can thunderclap headaches be prevented?

The sudden onset of thunderclap headaches makes preventing them hard. However, the best way to reduce the risk of developing one is to manage any underlying condition, especially vascular and blood pressure problems. Some easy lifestyle changes you can make to control your blood pressure include:

Losing weight
Eating a healthy diet
Exercising regularly
Limiting alcohol
Avoiding cigarette smoke
Managing stress

Quinoa – Amazing Superfood for Migraine Sufferers

This amazing low-fat, high protein food could…

* protect against heart disease
* help to prevent type II diabetes
* help with migraines
* provide antioxidant protection
* Protect against breast cancer
*Protect against childhood asthma
* Prevent gallstones
* Provide all 9 essential amino acid (protein building blocks)
* Provide healthy levels of dietary fiber and magnesium

Quinoa (pronounced keen-wa) is an ancient whole grain that has been recently rediscovered in the U.S. The Incas once held the crop to be sacred, calling it the ‘mother of all grains’.

HEALTH BENEFITS

Quinoa contains more protein than any other grain; an average of 16.2 percent, compared with 7.5 percent for rice and 14 percent for wheat. Unlike rice and potatoes, for which quinoa is an excellent replacement, it is a whole grain food source that results in many of the health benefits listed above. Quinoa is gluten-free and high in protein content, which also makes it a wonderful choice for vegetarians. Because of all these characteristics, quinoa is being considered a possible crop in NASA’s long-duration manned spaceflights.

QUINOA NUTRIENT PROFILE

High nutritional content of 100gms or half cup of cooked quinoa –

Magnesium: 17% of the Recommended Daily Allowance
Complete Protein: 4 grams
Fiber: 3 grams.
Manganese: 32% of Recommended Daily Allowance
Phosphorus: 15% of the Recommended Daily Allowance

It is also packed with minerals like Zinc, Iron, Copper, and Potassium along with B-Vitamins and Calcium. These tiny grains are also good for weight watchers offering a total of 120 calories, 21 gms of carbs and 2 gms of fat. Quinoa is also a source of Omega-3 fatty acids.

MIGRAINE SUPPORT

Quinoa is a good source of magnesium and riboflavin, which are also key ingredients in MigreLief dietary supplements. These ingredients have been shown to help relax blood vessels, encourage energy production within cells and help to maintain normal cerebrovascular tone and function. Magnesium is involved in more than 300 chemical reactions in the body. Studies show that many migraine sufferers have low levels of magnesium. Studies have also shown that many migraine sufferers have a deficiency in mitochondrial (powerhouse in cells) energy right before an attack. Mitochondrial dysfunction in your brain cells can make you more susceptible to migraines which studies show vitamin B-2 (Riboflavin) can help correct.

DIET

Both the glycemic index and the glycemic load of quinoa (these are measurements of how various foods can impact your blood sugar levels) are favorable as well when compared to rice or potatoes.

A half-cup of cooked quinoa contains only about 110 calories and with its fiber content makes it a good choice for those trying to watch their weight, as well

HOW TO COOK WITH QUINOA

Quinoa is typically simmered, as you would prepare rice. It’s often added to savory recipes, like salads, sautés, and soups. You can also serve it alongside grilled or pan-seared meats and fish.

When whole, quinoa seeds have an outer husk coated with a natural substance called saponin. This protects the seeds from the birds. While the husk is already removed when you buy commercial quinoa, some of the saponin can remain. It’s rather bitter, so it’s important to rinse the quinoa well before simmering it.

Some Serving Ideas for Quinoa:

* Use quinoa as a side-dish replacing rice, potatoes or even pasta

* Many health food stores carry quinoa sourced pasta noodles

* With nuts and fruits, quinoa makes an excellent porridge

* Quinoa can be added to vegetable soups

* Use sprouted quinoa in sandwiches or salads instead of alfalfa sprouts

RECIPE – SWEET BREAKFAST QUINOA PORRIDGE

When slowly cooked in a mixture of water and milk with a little brown sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla, quinoa seeds become a rich porridge with a soft bite. If you’re a quinoa fan, it’s a lovely alternative to oatmeal in the morning.

You can easily adapt this breakfast quinoa to your personal tastes and dietary needs. For a softer rather than chewy quinoa, especially this sweet breakfast dish, adjust the seed-to-liquid ratio (add more liquid) until you find the perfect texture for you.

For a non-dairy breakfast, quinoa porridge is also deliciously prepared with almond milk or coconut milk

Ingredients

1 cup water
1-1/2 cups milk (whole, low fat, almond, or coconut), plus more for serving
1 teaspoon vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
1 cup quinoa, rinsed well
pinch salt
3 tablespoons brown sugar, plus more for serving
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 cup blueberries (or berries of your choice)
sliced almonds, walnuts or chopped toasted pecans, for topping

Instructions

In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine water, 1-1/2 cups milk, vanilla extract or paste, rinsed quinoa, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat (stirring occasionally and watching carefully so it doesn’t boil over).
Reduce heat to low, cover with lid slightly vented, and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Stir in 3 tablespoons brown sugar and the ground cinnamon. Re-cover and continue to simmer for about 5 minutes, until almost all of the liquid has been absorbed.

Remove from heat and gently fold in blueberries. Serve, topped with extra brown sugar or maple syrup, warm milk, and nuts.

Enjoy quinoa for its taste and texture as well as its multiple health benefits. You will be very pleasantly surprised and pleased to add it to your family’s diet.

Best Exercise for People with Migraines

You already know that exercise is good for you. Thousands of studies, big and small, have outlined the physical and mental benefits of moving the body to increase the heart rate and burn calories.
For example, regular physical activity can protect you against countless health conditions, like anxiety and depression, type 2 diabetes, stroke, heart disease, and many types of cancer. At least 150 minutes a week of moderate exercise, or 75 minutes per week of vigorous physical activity, can also help you feel more energized, sleep better, and even boost your sex life. That is unless you suffer from exercise-induced migraines.

Does exercising trigger migraines?

Although we are well aware of the health benefits of exercising regularly, it’s not always sunshine and rainbows when you are a migraine sufferer trying to live a healthy, active lifestyle. Unfortunately, exercise can trigger migraines and headaches in some people, especially vigorous or high-intensity activities.

There are at least a couple of theories on what causes exercise-induced headaches. One is that intense physical activity dilates blood vessels in the brain, triggering an inflammatory response that can translate into headaches for those with over-excitable pain receptors. Another possibility is that other triggers, such as light and sound sensitivity, hot weather, and dehydration – and not the act of exercising itself – may play a bigger role in exercise migraines than we thought.

Some research studies have looked into the relationship between exercise and migraines with varying results. An analysis looking at the prevalence of exercise-induced migraines among 1207 headache patients found that physical activity was a triggering factor for 22.1 percent of the participants. A smaller study conducted among 129 New Zealand students suggested that 9 percent suffered from headaches after a vigorous workout.

How exercise may help migraines

While some migraine-prone individuals may experience headaches during or after a workout, regular exercise can, ironically, also reduce the frequency and severity of headaches and migraines. That is one of the reasons why people call exercising “nature’s painkiller.” When you are physically active, your body releases endorphins.

Endorphins are the ‘feel-good’ chemicals responsible for that pleasurable sensation you feel after doing something you quite enjoy, like eating a decadent piece of chocolate cake or have a good belly laugh. They are also behind for that pleasantly relaxed feeling you get after working out or the so-called “runner’s high” that keeps you going long after your legs are singing a different tune.
Endorphins act on opiate receptors in your brain to boost pleasure and reduce pain signals. Some studies have even shown that regular exercise and relaxation techniques such as mindfulness meditation can reduce the frequency of migraines just as effectively as topiramate, a prescription medication used to prevent them.

How often should you exercise if you are a migraine or headache sufferer?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), adults should do 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (eg, walking) and 2 or more days a week of muscle-strengthening exercises such as light weight lifting each week. It is especially important to work in flexibility exercises into your routine as well.

If you start to feel a migraine or headache coming on… stop exercising! Some good exercises for migraine sufferers include:

Yoga

Research shows that people who do yoga as an add-on migraine therapy have fewer and sometimes less intense headaches. A research study published recently in the peer-reviewed journal Neurology with 160 participants found that doing yoga yielded a significant reduction in headaches frequency, duration, and intensity.

Try yoga

Tai Chi

An ancient mind-body practice often described as “meditation in motion,” tai chi is a gentle, low-impact form of exercise that has been shown to improve flexibility, strength, and balance, which are important if you experience vestibular symptoms. A randomized controlled trial published in the Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine Journal showed significant positive health effects after 15 weeks of bi-weekly, hour-long tai chi sessions, including reducing the prevalence of headaches.

Walking

Walking is probably one of the most underrated exercises, but research shows that doing something so simple as just placing one foot in front of the other can be just as good a workout – if not better – than running and other more intense forms of exercise. While running, swimming and cycling are more physically demanding, walking is just as effective for improving your cardiovascular health, burning calories, and improving circulation.

If you are prone to exercise-induced headaches but still want to get your daily dose of sweat, walking is a great option. A good start is to take a short 10 to 15-minute walk every day and gradually increase the pace and duration, always paying attention to and avoiding any potential triggers. The most important thing is to make sure you listen to your body and avoid overexerting yourself, as that can also trigger a migraine.

Also, when working out, always make sure to:

Avoid exercising in hot, humid environments
Always warm-up and cool down
Stay hydrated

Proper warm-up and cool-down

Warm-up for 10 minutes: Warming up prepares your body for exercising and gradually revs up your cardiovascular system by raising your body temperature and increasing blood flow to your muscles. Warming up may also help reduce muscle soreness and lessen your risk of injury. Light stretching before exercising will also loosen your muscles and tendons. This will increase flexibility and range of motion during your workout.

Cool-down for 10 minutes: A sudden stop in physical activity can cause blood pooling in your legs, your blood pressure could drop and you could get very dizzy. The point of cooling down is to give your heart rate the opportunity to get back to its normal rate. Cooling down can minimize the risk of feeling dizzy or faint and can help to prevent muscle soreness. You can do this by walking at a moderate pace. Be sure to also stretch immediately following a workout as part of your cool-down routine.

Every time you move you’re expending water from your body. After an intense workout, you need to replenish water supplies—this helps decrease muscle soreness and increase strength and flexibility.

Exercise is an important part of living a full, healthy life. If you suffer migraine or other conditions, you may want to discuss starting an exercise routine with your physician.

Migraine Awareness Week U.K. | Sept 6-12, 2020

Migraine Awareness Week (MAW) is an annual campaign in the United Kingdom to draw attention to migraine, educate the public, increase understanding, and reduce stigma. One out of every 7 people suffers migraine. It is an important public health problem in the UK, associated with very substantial costs. Increased awareness about the effects of migraines results in better outcomes, increased access to migraine care as well as empowerment and validation for those diagnosed. There are almost 200,000 migraine attacks every day in the U.K. and migraine sufferers lose 25 million days from work or school each year because of them. Although it is the third most common disease in the world, affecting an estimated one in seven people globally, migraine remains underdiagnosed and undertreated. For more information and support for migraines and headaches in the U.K., visit the links below.

To get involved with MAW, increase awareness, or join a meetup… visit the Migraine Trust’s Migraine Awareness Week page.

Organizations concerned with migraines and headaches in the U.K.

The Migraine Trust, a charity which supports sufferers, educates healthcare professionals and funds research into migraine and other headaches.
The National Migraine Center, the only national charity in the UK that offers treatment and support for migraine sufferers without the need for a GP referral.
The British Association for the Study of Headache, a national organization focused on raising the profile of headache and its surrounding issues.
OUCH, an organization focused on raising public awareness of Cluster Headaches, and offering support and guidance to sufferers.
The International Headache Society, a world-wide organisation for those with a professional commitment to headache, publishes the international headache journal ‘Cephalalgia.’
Trigeminal Neuralgia Association UK (TNA UK), a charity providing information and support while raising awareness of TN within the medical community and general public.
European Headache Alliance (EHA): Advocating for the rights and needs of the 80 million people in Europe living with a headache disorder.
European Headache Federation (EHF): Improving awareness of headache disorders and their impact among governments, health care providers and consumers across Europe.

To the Best of Health,
The MigreLief Team at Akeso Health Sciences

What Should I Do if I Have a Migraine? | Home Treatments

Home treatments for migraine include:

Home treatments include:

• Lie down in a quiet, dark room and relax. (Turn off the lights and close the shades.) Light of any kind, especially bright light can aggravate a migraine.

• Use a cold or wet compress, (cool wet cloth or ice pack.) (For DIY ice-packs, click here)

• Drink plenty of fluids as soon as possible, preferably water.

• Use over the counter safe, pain relief such as Advil or ibuprofen or take a nutritional supplement containing magnesium, feverfew, boswellia serrata and ginger, ingredients shown to beneficially support migraine sufferers.

• Sometimes massaging the scalp or back of the neck and shoulders can help relieve the pain.

• Avoid scents if you are sensitive to smells. However, aromatherapy may help for some migraine sufferers. Peppermint, spearmint, lavender, and rosemary essential oil roll-on applied to temples back of the neck or inside of the wrist may soothe and relax.

• Call your physician if you have any concerns

MigreLief-NOW “as-needed” formula

Children’s MigreLief, Un Suplemento Eficaz Para Niños Con Migraña

Desde el MigreLief Niños comunicado de prensa en 2010, miles de niños han recuperado la calidad de vida con MigreLief. Si usted sabe de un niño que sufre migrañas crónicas, informarles de su alternativa natural.

Reimpresión Pulse MigreLief versión infantil, Iniciar Angeles, CA

Una de las cosas más difíciles para un padre que hacer es ver a sus hijos en el dolor. Sin embargo, cada día millones de padres tienen que ver con impotencia como sus hijos sufren de ataques debilitadores. Alrededor de uno de cada 10 niños, es decir, casi 8 millones de niños en los Estados Unidos solamente se ven afectados por lo que se ha convertido en el patrón más común de dolor de cabeza agudo y recurrente que sufren los niños hoy en día.

“Ya se trate de suplementos, medicamentos de venta libre o medicamentos con receta, MigreLief de los niños es el primer y único tratamiento desarrollado específicamente para niños que sufren de migraña”, explica Curt Hendrix MSCCN, SNC, científico y creador de MigreLief niños. Estas experiencias a menudo incapacitante huelga de repente y a menudo con síntomas que la acompañan de náuseas, dolor abdominal y vómitos. Hasta ahora, la única opción disponible es el uso de medicamentos de efectos secundarios receta propensos en realidad causar más migrañas, conocidas como cefaleas de rebote. Pero MigreLief niños ofrece a los padres de niños que sufren migrañas una opción nutricional seguro, sin ninguna de las potencialmente perjudiciales efectos secundarios de los medicamentos recetados.

Hendrix, explica, “no hay un medicamento con receta aprobado por la FDA para su uso por los niños que sufren de migrañas. Los efectos secundarios de estos medicamentos son importantes para los adultos y no una mayoría de los padres la opción que desea someter a un niño de. MigreLief de los niños es la solución perfecta … una vitamina, un mineral y una planta, todos ellos bien conocidos por su seguridad, eficacia y bajo los efectos secundarios para establecer la función vascular normal en lugar de toda la vida en el dolor y los medicamentos abortivos. ”

MigreLief contiene un sistema patentado de “terapia triple” para restablecer el tono normal y la función cerebral que se ve alterado en los niños que sufren de migrañas. Deficiencias nutricionales, la inflamación y el vasoespasmo puede de manera independiente y en conjunto contribuyen a la aparición de migraña, la frecuencia e intensidad. MigreLief niños contiene la misma “terapia triple” ingredientes como MigreLief pero con las dosis y tamaños de pastilla adaptarse a las necesidades de los niños.

Ingredientes de MigreLief; Puracol, una mezcla patentada de dos fuentes únicas matricaria, el magnesio a partir de dos fuentes y dosis alta, alta absorción de riboflavina (vitamina B-2) de forma independiente han demostrado ser de gran beneficio preventiva a los enfermos de migraña crónica.

MigreLief Niños – Edad 2-11 and MigreLief Original – Edad 12-adulto

Además del suplemento diario Children’s MigreLief, MigreLief -NOW es un suplemento nutricional de acción rápida para usar “según sea necesario” para el bienestar neurológico.

MIGRAINES? Never Underestimate the Power of Nutrition

Everyday thousands of migraine sufferers are reclaiming their lives with MigreLief, a safe nutritional option for neurological health.

Migraine Dilemma

Prevention and treatment of migraine is incredibly important. Researchers are discovering that “migraines beget migraines,” the more migraines you have, the greater your tendency for future migraines. Evidence shows an increased sensitivity after each successive attack, eventually leading to chronic daily migraines in some individuals.

Why you should not wait to get your migraines under control.

Migraines are painful, debilitating and rob you of your life.
Migraines lead to more migraines.
Migraines increase your risk of depression and stroke
Recurring migraines or “rebound headaches” can result from overuse of medications
Popular medications are often associated with undesirable side-effects
Migraine is listed in the top 20 most disabling diseases by the World Health Organization (WHO)

Have you run the gambit of migraine treatments only to end up right back where you started, living a lifestyle of recurring migraines and pain medication that provide only temporary relief?

Consider key nutrients to make a difference.

Why MigreLief is CLEARLY the #1 choice for migraine sufferers:

Nutritional, non-prescription dietary supplement formulated to address the underlying nutritional deficiencies and imbalances many migraine sufferers have in common that can cause migraines.
Safe for men, women and children 2 years of age or older without harmful side-effects
Recognized and recommended by doctors, pharmacists and leading headache clinics
Triple action ingredients in one convenient supplement

MigreLief Original Ingredients -Each daily dose contains:

Magnesium (oxide & citrate) 360 mg
Feverfew (Puracol – proprietary extract and whole-leaf) 100 mg
Riboflavin (Vitamin B-2) 400 mg

Magnesium, riboflavin and feverfew are listed in ‘The American Academy of Neurology’s Evidence Based Guidelines for Migraine Prophylaxis’
MigreLief Original (daily) my be taken by itself or combined with MigreLief-NOW, Akeso’s as-needed migraine formula.
Triple therapy nutritional approach to addressing dysfunctional brain processes while helping to maintain normal cerebrovascular tone and function.
The United States patent office has recognized the unique and synergistic science behind the MigreLief formulation with two patents (third patent pending).
Trusted dietary supplement used by over 100,000 migraine sufferers worldwide since 1997.
Created by scientist Curt Hendrix, M.S., C.C.N., C.N.S, Chief Scientific Officer of Akeso Health Sciences; and two time recipient of NIH (National Institutes of Health) sponsored grants and NIH appointed Principal Scientific Investigator for the development of his all-natural based compound for arresting the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

Magnesium (two forms)
Riboflavin (B-2)
Puracol™ Feverfew (proprietary form of the whole leaf and extract)

MigreLief+M contains the same 3 ingredients as the original MigreLief plus 6 additional ingredients that help to balance hormones and blood sugar swings.

For more product details, visit the official MigreLief website to learn more or buy.

Daily Formulas include: Original MigreLief, Children’s MigreLief, and MigreLief+M (Menstrual Migraine Formula)
“As-Needed” Formula: MigreLief-NOW (taken on-the-spot for extra nutritional support when needed)

Telehealth for Migraine Patients – What You Need to Know

It’s impossible to count all the ways the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has altered our day to day lives. From working remotely to homeschooling, many of our daily activities have drifted over to the virtual arena.

Several months into the COVID-19 pandemic and a constellation of words, terms, and phrases have entered our everyday language to help us make sense of everything that’s going on, and to stay safe and informed during these uncertain times. Among the most common terms that we hear today are telemedicine or telehealth, but there is still a lot of confusion about what these services are and who can – or should – use them.

What is telehealth?

Telehealth, also called telemedicine, is the utilization of technology to provide healthcare services. It can include real-time video visits, secure phone consultations, and any other service that can be delivered virtually (like online test results).

The ongoing COVID-19 outbreak has brought telemedicine to the center stage, but the idea of connecting with a healthcare provider for a medical consultation remotely has been gaining popularity in America for the past few years.

The convenience of telemedicine is making it an increasingly popular alternative to in-person visits. With a telemedicine appointment, you can talk to your doctor from the comfort of your own home, without having to take time off work to sit in a waiting room for hours. Some doctors also conduct telemedicine appointments outside regular business hours, making it even more convenient for busy people.

It also gives you access to information and specialists that you may not have been able to access otherwise. Just by having an internet connection and a smart device, people are now able to consult with out of state practitioners, which is a major advantage for those not living near a specialist or that live in rural parts of the country.

Telemedicine for migraine patients

While telemedicine has become significantly more available and convenient as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, migraine researchers already knew that at-home appointments are a feasible, cost-effective alternative to in-office follow-up visits.

Virtual neurologist appointment

In 2017, a research study published in Neurology found that for migraine patients, seeing a neurologist through telemedicine can be as effective as seeing them in person. The study, conducted in Norway from 2012 to 2015, involved over 400 people who had been referred by their doctors to a neurologist for non-acute headaches. Half of the participants had a regular office visit with their neurologist. The other half had their consultation via video.

At the end of the study, the investigators found that telemedicine appointments were not only shorter than regular office visits (38.8 vs. 43.7 minutes), but the outcomes were equal for the in-person and telemedicine consultations.

Another study with 45 participants found that telemedicine was a feasible alternative to in-office visits after conducting 89 successful virtual migraine follow-up visits over the course of a year.

Making the most out of your telemedicine appointment

Being prepared will let you make the most out of your virtual visit. Here are some tips:

Contact your health insurance provider to make sure your plan covers your appointment.
Gather all essential information to have it on hand during the appointment. Essential information can be things like:

Your medical history (if you are seeing the doctor for the first time)
A list of any symptoms you may be having
A list of medications you take
Your headache diary

Consider technical aspects (what platform will be used for the visit, how do you access it, etc.).
Write down questions to ask.
Find a quiet, private place to sit down. If you are doing a video consultation, make sure the area is well-lit and has a strong internet connection.

Menstrual Migraines – Prevention is Key

Menstrual migraines often lead to chronic migraines. A preventive regimen is key to controlling fluctuating hormones and blood sugar swings, both well-known migraine triggers.

Headaches in women, particularly migraines, have been related to changes in the levels of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone before, during and after a woman’s menstrual cycle. These hormone levels fluctuate dramatically and are also associated with a large percentage of migraines in women approaching menopause.

Menstrual migraines are real

DO NOT WAIT! Why you should start managing your migraines today:

Menstrual migraines are often more severe, last longer and are more difficult to treat.
Migraines that first occur around your menstrual cycle may become chronic over time.
Migraines beget migraines… Researchers believe the more you have the more you get.
Migraines are connected to increased stroke risk.
Migraines are listed in the top 20 most disabling diseases by the World Health Organization.
Migraines can lead to “Rebound Headaches” or MOH (medication overuse headaches) a vicious cycle of recurring migraines that can be difficult to break.
Why MigreLief+M is the first choice for chronic migraine sufferers:

Menstrual related migraines can be broken down into 3 categories:

Premenstrual migraines, which occur just prior to the commencement of menstruation
Menstrual migraines which occur during menstruation
Late menstrual migraines which occur shortly after menstruation ends

All 3 types of menstrual-related migraine attacks are often more severe, last significantly longer and are more resistant to treatment than the usual non-menstrual migraine attacks. According to a study published in the medical journal, Cephalalgia:

On average, a menstrual migraine lasted 23.4 hours vs 16.1 hours for non-menstrual migraines.
Menstrual migraines cause more disability and inability to function in daily tasks than non-menstrual migraines
Medications to treat the pain of migraines were 50% less effective when used to treat menstrual migraines.
Even when the pain medication did work, the risk of the menstrual migraine reoccurring was much more likely.

The authors of the study concluded by saying – “Menstrual migraines may require a treatment approach different from that of non-menstrual migraines.”

Consider dietary supplements as part of your menstrual migraine regimen.

Nutritional supplements shown in studies to benefit menstrual migraine sufferers include:

High dose Riboflavin (Vitamin B-2, 400 mg/day)*
Puracol Feverfew (100 mg/day)*
Magnesium (citrate/oxide, 360mg/day)*
Chasteberry extract (175 mg/day)
L-Theanine (100 mg/day)
D-Biotin (15 mg/day)
Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (vitamin B-6, 100 mg/day)
Chromium Picolinate (1,000 mcg/day)

MENOPAUSE & MIGRAINES

Migraine headaches can severely affect women undergoing the changes of menopause. Statistics indicate that migraines in women tend to increase during the approach to menopause and during menopause; however, they tend to decrease or go away after menopause.

Some women who have never had migraines develop them as they enter the period before (pre and peri-menopause) and during menopause. A women’s monthly cycle causes significant fluctuations in estrogen during certain times of the month. These hormonal fluctuations (decreasing levels of estrogen) are known to trigger menstrual migraines in as many as 1/3 to 1/2 of women with migraines.

Migraine during menopause

Therefore, the decreasing levels of estrogen associated with menopause, may also trigger migraines in women. Prevention through diet, exercise and supplementation can help to regulate these fluctuations. If your migraines, whether hormonal or not, are occurring several times a month or more, and you find yourself unable to function while reaching for pain medications more and more, you are a good candidate for migraine prevention, to stop migraines from occurring in the first place.

DO NOT WAIT TO GET YOUR MENSTRUAL MIGRAINES UNDER CONTROL

Migraines that first occur around your menstrual cycle may become chronic over time for many reasons. “Migraines beget migraines – the more of them you have, the more vulnerable you become to having another,” according to Dr. Andrew Charles director of the Headache Research and Treatment Program in the UCLA Department of Neurology. He goes on to explain, “We’ve begun to see from researchers that the frequency of migraine attack is linked to permanent changes in the brain, and I think that changes the playing field for patients and those of us who take care of them.” Migraines (menstrual or otherwise) are a risk factor for depression and can also lead to the vicious cycle of “Rebound Headaches” otherwise known as Medication Overuse Headaches.

Continuously treating the pain and other symptoms of migraine with prescription and over-the-counter drugs can eventually increase the frequency and tendency of your migraines. This is a difficult cycle to break.

Migraine prevention is key.

Medication Overuse Headaches – Recurring Migraines

MIGRAINE PAIN CAN BE SO DEBILITATING – FOR SOME, JUST WAITING FOR IT TO GO AWAY IS NOT AN OPTION

At least 30 million people in the U.S. alone suffer from migraine headaches. For those who have chronic migraines (pain 15 days a month or more), the pain can be so debilitating that just waiting for it to go away, is not an option. So those sufferers resort to either over the counter pain medications like Excedrin Migraine or prescription medications like Imitrex, or Zomig (called Triptans).

MEDICATION OVERUSE – WHY DOES IT HAPPEN?

Of course, the question needs to be asked, “Why would a person who originally starts out using them, once a week, get to a point where he or she is actually using them several times a week?

The answers to this question, though not obvious when you are desperate and in pain, are very simple. Either the migraines are occurring more frequently, the migraines are more painful, or the drug isn’t working as well as it originally did.

Either way, whichever answer fits your particular situation, the prognosis is not good. You now need these drugs even more because your problem is now worse, NOT better.

REBOUND HEADACHES – A VICIOUS CYCLE

“Here’s how experts think a rebound headache starts. Normally, when you take a pain reliever for an occasional headache, the medicine turns off pain receptors in the brain. But in a person prone to headaches — especially migraine headaches — pain relievers taken more than two to three days a week on a regular basis can make the pain receptors more sensitive than usual.

Consequently, as soon as the medicine wears off, these hyper-sensitive receptors turn on to produce a new headache. That leads the headache sufferer to take more medicine, which, in turn, leads to more headaches — a truly vicious cycle. Before long, most rebound patients are taking headache medicine every single day.

THE CAFFEINE CONNECTION

It is infuriating to think that products like Excedrin Migraine contain caffeine. It is well known that caffeine is addictive. People trying to wean off caffeine go through major symptoms of drug withdrawal, including more headaches. Dr. Alex Mauskop director of the New York Headache Clinic stated that “Getting off caffeine is one of the best things that migraine sufferers can do to reduce the frequency of their headaches.”

Yet this is much easier said than done and the makers of these products know it!

If any of the following signs apply to you, you are probably experiencing Rebound/Medication Overuse Headaches and have probably realized by now, that spending the rest of your life taking pain medications is NOT the answer.

You suffer from headaches daily or every other day.
Your pain intensifies about three hours after your last dose of medication.
Your pain medications don’t work as well as they used to.
You take more medication, but your headaches are worse.
You rely on more pills, and you take them more often.
You take medication even for mild headaches, and you often try to ward off a headache by using a medication.
You take pain relievers three to four days a week, and you average more than three tablets per day. (This depends on the kind of medication you’re taking, so you’ll need your doctor’s advice.)
Your pain runs the gamut from mild to moderate to horrible. Usually, the pain is a dull ache that you feel on both sides of your forehead and, sometimes, on the top or back of your head.
Your headaches occur much more frequently.

To get your life back, it may be time to stop the insanity, take yourself off auto-pilot, break the cycle of misery, and opt for prevention. It is clearly the most logical and safest approach. When I created the natural migraine preventive supplement, MigreLief, it was my firm belief that preventing migraines before they start, is preferable to spending a lifetime treating the symptoms and risking undesirable or even dangerous side-effects.

TIME TO DETOX!

WITHDRAWING FROM MEDICATIONS TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF RECURRING MIGRAINES

Research has shown that withdrawing (detoxing) from these drugs can in many cases reduce the total number of headaches you experience as well as the intensity of those headaches. Withdrawal is not easy and the symptoms of withdrawal can be challenging, but the results are definitely worth it for most sufferers. Be sure to check with your doctor if you have any concerns.

For triptans, the detox period during which there may be withdrawal symptoms, like continuing headaches, nausea, vomiting, and disrupted sleep will last about 4-5 days on average.

The symptoms may last up to 8-10 days for withdrawing from opiates, ergots, or OTC drugs.

The literature and research state that it is important to start a preventive routine prior to or at the same time you start the detox program.

We recommend starting MigreLief one week before withdrawing from the drug that is being over-used.

MigreLief DOES NOT CONTAIN, aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen or caffeine.

There seems to be little difference in the ultimate results and success of whether people withdraw “cold turkey” or gradually.

Keep a rescue pain medication available that is different from the medication that has been over-used, for emergency situations, only!

So if you are withdrawing from triptans or opiates, keep ibuprofen or Excedrin Migraine available, BUT JUST FOR EMERGENCIES WHERE THE PAIN CAN NO LONGER BE TOLERATED. USE THE RESCUE MEDICATION VERY SPARINGLY; YOU DON’T WANT TO SWITCH FROM OVER-USING ONE DRUG FOR A NEW ONE. (THAT WILL GET YOU NOWHERE!).

If withdrawing from OTC medications, keep a triptan or opiate drug available for an emergency rescue situation only.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO STAY VERY WELL HYDRATED.
DRINK AS MUCH WATER AS POSSIBLE.

At the end of 5-10 days, depending upon what medication you are withdrawing from, you should find that your rebound headaches have significantly diminished or disappeared.

Your use of the offending medication should be either eliminated or substantially reduced.

45% of sufferers who go through this program may relapse. It is important to continue the use of a preventive product and to keep the use of rescue medications prone to trigger rebound headaches to an absolute minimum to avoid a relapse.

CONSIDER TAKING A MIGRELIEF DAILY SUPPLEMENT TO SUPPORT AND MAINTAIN NORMAL CEREBROVASCULAR TONE AND FUNCTION, PLUS… MIGRELIEF-NOW “AS-NEEDED” FOR FAST ACTING NEUROLOGICAL COMFORT.

MigreLief Migraine Supplements are available in 3 daily maintenance formulas (Original, Children’s and Menstrual Migraines) and 1 rescue formula (MigreLief-NOW) to be taken as needed.

Can Drinking Alcohol Trigger a Migraine Attack?

Sipping a nice glass of red wine during a romantic date or gulping down a beer or two on a hot summer day with friends can be a harmless, relaxing activity. But when you are prone to getting migraines, having a single drink can be enough to trigger a head-splitting headache.

Drinking alcohol is as embedded in our society as having a cup of coffee in the morning. According to the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an astonishing 70 percent of respondents 18 years and older reported having at least one drink during the past year, and more than half (55.3 percent) claimed that they drank in the past month.

You’ve probably heard more conflicting information about alcohol than any other substance. On the one hand, moderate amounts of it have been associated with potential health benefits, like reducing the risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, and ischemic stroke. On the other, heavy alcohol use can increase your likelihood of developing serious health issues, including several types of cancer, liver disease, pancreatitis, and ironically, heart disease.

But, what about headaches and migraines? Alcohol has long been associated with the development of headaches, with many migraine sufferers cutting back on its consumption in hopes of reducing the frequency and severity of their attacks. The connection between alcohol and headaches is well-known, and there is mounting evidence that confirms that this connection may be particularly true for headache and migraine-prone people. However, recent studies indicate that it may be the type of alcohol, rather than just drinking, what most likely triggers a migraine in some people.

The Link Between Alcohol and Migraines

Alcohol is a liquid produced by fermenting certain foods such as grains, fruits, or vegetables. While people often use the word ‘alcohol’ to describe any substance that can make you drunk, ethanol, the main psychoactive ingredient of alcohol, is responsible for its intoxicating effects.

Although alcohol’s exact mechanism in triggering a migraine isn’t completely understood, several components of alcoholic drinks may contribute to headaches. However, more research is needed to fully understand the links between these compounds and migraine sufferers’ brains.

Histamine

If you have allergies, you are probably familiar with the word ‘histamine.’ It is a chemical made by the immune system that protects you against foreign invaders. When the body secretes it, it triggers an immediate inflammatory response, expanding your blood vessels and making you itch, cough, sneeze, and tear up.

Histamine is also naturally present in several foods and drinks, including alcoholic beverages and particularly red wine. Several problems can occur when histamine levels stay too high for too long, including a histamine intolerance. Histamine intolerances happen when there is an overproduction of histamine in the body. When levels are too high, people often experience headaches, migraines, sinus issues, digestive issues, and fatigue, among others.

Tyramine

A naturally-occurring byproduct of protein-rich foods, tyramine is produced when the tyrosine of certain protein-rich foods breaks down during the preservation, fermentation, or aging processes. The relationship between tyramine and migraines has been widely studied, and research shows that this organic compound may activate specific neurotransmitters in the brain that could induce headaches.

Darker alcoholic beverages, including tap or homebrewed beer, red wine, vermouth, sherry, and others, are higher in tyramine than clear drinks like vodka and gin.

Other Alcohol Byproducts

Although more scientific proof is needed to establish which, if any, alcohol byproducts trigger migraines, sulfites, flavonoid phenols, and tannins are also thought to cause headaches in some people.

Is Red Wine a Migraine Trigger?

Alcohol doesn’t seem to be a migraine trigger for every migraineur, but many do find red wine especially triggering for them. Red wine contains between 20 and 200 times more histamine than white wine, depending on its individual characteristics (type, age, etc.). It is also rich in tannins, which may change serotonin levels in the brain and may trigger headaches in susceptible individuals.

That doesn’t mean that red wine is the only alcoholic beverage that triggers headaches. Darker color spirits like whiskey and brandy tend to have more byproducts than clear alcohols and are more likely to cause migraines in sensitive people.

Bottom Line

Alcohol is a migraine trigger for some people. While not every migraineur will get a headache from having a few drinks, migraine or headache-prone individuals should avoid drinking excessively.

If you suspect that alcohol might be behind your migraine attacks, consider cutting back entirely or switching your drink of choice. And because summer is here and everybody wants to cool off with a refreshing drink, here are two non-alcoholic cocktail recipes that are so delicious that you won’t even miss the alcohol!

Virgin Frozen Margaritas

Ingredients:

Lime wedge
1/3 cup coarse sugar
2 cups frozen strawberries
1/3 cup orange juice
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons agave or honey
Fresh strawberries for garnish

Instructions:

Prepare margarita glasses: add coarse sugar to a shallow bowl. Wet the rim of the glasses with the lime wedge and dip the glass top in the sugar to coat the rim.
Place frozen strawberries, orange juice, lime juice, and agave or honey into a blender. Blend until combine and taste, add more agave or honey if necessary.
Pour drink into prepared glasses and garnish with a sliced strawberry on top.

Non-alcoholic Piña Colada

Ingredients:

1 (10-oz.) bag frozen pineapple chunks
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk
½ cup pineapple juice
¼ cup ice
Pineapple wedges for garnish (optional)
Maraschino cherries for garnish (optional)

Instructions:

Place all the frozen pineapple chunks, coconut milk, pineapple juice, and ice into a blender.
Puree until smooth.
Pour drinks into glasses and top with a pineapple wedge and a maraschino cherry.

What is a Migraine? Common Migraine Symptoms and Types

Migraine is a neurological condition that can cause multiple symptoms including throbbing head pain. While there are many things experts still don’t know about migraines, research suggests that there may be a chemical or anatomical difference in migraine sufferers’ brains that make them more susceptible to certain migraine triggers. There are no blood tests for migraines. Migraines don’t cause brain abnormalities that a CT scan or an MRI can detect, although these tests are sometimes ordered to diagnose other problems that cause severe headaches.

A common symptom of migraine is a severe, incapacitating headache that may begin as a dull ache and then turn into a constant, throbbing pain felt on one side of the head and often both sides of the head in children.

Migraines affect individuals differently, with varying degrees of pain and other symptoms. Specific types of migraines are diagnosed by their symptoms. Although symptoms may vary, most migraines affect only one side of the brain therefore pain is experienced most often on one side of the head. Unlike adults, children may experience pain on both sides of the head (frontal area). Accompanying symptoms may include nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, visual or sensory disturbances (aura), and sensitivity to light or sound. Symptoms may last 4 to 72 hours. Children often experience symptoms without head pain (abdominal pain, vertigo, dizziness, vomiting) that last for a short duration which is why migraine in children is often misdiagnosed.

Migraine is three times more common in women than in men and affects more than 10 percent of people worldwide. Migraine headaches often begin in childhood, adolescence or early adulthood. While adults typically have one-sided headaches, children often experience pain on both sides of the head, and the headaches are commonly accompanied by sensitivity to light and sound. Pediatric migraines are usually much shorter in duration than adult migraines, making them hard to treat. Sometimes the child will develop a severe headache, stomach pain or nausea, and then vomit and the episode is over. For this reason, parents and doctors alike may misdiagnose. Migraines may be chronic (daily, weekly, monthly) or episodic, such as once or twice a year.

There are 4 distinct phases or stages to a migraine: Prodromal (aka Premonitory), Aura, Pain and Postdrome.

It is during the first two phases (prodromal and aura) that you get hints that a migraine is coming, and recognizing these hints (symptoms) may give you the edge you need to fight back and either prevent the migraine entirely or decrease the severity and or duration of the pain phase (which is obviously the most debilitating and problematic).

The Prodrome Stage – About 65% of migraine sufferers experience the prodrome phase. In the prodrome stage, sufferers experience emotional or physical symptoms two hours to two days before the pain phase starts.

These symptoms can occur in migraineurs with and without aura:

Fatigue
Yawning
Appetite changes
Altered mood – depression
Muscle Stiffness – especially in the neck
Appetite changes
Digestive changes – (some sufferers vomit up food they ate quite a while ago)
Irritability
Euphoria
Food cravings
Constipation
Diarrhea
Sensitivity to odors, noise and light
Increased urination

Physicians who specialize in migraine treatment find that only 30% of sufferers recognize that they have one or more of the “prodrome” symptoms until they are actually told what symptoms to look for. Once informed then up to 80% of sufferers report having one or more of them.

The Aura Stage – Less than half of migraine sufferers experience the aura stage. During this stage, about one-third of patients experience visual or sensory disturbances including a few hours before the pain starts, including:

Flashing lights, stars or sparkles of light, zig-zag lines
Blind spots (scotomas) or colored spots
Tunnel vision or temporary loss of sight
Confusion
Slurred speech / trouble speaking.
Numbness and tingling on parts of the body (parathesias)
Hypersensitivity to touch

The Pain Stage (Headache Attack) – The onset of the pain stage can start within minutes or sometimes hours of the commencement of the aura stage. In addition to pain, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light (photophobia) sound (phonophobia) and movement may also be experienced. This stage can last an hour to 1-3 days. Migraine duration is usually shorter in children.

The Postdrome Stage (Recovery) – During this stage of migraine, even though the pain is gone, some sufferers can feel exhausted, depressed and/or, residual neck pain. A mild headache may also flare up during this stage especially when bending over or moving too quickly.

WHAT IS A CHRONIC MIGRAINE?

Chronic Migraine is a condition defined as 15 or more headache days a month with each headache lasting 4 hours or more. If you experience Chronic Migraine, at least half of your headaches are migraines.

TYPES OF MIGRAINES:

Migraines without aura

Not all migraines are the same. But many people experience:

Throbbing pain
Sensitivity to light and/or sound
Nausea

Classic Migraine (Migraine with Aura):

1 in 5 people who get migraines have auras. An aura is a feeling or series of sensations that come about 10 to 30 minutes before a migraine attack.

Common symptoms of aura include:

Seeing flashing lights, zigzag lines, or blind spots
Feeling numbness or tingling in the face or hands
Having a disturbed sense of smell, taste, or touch
Feeling mentally “fuzzy”

The aura may be followed by some or all of the symptoms of a migraine without aura.

BASILAR MIGRAINES – COMPLICATED MIGRAINE or (Migraine with brain-stem aura – MBA)

Basilar migraine is a rare type of complicated migraine with symptoms caused by disorders of the lower part of the brain. It’s also called Basilar-Type Migraine or Basilar Artery Migraine. This type of migraine starts in the lower part of the brain called the brain stem. Typical symptoms can include visual disturbances in both eyes (double vision), speaking difficulties, lack of coordination, tingling in the hands and feet, dizziness, vertigo, or ringing in the ears. Each of these symptoms usually only lasts up to one hour. Many symptoms may occur with anxiety and hyperventilation, which makes migraine difficult to diagnose

Who is at risk?

Early research suggested that basilar migraine was most often in young women. Recent statistical analysis has shown that the basilar migraine affects all age groups and both male and female. However, basilar migraine, like other forms of migraine is more common in women.

Dizziness can be a symptom of basilar migraine

HEMIPLEGIC MIGRAINE

Hemiplegic migraine is a rare type of headache. It’s also one of the most serious and potentially debilitating migraine headaches. Hemiplegic migraine is a severe subtype of the group/type migraine with aura, that may be accompanied by temporary paralysis or stroke like symptoms on one side of the body called hemiplegia.

It generally includes a severe headache, but not always. Before the actual headache pain, a sufferer may experience the aura phase, temporary sensory disturbances in the following areas:

Vision
Muscle control and body sensations
Speech and language
Hearing

What Are the Symptoms of Hemiplegic Migraine Headaches?

Hemiplegic migraine symptoms often start in childhood. Then for some people, they disappear in adulthood. The stroke-like symptoms can range from worrisome to debilitating. Migraines are unpredictable and unique to each person. You may have a hemiplegic migraine headache with extreme pain and minor paralysis one month. Then, the next attack might bring extreme paralysis without much headache pain at all.

Symptoms of hemiplegic migraine include:

Severe, throbbing pain, often on one side of your head
A pins-and-needles feeling, often moving from your hand up your arm
Numbness on one side of your body, which can include your arm, leg, and/or one side of your face
Weakness or paralysis on one side of your body
Loss of balance and coordination
Visual aura, such as seeing zigzag lines, double vision, or blind spots
Language difficulties, such as mixing words or trouble remembering a word
Slurred speech
Dizziness or vertigo
Nausea and vomiting
Extreme sensitivity to light, sound, and smell
Confusion
Decreased consciousness or coma

With hemiplegic migraine, the aura can be more severe and last longer than with other types of migraine with aura. Symptoms usually last from five minutes to one hour. It’s rare, but some people gradually develop long-lasting difficulty with movement and coordination.

OPHTHALMOPLEGIC MIGRAINE
This type of migraine is a nervous system problem that affects the eyes. There may be pain surrounding the eye, droopy eyelids, or double vision. Harsh lights and screens, eyestrain, and other weakening visual activities can trigger ophthalmoplegic migraine attacks.

RETINAL (OPHTHALMIC) MIGRAINE
This migraine involves repeated attacks of black spots (scotomas) or temporary blindness in one eye, usually followed by a headache (but not always). They can start with a pattern of black spots that gradually get bigger and cause complete loss of vision in one eye. This can last 10 to 20 minutes to an hour.

VESTIBULAR MIGRAINE – The term “vestibular migraine” is not a real medical classification. A more accurate description would be migraine with vestibular symptoms. The vestibular system in the inner ear, is one that maintains balance and equilibrium. Therefore vestibular symptoms are dizziness, vertigo (a sense of spinning or motion when at rest), or loss of balance and disequilibrium. Vestibular migraine is considered one of the most common causes of recurrent spontaneous vertigo attacks. Because of the broad spectrum of symptoms with or without headache, it is not always a clear-cut diagnosis and experts believe vestibular migraine is often underdiagnosed.

MENSTRUAL MIGRAINE – This term refers to migraine attacks that occur just before, during or after a woman’s monthly menstrual cycle. There are two subtypes of menstrual migraine: Pure Menstrual Migraine (PMM), and Menstrually Related Migraine (MRM). Women with PMM have exclusively perimenstrual attacks (occur at the time of menstruation), while women with MRM have additional non-menstrual attacks throughout the menstrual cycle.

ABDOMINAL MIGRAINE

Abdominal migraine is one of the most common causes of abdominal pain in children and can also occur in teens and adults. Although the pain will come and go, it is severely debilitating during a migraine episode, is very distressing for children. Recurring abdominal pain can have a drastic effect on a child’s overall quality of life and school performance.

Abdominal pain in childhood accounts for 2-4% of office visits to the doctor and 50% of referrals to pediatric gastroenterologists. Even though it is a well recognized type of pediatric migraine with specific diagnostic criteria under the International Classification of Headache Disorders, it is often underdiagnosed by both pediatricians and pediatric gastroenterologists. The diagnosis of abdominal migraine is much more prevalent in Europe than in the United States. In the U.S. it is often misdiagnosed as doctors are still struggling to understand it. Many doctors can only make an accurate diagnosis years after the abdominal migraines when the child becomes a teen and then develops classic migraines. Parents should be extra cautious as children could be subjected to unnecessary surgery if the condition is misdiagnosed. Children with a family history of migraine are at higher risk for abdominal migraines, including children who experience motion sickness. It is more prevalent in girls than in boys. The triggers for abdominal migraines are similar to the things that trigger normal migraines. Abdominal migraines are diagnosed in children and adults who meet these criteria:

At least five attacks of abdominal pain that each last 1 to 72 hours
Dull pain around the belly button, moderate to severe in intensity
At least two of these symptoms: appetite loss, nausea, vomiting, pale skin
Other abdominal migraine symptoms may include, headache and sensitivity to light and sound.

Abdominal migraines usually follow a pattern, same type of appearance, same time of day, and same duration with the symptoms going away completely between migraines. Doctors may use ultrasound or endoscopy to check for other potential causes of stomach pain and evaluate a patient’s medical history to determine a pattern.

Who gets migraine attacks?

Migraine can happen to anyone at any age.

Nearly 1 in 4 U.S. households includes someone with migraine.
12% of the population – including children – suffers from migraine.
18% of American women, 6% of men, and 10% of children experience migraines.
Migraine tends to run in families. About 90% of migraine sufferers have a family history of migraine.
A child who has one parent with migraine has a 50% chance of inheriting it and if both parents have migraine, the chances rise to 75%.

Migraine remains undiagnosed and undertreated in at least 50% of patients, and less than 50% of migraine sufferers consult a physician. This disorder can be debilitating and interfere with all aspects of life, especially for chronic migraine sufferers. Unless you know the symptoms, migraines may be difficult to diagnose, especially in children. If you suspect you or a loved one is experiencing migraines, keep track of what triggers those symptoms, what makes them better and what makes them worse. You can share those details with a physician for a proper diagnosis and implement a migraine prevention and migraine relief regimen.