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cmb
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News Release
« on: Nov 2nd, 2004, 11:43am » |
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American Council for Headache Education
Contact: Linda McGillicuddy(856) 423-0043
For immediate release
Many Young Students Suffer from Migraine Headaches
Web Site Alerts Adults to Warning Signs and Ways to Help
Migraine headaches are more common in school-age children than many believe. A recent survey by the American Council for Headache Education (ACHE) revealed that school nurses reported that they see more than ten students a month for headaches, many of which may be migraine.
In fact, 4-5 percent of children suffer from migraine with many experiencing their first before the age of seven. That number increases dramatically after puberty, with as many as 11 percent suffering from migraines by late adolescence.
And yet, it’s not uncommon for both teachers and parents to disbelieve children when they say have a headache. Often the pain is viewed as an excuse not to attend school or to leave class.
Brenda Jowers, RN, a school nurse at University School of Nashville in Tennessee sees eight students each and every day complaining of headache. Jowers confirms that while some students may use a headache as an excuse to get out of class, most don’t.
“I check to see if their eyes hurt, if they see flashes of light, or feel nauseated,” she said. “If students report having these migraine symptoms, I make sure that their parents know.”
Teachers at the school watch for the signs of migraine also. While the students are highly competitive and often get headaches as a result of stress, a significant percentage are under a doctor’s care for migraine.
To help teachers, nurses, and parents distinguish between children who actually have headaches and those who don’t, ACHE has prepared information on how to recognize headache in students. It’s posted on the ACHE website at http://www.achenet.org/news/student_headaches.php.
“The site presents the warning signs for migraine and urges adults to take headaches seriously in school-age children,” said Jan Lewis Brandes, MD, president of ACHE and a neurologist who has seen young headache sufferers in her practice.
High school senior Jack Hicks, who has had migraine headaches since the sixth grade, hopes that people will pay attention to students with migraine.
“People need to understand there’s a huge difference in the amount of pain with a migraine,” he said. “It’s incapacitating. Often you really can’t function in school.”
The information on the site points out a number of ways to recognize migraine including:
· Awakening from sleep due to a headache
· Worsening or more frequent headaches
· Early morning vomiting without nausea
· Fever or a stiff neck
It also provides advice on medications that might be appropriate to treat migraine as well as severe tension-type headaches. And it offers tips to adults so they can ensure that children are getting enough sleep, drinking plenty of fluids, and aren’t suffering from too much stress.
Anyone who would like more background on the subject of kids and headache can also check out http://www.achenet.org/kids/.
The American Headache Society(www.ahsnet.org), founded in 1959, is the nation's professional organization for those interested in the study and management of headache and face pain. The Association's objectives are to promote the exchange of information and ideas concerning the causes and treatments of headache and related painful disorders. Educating physicians, health professionals, and the public and encouraging scientific research are the primary functions of the organization. The journal Headache is the official publication of the Association.
The American Council for Headache Education(www.achenet.org) is an affiliated organization of the American Headache Society for headache sufferers, family members, and the public. It can be reached at (800) 255-ACHE.
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unsolved1
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You must not have noticed that this is a CLUSTER HEADACHE site.
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Redrum
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Doh!
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Re: News Release
« Reply #2 on: Nov 2nd, 2004, 4:38pm » |
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But I think the advice to believe our kids when they say their head hurts is valid. We all know what its like to have people poopoo our pain.
~andy
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It's hard to be an optimist when the glass is shattered on the floor!
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