What causes a migraine headache? I always thought it was caused by stress...and find it pretty hard to believe kids under 9 have stress in their lives UNLESS they are abused, or live in an abusive home (i.e., seeing someone else abused).
2006-09-17 19:54:13 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Pain & Pain Management
The blood vessels in your brain may get wider or narrower. This may cause swelling and pain.
Migraines run in families, but it is not clear why some people get migraines and others do not.
One theory about the cause of migraine is the blood flow theory, which focuses on blood vessel activity in the brain. Blood vessels either narrow or expand. Narrowing can constrict blood flow, causing problems with sight or dizziness. When the blood vessels expand, they press on nerves nearby, which causes pain.
Another theory focuses on chemical changes in the brain. When chemicals in the brain that send messages from one cell to another, including the messages to blood vessels to get narrow or expand, are interrupted, migraines can occur.
More recently, genes have been linked to migraine. People who get migraines may inherit abnormal genes that control the functions of certain brain cells. And something the person’s body is sensitive to in some way triggers the actual headaches.
Some causes are:
-lack of food or sleep
-bright light or loud noise
-hormone changes during the menstrual cycle
-stress and anxiety
-weather changes
-chocolate, alcohol, or nicotine
-some foods and food additives, such as MSG or nitrates
The main symptom of a migraine is a throbbing headache on one side of your head. You may also feel sick to your stomach and vomit. Activity, light, noise, or odors may make the migraine worse. The pain may move from one side of your head to the other, or you may feel it on both sides at the same time. Different people have different symptoms.
Some people have an aura before the migraine begins. When you have an aura, you may first see spots, wavy lines, or flashing lights. Your hands, arms, or face may tingle or feel numb. The aura usually starts about 30 minutes before the headache. But most people do not have auras.
2006-09-17 20:03:28 · answer #1 · answered by Arabs 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I started getting migraines when I was 12. The cause was found to be food intolerence for chocolate.
Children do have stress in their lives which is not related to abuse but I would suggest allergy testing to check for hypersensitivity or eliminating foodstuffs which are common triggers such as chocolate and cheese to see if the symptoms dissappear.
The Migraine Action Association identifies loads of triggers (not all food related) so it might be worth giving them a look.
By the way, it's not necessarily for life, I am now 30 and have been migraine free for about 10 years.
Best of luck!
2006-09-18 00:28:50 · answer #2 · answered by Padeecat 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I got migraine headaches when I was a child. There are numerous triggers other that stress. Foods and envoroment. Search for Migraine triggers.
I probably unusual for a child of that age but if they are going to get them, its gonna start somewhere.
2006-09-17 20:00:17 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
As others have said, migraines aren't just caused by stress. There are numerous possible triggers. I started getting migraines when I was 10. We determined at the time that the cause was mostly eye strain.
2006-09-18 05:53:45 · answer #4 · answered by Erin 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not necessarily stress. It could be many things but yes I have heard of it. My friend's mother had them when she was 7 through 10 yrs old. She surmised that it was caused by malnutrition due to poor diet. It was during the depression and they had little to eat. I am only implying that the causes are many.
2006-09-18 00:29:42 · answer #5 · answered by FrogDog 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes I have heard of kids getting migraines but it isn't necessarily due to stress though. alot of it has to do with heredity.
2006-09-17 20:08:06 · answer #6 · answered by Aquafina 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
my sister used to get migraines all the time as a kid, 6yrs old to present day she's 28.
kids do have stress, not like dults do, but stress at their level. when you are little, everything id big, and stressful.
2006-09-17 20:11:09 · answer #7 · answered by momoftrl 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Kids get mirgane headaches, the cause is an abnormality in the brain.
2006-09-17 20:02:06 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes definitely
2016-03-17 22:23:39 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
nope. never heard of it until now. =)
2006-09-17 19:56:58 · answer #10 · answered by jv637 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋