What Treatment is Recommended for Common Headaches?

Discussion Headache is pain in the scalp, forehead, orbits and temple. Facial and neck pain are usually excluded from this definition. It is a common problem with more than 6 million pediatric patients having migraine. Headaches can also have co-morbidities and more than 1 primary headache type can co-exist. The costs are high both economically and in the quality of life for the patients and families. A review of common headache types and indications for neuroimaging can be found here. Treatment is necessarily multi-pronged. Patients should understand their diagnosis so they can understand what reasonably can be expected from treatment, how they can prevent headaches and how they can help to treat themselves once the headache occurs. When patients and families think about treatment for headache they usually think about medications, but the first treatment should be behavior and lifestyle changes. A balanced, consistent lifestyle is recommended for anyone but especially individuals with headache. Discussing the patient’s current daily schedule can help identify problem areas to work on. Often sleep does not receive enough priority. Making a new plan that prioritizes self-care first especially around sleep, eating, and exercise and then filling in the day with school, work and recreational activities should help prevent headaches. Patients should: Participate in normal school, work and recreational activities as much as possible. Keeping involved also helps to mitigate...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news