Migraine Headaches and Genetics

Doctor have always known that many people who suffer with migraine headaches have a family history of migraine headaches. They have also known that people can inherit certain triggers that will induce a migraine headache. Until recently however, they did not know exactly how much of a factor this played. They were unsure what role genetics played in migraine headaches and many believed that migraines were caused by blood vessels on the brain.

Recently due to scientific breakthroughs in the human genome projects scientists now know that this is an inherited condition. Scientists have now found concrete proof that this is an inherited condition that affects the brain. They now understand that certain parts of the brain are affected, not the entire brain as was previously thought. Nerve cells in these parts of the brain are actually sending out signals to the blood vessels that tell them to tighten, then swell, and release different chemicals into the brain that will cause the pain and other symptoms people experience during a migraine headache. This is a very important discovery because knowing is leading to new discoveries and treatments in migraine headaches.

Scientists have even made a recent breakthrough and discovered genes of a rare form of migraine headache called hemiplegic familial migraine. Hemiplegic familial migraine is a type of migraine headache that will begin in childhood and will just stop during adulthood. This can only be traced through family history and has been discovered to have three different genetic mutations. By studying these genes scientist will be able to determine what the exact causes are and more importantly they will be able to create new treatments for these migraine headaches.

Scientists are also studying other types of migraine headaches and how genetics are playing a role in determining who will get them. They already know that genetics is one very important factor that will determine whether or not a person gets migraine headaches and they now know the exact cause of migraine headaches, which is a huge step towards better understanding this condition.

By studying genetics and finding the part of the brain that controls migraines scientists will not only be able to find these better treatments for migraine headaches, they will also be able to identify what triggers are hereditary. However, the most important thing to learn here is that this condition can be passed on to future generations so finding this link to a better cure will someday aide in the prevention and treatment of migraine headaches.

Children's Migraine Headaches

Migraine headaches in children is a condition that is very serious. This is because children at very young ages are unable to tell us how they are feeling. Children can actually get migraine headaches as young as several weeks old and cannot let us know what they are feeling. Toddlers have a little bit of an advantage because they can communicate a little better, but still are hard to understand and may not be able to communicate the problem. It typically is not until age five that a child is able to correctly communicate these problems. This is why it is important for parents to pay attention to how their child is feeling and acting. Once a child is older they may be able to communicate what they are feeling and proper diagnosis is very important.

When a child is experiencing migraine headaches as an infant there are a few signs to look for because they cannot tell you they have a headache. Many of these infants will become pale and will vomit more than usual. They may also tilt their head and neck to one side. If your child is experiencing this a doctor should be consulted immediately.

For toddlers and young children who are experiencing migraine headaches they may be able to tell you that their headaches. When these children are experiencing a migraine headache they will become pale and begin to vomit. You may also notice them not playing as much as usual and feeling more tired than normal. When these symptoms are noticed your child may be experiencing more than a simple headache, they may be experiencing a migraine headache.

For children just like adults there are many different tests that can be performed to diagnose migraine headaches. It is important to know your family history because that can help a doctor determine what is going on with your child. The doctor will also ask you to describe your child's behavior and symptoms. This is especially important if your child is too young to explain this information themselves. A physical exam and an MRI are two tests that may help determine what is going on with your child.

Once your child is diagnosed with migraine headaches there are many different ways of treating your child. In children biofeedback may be a good treatment option. Biofeedback is used the same in children as in adults and is a good option if you are uncomfortable with your child taking medication. Stress management is also used to help children suffering from migraine headaches. This program will help your child to learn what is triggering their migraine headaches. It will also help them to relax and avoid these triggers.

For children there are also different medications that can help treat their migraine headaches. A doctor may choose to just use symptomatic medication which can help to treat the specific symptoms your child is experiencing. There are also preventative and abortive medications for children. These medications are the same as the ones available for adults but children are not given as much as an adult would be. One medication that will never be given to a child is aspirin. This is because the possible side affect of aspirin for a child is Reye's disease which is fatal.

For many children migraine headaches will get better as they get older. For many their migraine headaches will not occurs as often as they grow. Some children are lucky and will grow out of migraine headaches. This occurs during puberty, many males will actually stop having migraine headaches. For many females, however, these migraine headaches will actually grow worse. They can occur more frequently and actually become more severe. This is because during puberty females will begin to experience their menstrual cycle. This along with hormone level changes due to puberty will often make migraine headaches worse for females.

It is always important to consult a doctor in the treatment of your child's migraine headaches. This is because in children many medications both over the counter and prescribed that are safe for adults may not be safe to use for children. Asprin is just one of these medications that can cause problems in children. Tylenol is another pain reliever that is not safe for children in high doses. Aleve will also cause problems if taken by children. Sinus medications are not safe for children and if a child is having their migraine headaches because of sinus problems a doctor should be consulted. Codine and sedatives along with many other medications can cause complications in children which is why it is so important to consult a doctor about treatment.

Next, we will examine the relationship between Women And Migraine Headaches.