| Medication certainly has its benefits in headache | | | | For instant headache relief, the three d's of headaches |
| management for kids but for some, various therapies | | | | can be helpful: dark room, damp cold cloth and 'do not |
| and techniques can complement or in some cases, | | | | disturb.' If your child is at home, tucking him or her into |
| even replace medication. The risks and side effects of | | | | bed, turning off the lights and placing a damp, cool cloth |
| medication mean that it is often preferable to find | | | | on your child's head can temporarily soothe headache |
| alternative ways of coping. Headache pain can be | | | | pain. Keeping the surrounding area quiet and not |
| difficult for children, especially when it strikes during | | | | disturbing your child can also be helpful, as noise can |
| school hours or while at play. Prevention is usually the | | | | intensify a painful headache and more so if it's a |
| first strategy but when headaches do attack, easing | | | | migraine headache. |
| headache pain without medication may be a primary | | | | Easing Stress During a Headache |
| goal. | | | | As with most lifestyle factors, it's ideal to consistently |
| A Glass of Water | | | | maintain changes so that you prevent headaches |
| Dehydration, particularly when it's chronic, can trigger | | | | from happening. If your child is dealing with a particularly |
| headaches in children. The obvious solution is to ensure | | | | stressful situation such as an exam, however, |
| that your child stays hydrated and consistently drinks | | | | strategies such as deep breathing exercises can |
| fluids. If a headache does strike, however, sipping | | | | provide immediate headache relief. Work with your |
| water may alleviate pain if the headache is due to | | | | child to help him or her learn to focus on breathing. |
| dehydration. Some kids will also find that a glass of icy | | | | Slow, deep breaths in and out can be calming and can |
| water helps to slightly soothe hot throbbing head pain. | | | | help to take the focus off a distressing situation. |
| Correcting Headaches from Low Blood Sugar | | | | Relaxation |
| Low blood sugar is a known trigger of headaches and | | | | Kids can be quite open to learning new things and |
| if your child has unfortunately missed a meal or | | | | when it helps their headaches, it's even more beneficial. |
| perhaps participated in extra intense physical activity | | | | Relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, imagery |
| such as sports, his or her resulting low blood sugar | | | | and positive affirmations can increase your child's |
| may have prompted a headache. Eating a small | | | | confidence and help to prevent and treat headaches |
| balanced meal with protein, complex carbohydrates, | | | | when they strike. Relaxation techniques can give kids |
| fat and fibre can help to stabilise blood sugar. Easy | | | | a stronger feeling of control of their head pain. |
| and nutritious examples of snack foods to keep on | | | | Affirmations are a way to replace negative |
| hand for when headaches hit are a tuna sandwich on | | | | statements with positive ones. The stress of dealing |
| multi-grain bread, or cheese and crackers. If intense | | | | with headaches can leave kids feeling very badly |
| nausea is present with the headache, foods such as | | | | about themselves and encouraging kids to take control |
| whole wheat toast or oatmeal are simple, less likely to | | | | helps them to understand and cope with head pain. |
| exacerbate nausea and effective in raising blood | | | | Medication may be required but do try to work with |
| sugar levels and helping any correlating headache pain. | | | | your child to develop alternative coping strategies. |
| The Three D's | | | | Alien writes for Migraine treatment. |