MIGRAINES

Getting information from a short passage

WHAT CAUSES OF MIGRAINES

There are many unavoidable factors that can cause migraines, for example, menstrual cycles,
weather changes, and stress. There are things that we eat or drink that can contribute to
migraines. We can prevent migraines by avoiding these items.

Migraines can be caused by what we eat, drink, or medicine we take. Migraines can be
stimulated by caffeine, chocolate, old cheese, ready-to-eat meats, monosodium glutamate,
alcohol, citrus fruits and juices, banana, yogurt, onions, and other things. Among the
medications that can cause migraines are pain-killers and birth control pills.
(Adapted from an interview with neurologist David. W. Buchholz, M.D, from John Hopkins
Health Information)

Complete the diagram below based on the information from the passage.

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MIGRAINES: WHAT A PAIN

Emily remembers her first headache.” it was really scary”. The pain was unbelievable and I
felt like going to throw up. “ She said,” I had no idea what was happening”. The headaches
struck once a month, then once a week. They were getting worse and worse, Emily told her
Mom, who took her to the doctor.

It turned out that Emily had migraines (say, my-graynz). Luckily, the doctor gave Emily
some medicines to treat her headaches. The doctor also taught her how to know when a
migraine is coming and how to avoid them.

WHAT’S A MIGRAINE?

Almost everyone gets headaches. You might have one after bumping your head or during a
cold or bout with the flu. Some types of headaches may happen only once in a while, whereas
others can happen as often as every day. Most headaches produce a dull pain around the
front, top, and sides of your head, almost like someone stretched a rubber band around your
noggin.

But a migraine is worse than a regular headache. Migraines usually occur about one to four
times a month. The pain is often throbbing on one or both sides of the head. Kids with
migraines often feel dizzy or sick to their stomach. During the headache, some kids are
sensitive to light, noise, or smell, and want to sleep. When they wake up, they usually feel
better. Most migraines last from 30 minutes to 6 hours but some can last a day or 2.

If you have migraines, you are not alone. About one out of 20 kids, or about 8 million
children in the United States, gets migraines. Before age 10, an equal number of boys and
girls get migraines. But after age 12, during and after puberty, migraines affect girls three
times more than boys.

Migraines aren’t contagious, which means you can’t catch them from someone who has
them.

WHAT CAUSES A MIGRAINE?

A migraine begins when, for some reasons, blood vessels in the brain narrow (constrict)
temporarily. When that happens, the amount of blood and oxygen flowing to the brain drops.
So the brain sends a message; “ Hey guys, we need some more blood and oxygen here!”

That causes other blood vessels to dilate (expand). When those blood vessels expand, they
become inflamed, throb, and cause a pounding pain. Because it involves changes in blood
vessels, a migraine is vascular (say: vas-kyuh-lur) headache.

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Some scientists believe that people who get migraines have inherited a tendency for their
nervous systems to react differently to changes in their bodies or their environment. Certain
things may trigger a reaction in the person’s nervous system and start a migraine attack.

Some common triggers are:

● stress
● menstruation (having a period)
● skipping meals
● too much caffeine (like cola drinks)
● certain foods (cheese, pizza, chocolate, ice cream, fatty or fried food, lunch meat, hot
dogs, yogurt, or anything with MSG, a seasoning often used in Asian foods)
● too much or too little sleep
● weather changes
● travel

No one is really sure why people get migraines. But chances are, if you get migraines,
another member of your family gets them as well. That’s because scientists think that
migraines are genetic, which means that certain genes passed on from parents make a kid
more likely to get them.

DO YOU KNOW A MIGRAINE IS COMING?

Migraines begin differently. Some kids just don’t feel right. Light or sound may bother them
or make them feel worse, and they may even get sick to their stomachs and throw up. Before
and during a migraine headache, some children may have muscle weaknesses, lose their
sense of coordination, stumble, or even have trouble talking.

About one in five kids gets an aura (say: or-uh), a kind of warning that a migraine is on the
way. The most common auras include blurred vision and/or seeing spots, colored balls,
jagged lines, nor bright lights, or smelling a certain odor. An aura usually starts about 10 to
30 minutes before the start of a migraine headache, although, auras can happen the night
before the headache starts. An aura usually lasts about 20 minutes.

TREATMENTS FOR MIGRAINES

Getting a bad migraine once in a while may be annoying, but usually doesn’t cause any big
problems for a kid. But be sure to tell your Mom or Dad if you have headaches that

● last a long time

● Seem to be getting worse
● happen more often
● cause problems with balance
● interfere with school or after- school activities.

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Your doctor will want to know about those problems and can try to help. Your doctor may
also want you to keep a headache diary. By keeping track of your headaches, you may be
able to figure out what triggers them. Answer all the questions in the diary each time you
have a headache. The information will help your doctor figure out the best treatment.

Your doctor may suggest one more medicine you can take. They could include:
 pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
 medicines that reduces nausea and vomiting.
 sedatives, which can help you to go to sleep and get rid of the headache.
 medicines to prevent migraines or make them less severe.

Some doctors may also try to teach you biofeedback. This technique helps you learn to relax
and use your brain to gain control over certain body functions. If a migraine begins slowly,
many people can use biofeedback to remain calm and stop the attack.

HOW TO PREVENT A MIGRAINE

The good news is that many kids outgrow migraines. In the meantime, follow your doctor’s
instructions and take your medicine as instructed. Make sure you have medicine on hand in
case a migraine starts at school or when you are away from home.

Also try to stay away from your migraine triggers. If certain food like chocolate, cheese or
caffeinated drinks trigger your migraines, it’s a good idea to avoid them. Also take breaks
from activities that seem to trigger your migraine, such as using the computer for a long time
or listening to loud music.

Fight stress by making a plan so you don’t feel freaked out by all the stuff you need to get
done. Regular exercise can also reduce stress and make you feel better. The more you
understand migraines, the better prepared you can be to fight them before they become a big
pain!