Migraine: Over the past few years, cases of migraine and headache have increased in children. In this light, Dr Priyanka Sehrawat recently took to her Instagram to share some important tips to guide parents on the management and prevention of this condition in their kids. As per her, there are three major factors that parents should consider in a bid to reduce headaches and migraines in children.
Have a Healthier Breakfast
Dr. Sehrawat specified that one should not send kids to school on an empty stomach. Breakfast was an integral meal in the morning that gave energy and other nutrients to begin the day. In case of skipping it, the sugar level in the blood becomes low and may trigger off a headache. A nutritious breakfast full of proteins and carbohydrates would keep the sugar level stable within, thus lowering the chance of headaches.
Limit Screen Time
This makes excessive screen time one of the major contributors to headaches in children. According to Dr. Sehrawat, the exposure to screens should be limited, particularly in the evening. She says that though homework and online classes today involve a lot of screen work, all screen-related activities should be done before 8 PM. Beyond that, the child should switch over to printed material or other activity not linked to the screen. This will reduce stress to the eyes and mental fatigue which may manifest in the form of headache agony.
Balanced Diet
Diet plays a very vital role in the management and prevention of migraines. Dr. Sehrawat suggests including magnesium-rich diet in children’s meals. Magnesium, found in nuts and seeds like almonds, walnuts, cashews, and particularly pumpkin seeds, has been shown to improve sleep quality and prevent headaches. Besides, maintaining adequate levels of Vitamin D is very essential. Vitamin D contributes to the development of bones and, as has been discovered in the past few years, it also exerts an influence on preventing attacks of migraine and headache pains. Let your children play a little bit outdoors and also add some sources of Vitamin D into their diets for their overall health.
In summary, the advice by Dr. Priyanka Sehrawat offers a realistic route towards coping with and averting migraines in children. Ensuring good breakfast, checking the screen time, and a balanced diet plentiful in magnesium and Vitamin D will help in living healthier, thereby reducing frequent headaches in children.
