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You are here: Home / Archives for #headache

August 1, 2014 By Karen

“Is infant colic really a type of migraine?” asks new research

Colic (also called paroxysmal crying) – we aren’t yet sure why babies get it

Colic refers to episodes of irritability, screaming, or inconsolable crying for 3 or more hours a day,  for 3 +days a week,  for more than 3 weeks. It is worse around 6 to 8 weeks of age and usually sorts itself out by around 16 weeks.

Studies are beginning to show links between colic and adult migraines: if mums have migraines, their babies are 2.5 times more likely to have colic.  If a baby has colic, they are 6.5 times more likely to have headaches and migraines as a child or teenager.

Colic may not be stomach / tummy related 

Current evidence suggests colic is unlikely to be caused by intestinal gas as the frequently used infacol (simethicone) was not seen to have a beneficial effect compared to placebo in a recent trial. Breast and bottle fed babies both get colic. Lactose intolerance is not colic and babies with this respond very quickly when put on a lactose free formula / breast feeding mums cut out lactose in their diet. However, babies with an allergy to cow’s milk protein often have colicky symptoms, as do babies with reflux.

Probiotics have, however, been seen to give relief for some colicky babies, but not all.

In vulnerable babies, nerve fibres in the brain (migraine) or the gut (colic) may be hypersensitive. Children are also known to have abdominal migraines (like a ‘headache’ in their tummy, sometimes with nausea and vomiting, like a migraine). The immature brains of newborns may be more sensitive to normal stimuli, triggering migraines / headachy symptoms  – this results in inconsolable crying.

It is nice to see that research is beginning to agree with what some paediatric osteopaths have been saying for a while – that some colicky symptoms may be head / neck / spine related, and babies sometimes may get a ‘headache’ or ‘neck ache’  which may be diagnosed as ‘colic’, but is not always related to wind / gas or a tummy pain.

Infant Colic May Be Early Migraine Pauline Anderson. American Headache Society (AHS) 56th Annual Scientific Meeting. Presented June 27, 2014.

Childhood Migraine Linked to Colic in Infancy. Megan Brooks JAMA. 2013;309:1607-1612,1636-1637

Filed Under: General News, Medical articles on issues concerning babies and children, New medical / research articles Tagged With: #baby, #colic, #colicky, #cryingbaby, #headache, #infacol, #migraine, #simethicone

June 18, 2012 By Karen

Hypnotic relaxation vs amitriptyline for tension-type headache – relaxation wins!

A new study of 98 patients chose to either try Hypnotic Relaxation or medication (in the form of amitryptiline, an antidepressant known for alleviating headaches when taken in smaller doses). Patients who were already using more analgesics were more likely to opt for the medication option. Eleven of the patients initially choosing medication and 2 of the patients initially choosing hypnotic relaxation decided to try the other group during the trial.

Long-term adherence to treatment with Hypnotic Relaxation exceeded that of amitryptiline. At the end of the study period, 26 of 47 patients who tried Hypnotic Relaxation compared with 10 of 27 who tried amitryptiline decided to continue receiving their initial treatment. It wasn’t a ramdomised study as patients chose which group they wanted to be in.

The study concludes that the relaxation therapy was more popular choice, patients who tried this reported greater symptom relief than those choosing the medication and they were found to have greater treatment compliance.

Despite decades of research showing the effectiveness of non-pharmacological treatment of headaches, self-management or complementary methods like this are not commonly recommended by all GP’s yet.

Interestingly a number of patients at the clinic find osteopathy very relaxing and also find it beneficial if they are headache sufferers. Maybe research will show if there is a similar mechanism of action.

Hypnotic Relaxation vs Amitriptyline for Tension-type Headache: Let the Patient Choose. Ezra, Y; Gotkine, Marc et al. Headache. 2012;52(5):785-791. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing

Filed Under: General News, Medical articles on common medications, Medical articles on general health Tagged With: #complementarytherapy, #headache, #hypnosis, #relaxation

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Amersham Osteopathic Clinic
Caer Sidhe
Chiltern Road
Amersham
Bucks, HP6 5PH, UK

Phone: 01494 434 651

 

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The Amersham Osteopathic Clinic is open 5 days a week. We aren't open Bank Holidays.

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Teaching / Lecturing

As well as being principal at Amersham Osteopathic Clinic, I am also Consultant in Charge at the Osteopathic Centre for Children's London clinic (part of the Foundation for Paediatric Osteopathy) and teach theory and practical techniques on the current Diploma course. I am on the Sutherland Cranial College of Osteopathy Teaching Faculty. I teach … Read more...

Interesting news / articles on health / diet / medical matters

  • COVID-19
    • COVID-19: attending the Clinic
  • Is infant colic a type of early migraine?
  • Dealing with back pain
  • Don’t take NSAIDs during pregnancy
  • Study on benefit of manipulative therapies for infantile colic
  • Plagiocephaly research emerging
  • Diet and infantile colic
  • Good pregnancy diet important
  • Omega-3s – good for your mental health
  • Probiotics – a range of uses
  • Salt and blood pressure
  • Paracetamol, anti-inflammatory and pain killer risks

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