Study links infantile colic to childhood migraines.

According to a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, infants with colic were more likely to have childhood migraine headaches, specifically. The study could not make the same conclusion regarding tension type headaches.

The link between migraines and infantile colic

Parents, doctors and researchers have been frustrated with the idea that colic was related to digestive irritation. The investigators noted that colic might result from a sensitization of the perivascular nerve terminals in the gut, much as migraine results from a similar process in the brain.

The Mayo clinic says “The cause of colic is unknown. Researchers have explored a number of possibilities, including allergies, lactose intolerance, an immature digestive system, maternal anxiety, and differences in the way a baby is fed or comforted. Yet it’s still unclear why some babies have colic and others don’t”.

What are the symptoms of infantile colic?

• Predictable crying episodes. Babies with colic often cry about the same time every day, usually in the late afternoon or evening.
• Crying time: crying episodes may last from a few minutes to three hours or more on any given day. The crying usually begins suddenly and for no clear reason.
• Intense and often high pitched crying: The baby’s face may flush, and they become ver difficult to comfort.
• Posture changes. Their legs curl up, they clench their fists and tense up the abdominal muscles. Some parents have noted that their baby may have a bowel movement or pass gas near the end of the colic episode.

What are the symptoms of childhood migraines?

Before the migraine occurs, subtle changes in the child’s body may show

• Constipation
• Depression
• Diarrhea
• Food cravings
• Hyperactivity
• Irritability
• Neck stiffness

Some kids may experience an aura. This typically means for the next 10 to 30 minutes they may have.

• Vision changes
• Pins and needles in the arms or legs
• Speech or language problems.

The migraine itself may feel like:

• Pain on one side of the head
• Throbbing or pulsating pain
• Sensitivity to light, sounds and some smells
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea, blurred vision and sometimes light headedness.
• Migraines typically last from 4 to 72 hours.

Who is to say that infantile colic isn’t a migraine?

Put all this information together and one may draw the conclusion that the child may be having a migraine. No one may ever know, solely because the kid can’t communicate what they are feeling.

The child is uncomfortable and all curled up in pain, they are irritable, light and sound sensitive, and have digestive aggravation. Sounds a lot like a migraine. Maybe, we should the ask parents of a colic kid, who also have a migraine sufferer in the house.

Chiropractic and infantile colic:

Throughout my years of practice I have helped many babies with colic. Or should I say many parents. I have found a correlation between the upper cervical area (the upper neck) and the sacrum. This is the group of nerves responsible for healing, digestion, immunity, growth and blood flow to the head.  In a normal birth these two areas of the spine can misalign, let alone a forceps, C-section or vacuum distraction type birth.

Research has proven that chiropractic care helps kids with colic.

Chiropractic and migraine relief:

Again, I have seen numerous people who suffer from migraines do extremely well with upper cervical care. This is a specific adjustment to the upper neck, without any bending or twisting of the neck. The upper cervical spine is in charge of the health of the head and the tension inside the skull.

Neck pain is often associated with migraines.  People who sit at a computer all day and have forward head posture may develop migraines.  If you have ever been in a car accident and suffer from any injury, upper cervical care can help you.

Chiropractic, infantile colic and migraines:

Although no formal studies have been done (or thought of for that matter), it would be beneficial to see if a baby who is helped with colic becomes a child without migraines. This study says a baby with colic is three times more likely to have childhood migraines. One could conclude that a baby who no longer has infantile colic, should not have childhood migraines. For those families, that could be awesome news.

Dr. Robert Moore practices at Awesome Chiropractic, in Brighton, Michigan. He has taken care of newborns and people with over 90 years experience. Dr. Moore uses the NUCCA technique to specifically adjust the upper cervical spine in people with colic and migraines.

If you or a loved one has infantile colic, childhood migraines or anything else that isn’t normal, call Dr. Moore at Awesome Chiropractic today (810) 225-7246.

All you have to lose is your problem.