Pandemic Forces Changes to Treatment of Pediatric Headaches

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. - Oct. 15, 2020 - PRLog -- After 40 years in pediatric medicine, and during the last decade specializing in treating children with chronic headache at Children's Hospital Boston, nurse practitioner Victoria Karian had amassed a large amount of experience and many effective treatment plans. She turned that knowledge into a recently published book for medical professionals called Getting Ahead of Pediatric Headaches. Then the Covid-19 pandemic hit, and, as most of the world knows, many things changed.

"Children and teens with headache and migraine have been affected in a variety of ways by these pandemic times," said Karian, a Framingham, Mass. resident. "For many pediatric patients, the school environment is a trigger for migraine and headache. With the sudden closure of school, these triggers were removed."

However, Karian noted, the increased exposure to computer screens because of remote learning has also increased both migraine and headache occurrence for many of her patients. "I start every visit talking about the effect of screens on their headaches," she explained. "My clinic put together a handout which I give to everyone, about how to manage the screen time, which includes posture, balanced lighting, and blue-light blocking glasses. We discuss how their school day is set up and strategize how to take breaks from the screen and make accommodations."

Karian asserts that maintaining a consistent schedule is very important for patients with headaches. "As I explain in my book, getting enough sleep, a healthy diet, exercise, and hydration are the keys to reducing headaches," she explained. "Hydration seems a battle for many, and without the arbitrary school structure it is more difficult to maintain. Exercise can also be challenging without school sports but so important for stress management for many teens."

Stress management, says Karian, is key to thriving rather than just surviving during these pandemic days. "I emphasize the need to take time during the day to breathe, intentionally relax, or release stress physically," she explained.

While the pandemic has presented challenges to both patients and medical providers in the realm of headache treatment, Karian feels that the treatment plans she outlines in her book are still the best way that practitioners can help their young patients manage their symptoms and try to maintain a consistent and healthy lifestyle even in these unprecedented and uncertain times.

About The Book

Getting Ahead of Pediatric Headaches

A comprehensive guide for Nurse Practitioners to manage headaches in children and adolescents

Written by Victoria E. Karian, RN, MSN, CPNP

Published by Damianos Publishing

Softcover, 194 pages, 1 illustration

8 x 10", $30.00, ISBN 9781941573235

Books are available at these locations:

Silver Street Media: https://tinyurl.com/ybuz2434

Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/y4zfafqg

For more information, contact:

Victoria E. Karian, RN, MSN, CPNP

www.headfirstpnp.com

vkarian@gmail.com