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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2022
THE OBSERVER & BAKER CITY HERALD — B3
Mayo Clinic
Q and A: Will
Botox work
for migraines?
build up antibodies to bot-
ulinum toxin. Those anti-
bodies could in theory pre-
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: vent Botox from working
I have suff ered with
with future injections.
migraines on and off for
For many people, treat-
about fi ve years. Recently,
ment with Botox alone is
the oral therapy I’ve used
suffi cient to control their
seems to be less eff ective.
chronic headaches. How-
While I know newer med-
ever, some people require
ications are available, a
more care, including addi-
friend suggested I try Botox tional medications to pre-
injections. She swears it
vent migraine attacks.
brought her chronic head-
These may include car-
aches under control. How
diovascular drugs, such as
safe are these injections,
beta blockers and calcium
and how does Botox work?
channel blockers; certain
What is the treatment
antidepressants; and some
schedule, and would I also
anti-seizure medications.
need to be on other head-
Medications taken at the
ache medication, too?
time of a migraine head-
ANSWER: Onabotu-
ache also can be useful.
linum toxin A, or Botox,
The most common side
was approved by the Food
eff ects of Botox injection
and Drug Administration
include swelling or bruising
in 2010 to treat chronic
at the injection site. Uncom-
migraine headaches. It
monly, the medication may
is not a cure. People who
spread into nearby tissues
receive Botox injections for and cause problems, such
headaches usually get the
as a drooping eyelid, eye-
treatment about every three brows that look out of place,
months.
dry eyes or excessive
For some, that
eye tearing. This
is all they need
tends to happen
to keep their
more in people
headaches
who already
under con-
have some
trol. For
eye drooping
others, addi-
or are more
tional med-
sensitive to
ication or
botulinum
other head-
toxin. Some-
ache therapy
times, changing
is necessary.
the injections to
Research is ongoing Dreamstime-TNS a slightly diff erent
about new forms of Botox injections location can reduce
can help relieve this side eff ect.
migraine therapy.
symptoms of
Botox is a med-
Although rare, it
migraines.
ication that uses a
is possible that the
form of botulinum
eff ect of botulinum
toxin to temporarily para-
toxin may spread to other
lyze muscle activity. Best
parts of the body and cause
known for its ability to
symptoms such as muscle
reduce the appearance of
weakness, vision prob-
facial wrinkles, Botox also
lems, trouble speaking or
has been shown to prevent
swallowing, or diffi culty
chronic migraine headaches breathing. Doctors generally
in some people. It is used
recommend against using
mainly for those who have
Botox if you are pregnant
headaches 15 or more days
or breastfeeding because
per month.
the medication’s eff ects on a
Since 2002, doctors at
fetus are not known.
Mayo Clinic have treated
Botox injections are
thousands of patients with
expensive. They can cost
chronic migraine eff ectively several thousand dol-
and safely using Botox.
lars per set of injections.
The medication typically is
Many insurance compa-
injected into muscles of the
nies will cover the injec-
forehead, scalp, neck and
tions if a patient meets cri-
shoulders.
teria for chronic migraine
The specifi c details of
headache. For at least three
how Botox works to pre-
months, a person must have
vent headaches are not
a headache occurring on
known. But it is likely that
15 or more days per month
the injected Botox is taken
that has the features of a
up by pain receptors in the
migraine on at least eight
muscles’ nerves. The med-
days per month. It is best to
ication then deactivates
speak to a health care pro-
those pain receptors and
fessional about options.
blocks pain signals that the
Before moving forward
nerves send to the brain.
with Botox injections, make
The pain does not go
sure you are under the care
away permanently, how-
of a licensed and skilled
ever. After several months,
health care professional.
the nerves sprout new pain
Botox can be dangerous if it
fi bers, and the headaches
is given incorrectly, so it is
tend to return. The Botox
important that these injec-
eff ect usually lasts about 2½ tions be administered by a
months. Because injections
physician, nurse or another
are repeated no sooner than specialist with experience
every three months, some
using them for chronic
people need other headache headaches.
treatments for the last two
I recommend asking for
weeks of a Botox cycle.
a referral from your pri-
Providing Botox treat-
mary care provider or neu-
ment for headaches every
rologist. A skilled and prop-
three months is a national
erly trained health care
standard, as recommended
professional can discuss the
by the American Headache
procedure with you in detail
Society. The treatments are
and help you decide if it fi ts
not given more often due
your needs.
to a small possibility that if
Dr. Mark Whealy , Neurology, Mayo
you receive Botox more fre-
Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
quently, your body might
By CYNTHIA WEISS
Mayo Clinic News Network
█
Antonioguillem/Dreamstime-TNS
According to a 2021 Common Sense Media survey, an estimated 88% of 13- to 18-year-olds and 43% of 8- to 12-year-olds have smartphones.
It’s not too surprising, then, that sexting is more common among kids and teens these days.
How can parents talk to teens
about sexting and privacy?
Q
A
: My daughter is on
her cellphone a lot.
How do I talk to
her about sexting and other
privacy concerns?
: Sexting is
the sending or
receiving of sex-
ually explicit images,
videos or text messages
using a smartphone, com-
puter, tablet, video game
or digital camera. It’s not
something any parent
wants to think about their
child doing, and it may
be uncomfortable to talk
about. But the fact is that
sexting is something kids
will fi nd out about at some
point.
This is why it’s
important to talk about
sexting with your child
early, so they have the
information they need to
make healthy decisions.
There has been a signifi -
cant jump in the number of
kids and teens with access
to smartphones. According
to a 2021 Common Sense
Media survey, an estimated
88% of 13- to 18-year-olds
and 43% of 8- to 12-year-
olds have smartphones.
It’s not too surprising,
then, that sexting is more
common among kids and
teens these days. A 2021
study on sexting among
youth found that 19.3%
had sent a sext, 34.8% had
received a sext, and 14.5%
had forwarded one without
consent.
There are many risks of
sending and sharing sexts
that you should be aware
of.
Mental health and
sexual behavior
Young people who sext
are more likely to:
• Have depression and/
or anxiety.
• Commit minor
crimes.
• Use alcohol, drugs or
cigarettes.
• Engage in sexual
activity and sex with mul-
tiple partners.
• Not use
contraception.
Younger adolescents
who sext may be even
more susceptible to these
123RF
Sexting is the sending or receiving of sexually explicit images,
videos or text messages using a smartphone, computer, tablet,
video game or digital camera.
risks because of their lack tional distress.
of experience and imma-
• If the sext is posted
turity. They also tend to
online, adolescents can
be more vulnerable to dig- be vulnerable to attention
ital dangers such as bul-
they don’t want, including
lying or “sextortion.”
from sexual predators.
This is a type of black-
It’s best to talk to your
mail used to get people to
child as soon they are old
send sexually
enough to have a
explicit photos
cellphone. Keep
or money so
giving age-appro-
that their pri-
priate guidance as
of 13- to 18-year-olds your child or teen
vate infor-
have smartphones
mation isn’t
matures. Some
posted online.
tips:
• Start the dis-
Legal risks
cussion, even if
There’s
you don’t think
also the poten-
sexting has
tial legal
aff ected your
of 8- to 12-year-olds
trouble that
child or your
have smartphones
kids can get
community.
into, whether
Ask your child
they’re sending
if they’ve heard
or receiving sexts. Some
of sexting and what they
states will even prosecute
think it is. It’s important
minors. Minors may also
to fi rst learn what your
be permanently placed on
child’s understanding is of
sex off ender lists.
the issue. After that, you
There are other risks
can add age-appropriate
with sexting too, risks
information as needed.
that young people may not
• Use examples that
think about, including:
fi t your child’s age when
• Not having any con-
giving them information
trol over the video or pic-
and guidance. For younger
ture once it’s sent. People
children with cellphones
may forward it to others.
who may know little
• Bullying from peers
about sex, let them know
who see the sext.
that text messages should
• Regret for sending a
never contain pictures
sext, especially if
or videos of people —
it’s shared with others.
kids or adults — without
This can lead to emo-
their clothes on, engaged
88%
43%
in extended kissing or
touching private parts.
For older children, use the
term “sexting” and ask if
they’ve been exposed to
nude or semi-nude images
or sexual activities.
• Be very specifi c,
especially with teens, that
sexting often involves pic-
tures or videos of a sexual
nature. Some sexts can be
considered pornography
or child pornography.
Depending on the state,
both senders and receivers
could be charged and
prosecuted.
• Inform your chil-
dren that texts, images
and videos on the internet
can remain there forever.
This is true even if they’re
posted on apps that delete
after a short duration.
These posts can be shared
with others, often without
the consent of the sexter,
and some can even go
viral. Sexters who may
have intended their sexts
to be viewed by only one
person may fi nd that their
photos have been seen by
everyone at school.
• Be on the lookout
for excessive texting. If
you suspect inappropriate
behavior, monitor your
child’s smartphone and
talk with them about who
they’re texting.
• Teach your kids and
teens digital citizenship.
This includes respect for
others and themselves and
how to reject cyberbul-
lying. Invite and welcome
your children’s questions
and conversations. Help
them be safe and kind
online.
█
Dr. Yolanda (Linda) Reid
Chassiakos has served as a clinical
assistant professor of pediatrics
at the David Geffen School of
Medicine, UCLA, and the executive
director and chief medical officer
of the Klotz Student Health Center
at California State University
Northridge. F or more information,
go to HealthyChildren.org, the
website for parents from the AAP.
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