Headaches are a common concern for children, teens, and adults and they can impact daily activities and quality of life.
Types of Headaches:
- Tension Headaches: These are the most common type of headache in children and teens and often feel like a dull, achy pressure on both sides of the head.
Migraines: Migraines can cause intense throbbing or pulsating pain, usually on one side of the head. They may also be accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light or sound, and aura (visual disturbances).
Cluster Headaches: Cluster headaches can cause severe, stabbing pain around one eye, along with other symptoms such as redness and tearing of the eye and nasal congestion.
Possible Causes of Headaches:
- Stress and Anxiety: Emotional stress, school pressures, family problems, and anxiety can trigger tension headaches or exacerbate migraine symptoms.
- Lack of Sleep: Not getting enough sleep or irregular sleep patterns can contribute to headaches.
- Dehydration: Inadequate fluid intake can lead to dehydration, which is a common trigger for headaches.
- Infection: Various infections, both viral and bacerial, can cause headaches. They are often identified by the other symptoms that are present.
- Poor Posture: Spending long hours in front of screens, improper ergonomics, and carrying heavy backpacks can strain the muscles in the neck and shoulders, leading to tension headaches.
- Dietary Factors: Certain foods and beverages, such as caffeine, artificial sweeteners, processed foods, and foods containing MSG (monosodium glutamate), may trigger headaches.​
Track symptoms
Use the Headache Relief Guide to learn more and track symptoms.
Management of Headaches:
Treating the underlying cause, if known, is important. This may involve improving sleep, drinking more water, or learning stress mangement techniques.
- Medications: Over-the-counter or prescription medications specifically designed to treat headaches, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen. Triptans are sometimes prescribed for migraines. Caution: Overuse of acute medication to treat migraines increases headache frequency. Limit use to 10 days per month.
- Lifestyle Modifications: Identifying and avoiding triggers, maintaining regular sleep patterns, staying hydrated, and practicing stress-reduction techniques can help manage headaches - even migraines.
- Acute Treatments: Rest in a quiet, dark room and apply cold compresses to the head - these may provide relief during headache attacks.
- Prevention Measures:
- ​No medications have been shown to be more effective than placebo for preventing migraine in children and adolescents.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) appears to be effective for reducing migraine frequency in children and adolescents.
- Magnesium:
- Magnesium deficiency has been associated with migraines and headaches but blood tests are not accurate, so are not used in headach management.
- Magnesium is an essential mineral that plays a role in various bodily functions, including muscle relaxation and neurotransmitter regulation. Ensuring an adequate intake of magnesium-rich foods or considering magnesium supplements may help prevent deficiency.
- Magnesium-Rich Foods:
- Leafy green vegetables (spinach, kale, Swiss chard)
- Nuts and seeds (almonds, cashews, pumpkin seeds)
- Whole grains (brown rice, quinoa, oats)
- Legumes (black beans, chickpeas, lentils)
- Dairy products (milk, yogurt)​
- Magnesium supplements are low risk to try and readily available at pharmacies if you do not think dietary sources are sufficient. Side effects may include abdominal pain and diarrhea if too much is taken. Magnesium supplements are available in various forms, such as magnesium citrate, magnesium oxide, and magnesium glycinate. Each form may have different absorption rates and bioavailability. For those who can swallow pills, Migrelief is designed for this purpose. There are many other supplements at your local pharmacy - ask your pharmacist for suggestions.
When to Seek Medical Attention
Please seek medical attention for a headache if it:
- Is sudden and severe (emergency room)
- Is accompanied by a fever, nausea, or vomiting (during regular office hours unless severe pain or dehydration, then after hours urgent care or emergency room)
- Is accompanied by a stiff neck, rash, confusion, seizures, double vision, weakness, numbness, or difficulty speaking (emergency room)
- Happens once a month or more (during regular office hours)
- Doesn't go away easily (emergency room if severe, during office hours if tolerable)
- Is more painful than usual (emergency room)
- Prevents your child from participating in everyday activities (during regular office hours)
- Follows a head injury or loss of consciousness (emergency room or per medical provider recommendations on the field)
- Causes changes in vision (emergency room)
Headaches can be a sign of a serious problem like a brain tumor, but this is only true about 1% of the time. In 99% of cases, the headaches are related to a treatable infection, anxiety, or primary headache disorder.
