Headaches can be quite common in childhood and often increase in frequency during the teenage years. Your teen’s headaches may be prompted by a specific stressful event or may be due to any other number of factors such as hormones prescription medications, illegal drugs or lifestyle.
Diet
The teen years are a time when eating disorders may emerge. Long periods of time without food can leave blood sugar low, which triggers headaches. Use of laxatives and diuretics as well as purging food by vomiting can lead to a constant state of dehydration and frequent headaches. Excessive consumption of sugary foods can also lead to headaches. It’s not always enough to just tell your teen what he or she should be eating and when, although this is a start. Try, whenever possible, to lead by example.
If your teen sees you eating nutritious foods and also eating on a regular basis, this sets the standard for him or her to follow. If your teen has developed a sensitivity or allergy to a certain food, a headache diary may help to pinpoint the offending food. Your teen’s doctor may also conduct direct allergy testing to determine if a food is responsible for headaches or migraines.
Stress
Common stresses that happen in a family are marriage problems, separation and divorce. These can be devastating for teens and when a conflict is ongoing, such as frequent fighting in the home, teens may suffer from chronic headaches. If your teen is complaining of frequent headaches and you are aware of family problems, consider counselling. Many schools provide counselling for students free of charge.
Alternately, you may wish to have group counselling where the entire family can share feelings and discuss ways of coping. Communication is key and your teen’s headaches aren’t likely to disappear if you don’t facilitate open communication. Some studies have suggested that teens actually benefit more from alternative approaches to headache treatment than do adults, so this may be a preferable choice for some as opposed to prescription drugs. Teens are often intrigued by alternative approaches and may be willing to try methods such as yoga and acupuncture.
Hormones
Adolescent girls may find that they experience headaches around the time of menstruation. It is thought that the fluctuations in oestrogen levels trigger headaches in women. As menstrual cycles may already be irregular during the teen years when puberty and development are occurring, headaches can strike rather sporadically. Menstrual migraines can also occur just before and after a girl has her period while other non-migraine headaches may attack during menstruation, when oestrogen levels are low. If your teen can identify the early signs of an oncoming headache, he or she can try over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen to prevent the headache from getting worse.
Migraines
Many people will experience their first migraine during the teenage years. Headaches are common among teens but migraines are different. They are an intense throbbing headache, often accompanied by dizziness, vomiting and the appearance of halos or light spots around objects. During earlier childhood years, migraines generally afflict boys and girls equally but after puberty, women are affected about three times more than men. Migraines can wreck havoc on a teen’s ability to function. He or she may frequently miss school, avoid sports and feel unable to socialise with other teens.
Treatment for migraines is often complex and involves identifying personal triggers and may require prescription drugs. Your teen’s doctor is the primary person for providing an effective treatment plan.
Illness
Various illnesses that tend to strike during teen years, such as glandular fever and frequent bacterial infections such as strepthroat can result in headaches, either directly from the illness itself or from antibiotics prescribed. Mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression trigger headaches and may also occur from the strain of handling chronic headaches themselves. Immediate relief can be obtained from over-the-counter medications but do check to ensure any prescription drugs don’t contraindicate them. You can also have your teen lie down in a dark room and you can place a cool compress on your teen’s head to soothe the pain.
Illegal Drugs
The teen years are often a time of experimentation with illegal drugs and many of these cause withdrawal headaches in addition to other more severe effects. Amphetamines and other stimulant drugs can leave users with intense headaches as the drug wears off. If you suspect that your teen is suffering from drug-related headaches, you can try to speak to him or her but it may also be wise to seek advice from your doctor or a school counsellor on how to best approach the subject.
Headaches from Prescription Medications
Your teen’s headaches may be triggered by prescription medications. Medications often prescribed to teens are birth control pills and antibiotics such as tetracycline for acne; both of these can trigger headaches. Some girls may find that birth control pills make headaches worse while others will experience significant relief from head pain. Other drugs your teen may be taking include vitamin A based prescription drugs for acne, such as isotretinoin. Although isotretinoin is effective for severe acne, it does have many side effects such as headaches.
The adolescent years can be a complicated and stressful time, but can also be full of exciting changes, new experiences and friendships. Headaches may be infrequent or chronic but fortunately, they are rarely caused by a serious disorder. By addressing headaches and their sources now, your teen can spend more time enjoying the adolescent years.
Kathy
What is a Tension Headache: Tension Headaches are the most common type of headaches. Nearly everyone will have at least one tension headache in their lifetime.
What is a Migraine Headache: Migraine headaches are a form of headache, usually very intense and disabling. It is a neurologic disease of neuronal origin. The word “migraine” comes from the Greek word ‘hemikranion’ which means (pain affecting one side of the head).
What causes Tension Headache: The exact cause of tension headaches is still unknown. It has long been believed that they are caused by muscle tension around the head and neck. However although muscle tension may be involved, there are many forms of tension headaches and some scientists now believe there is not one single cause for this type of headache. One of the theories is that the pain may be caused by a malfunctioning pain filter which is located in the brain stem. The view is that the brain misinterprets information, for example from the temporal muscle or other muscles, and interprets this signal as pain. One of the main molecules which is probably involved is serotonin. Evidence for this theory comes from the fact that tension headaches may be successfully treated with certain antidepressants. Another theory says that the main cause for tension type headaches and migraine is teeth clenching which causes a chronic contraction of the temporalis muscle.
What causes Migraine Headaches: Migraines can be caused by one or a variety of triggers, including environmental or food etc. Here is just a partial list of Migraine Causes. Physical triggers: Over exertion or exhaustion, Changes in sleep patterns or routines. Environmental triggers: Strong smells, Smoky atmospheres. Psychological triggers: Emotional problems, Excitement. Food triggers: Alcohol, (especially red whine), Caffeine, Chocolate.
Symptoms of Tension Headache: Tension headache pain is often described as a constant pressure, as if the head were being squeezed in a vice. The pain is frequently bilateral which means it is present on both sides of the head at once. Tension headache pain is typically mild to moderate, but may be severe. In contrast to migraine, the pain does not increase during exercise.
Symptoms of Migraine Headaches: Migraines are characterized by attacks of moderate or severe pain, and persons suffering from migraine typically have symptoms such as, moderate to severe pain on one or both sides of the head which may throb or pulse, nausea, vomiting, photophobia and phonophobia, or pain that worsens with movement.
Tension Headache Treatment: Tension Headaches generally respond well to over-the-counter pain killers, such as tylenol or aspirin. However, these medications should be avoided in cases of chronic tension headache, due to the risk of rebound headaches.
Migraine Headache Treatment: Migraine Headaches can be reduced through dietary changes to avoid certain chemicals present in such foods as cheese, chocolate, nuts and alcoholic beverages. Medication prescribed, may be the best treatment once a migraine begins.
Tension Headache Prevention: Tension Headaches may be avoided with such therapies as: swimming, massage, heat pillows, or other relaxation techniques. Removing things that cause stress or muscle tension, can lessen the frequency of tension headaches.
Migraine Headache Prevention: Migraine Headaches can be avoided in some people by eliminating the triggers such as certain foods, again, cheese, chocolate, nuts and most alcoholic beverages. Some triggers for example, hunger and stress may be situational and can be avoided through lifestyle changes. Avoid bright flashing lights if you notice these trigger attacks; most migraineurs are sensitive and should avoid bright or flickering lights. Relaxation after stress, notably weekends and holidays, is a potent trigger; wind down gradually if possible.
There is a website that provides cures, facts and great information on Headache - Tension Headache - Migraine Headache and numerous other medical conditions, the website is called: All About Health, and can be found at this url:
http://www.rb59.com/medical-health-info
By Robert W. Benjamin
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Roland
Migraine is one of the most painful and debilitating conditions a person may suffer from and what is worse, there is not much you can do about it. Migraine headaches are often caused by the changes in the shape and size of the blood vessels that are found in the head. The blood vessels may expand or an inflammation may occur in the tissues that are found in that area.
Compared to the usual type of headache, the tension headache, which often occur on the entire head area, the pain in migraine headaches is more localized and much more specialized. It is however harder to predict when it will occur as migraine headaches do not present any warning signs. In fact, these types of headache will just happen when you least expect it to.
There are however kinds of migraines where some symptoms may be observed. One type is what is commonly called as the classic migraine headache where in the person suffering from it may see a hallucination called ‘aura’ before it actually occurs. Auras are visual hallucinations that resemble lights or zigzagging lines in the person’s line of vision. The hallucination can last from about 15 minutes up to an hour. The duration vary from one case to another. There may also be pain in the areas surrounding the eyes, temporary blind spots and blurred vision.
As to what exactly causes this to happen in such an unsystematic way, no one knows yet. Ongoing researches about the underlying causes of migraines have not yielded much and debates are still going on. Some specialists believe that migraine headaches may be caused by the constriction in the blood vessel, particularly in the electronic changes in the vessels that are similar with what happens during seizures. Others feel that migraines are actually hereditary and people with history of migraines in the family will most likely suffer from the problem.
A migraine headache should not be confused with the common headache, which a person may suffer from every now and then. They are poles different from one another. The migraine headache, for instance can last from four to 72 hours while the common headache, or what is commonly referred to by medical practitioners as tension headaches, can last only for a few hours. Pain is also more localized with the migraine headache, often occurring on the sides of the head while tension headaches can encompass the entire head area. Another difference is the intensity of the pain.
Tension headaches are milder and duller in comparison while migraine headaches can be really severe, accompanied by pounding throbbing pain that only increases. Migraine headaches can also be accompanied by other physical problems such as sensitivity to light, sound and odors as well as nausea and vomiting.
Migraine does not announce itself in a set of early symptoms. The recurring headaches just happen, often catching the person by surprise. There is however one kind where in the person may see a visual hallucination, called an aura, before the actual migraine headache occurs. This kind is called the classic migraine headache.
Environmental and other physiological factors may also contribute in the occurrence of migraine headaches. One factor is stress-related. Over exertion and over fatigue especially in the eye area can cause severe migraine. Depression and anxiety are also factors that you should look into.
Other medical conditions that can start a migraine attack are colds, cough, influenza, and sinusitis. Food and diet may also play a role. Some experts believe that eating chocolates, drinking coffee and abusing alcoholic drinks may contribute in the attack. Sensorial triggers such as over bright lights, too much noise and strong odors may also trigger an attack.
The classic migraine headache is a lot different from what specialists call the common headaches, which occurs without any warning whatsoever. There is also the complicated migraines, which may be a manifestation of more serious medical problems in the nervous system. Often, this type migraine headache is accompanied by speech, movement and motor irregularities.
Juan
A small portion of the human population suffers from a type of headache known as cluster headaches. It is estimated that about 69 out of a 100,000 people will get cluster headaches. There is not a lot of information about these type of headaches however you should find out as much as possible so that you can accurately diagnose your problem should you ever suffer from a cluster headache.
Typically cluster headaches will first occur when people are between twenty and fifty years of age. Thirty years is the typical median age for these types of headaches. Although cluster headaches is a condition that can strike people at any age with some occurring even before ten years of age and over eighty years of age. Most often men get cluster headaches and only about one out of six people who get cluster headaches are women.
By knowing the symptoms that happen with a cluster headache you will be able to understand whether or not you have a cluster headache. On average a half hour to two hours is the usual duration of a cluster headache. Attacks of cluster headaches can occur between once a week and six per day. The occurrence of cluster headaches varies depending on how severe the condition is. Cluster headaches often come in waves and will occur for four to eight weeks before going into remission. In severe cases cluster headaches can last for years, but this is only in a small percentage of people who have cluster headaches.
The condition of the nasal passage is the best place to look when trying to find symptoms that can help you diagnose cluster headaches. Often times those who experience cluster headaches will have a blockage of the nasal passages. Another sign of cluster headaches is a redness of the eye along with sweating from both the forehead and cheeks. At the start of cluster headaches a persons heart rate will often increase quickly, which is something you should take note of. With a cluster headache the pain will typically begin around the eyes and the spread outward. Cluster headache will come on quickly and often reach the maximum pain level within two to fifteen minutes.
Currently there is no treatment for those who have cluster headaches but there are options that will help you reduce the amount of pain that accompanies the headaches. Aspirin and other common analgesics are often not effective enough when trying to reduce the pain caused by cluster headaches since it takes too long for the pills to take effect and by the time they do the headaches will be over or near the end. Doctors will often prescribe antihistamines, calcium channel blockers and ergot preparation for people who experience cluster headaches in an effort to reduce the symptoms people experience.
You should speak to your doctor about cluster headaches if you find that the pain from your headaches effects your sleep, causes you to loose focus or you experience pain whenever you do active movement.
Florence
Whenever I have red wine I get a headache, my body gets hot, and I usually get a bad hangover. This does not happen when I drink white wine. Why is that?
Timothy
Stress headaches, also known as tension headaches, daily headaches, chronic non-progressive headaches or muscle contraction headaches, are the most common type of headache.
The stress headaches happen, as evident from the name is due to stress. Over 50% of adults experience stress headaches; this condition is more common among women. Generally the stress headaches start with a milder note during the afternoons. These headaches may be mild and episodic (occurs less than fifteen days a month). And last from an hour to the entire day, pain persists continuously.
Other people experience extreme (or chronic) stress headaches, which occurs daily or more than fifteen days a month. Symptoms of stress headaches may include irritability, frequent dizziness, fatigue, changes in sleeping patterns, muscle aches, disturbed concentration, sensitivity to noise or light and headaches early in the morning.
Unfortunately, it is difficult to know the cause of stress headaches. As the stress is un parameterized so is the headache associated with it. However, stress headaches are generally triggered by work, friends, school, family and any internal or environmental stress.
Treating Stress Headaches
Welcome adolescence and so the problems associated. Stress headaches are part of growing up. When the muscles on your neck suddenly tighten, it could mean that you’re experiencing a stress headache.
It is absolutely advisable to consult a doctor if experiencing such a headache as stress headaches may occur due to different reasons and intensity. For an extremely painful headache, your physician could make you take x-ray examinations, blood tests, brain scans and other tests to determine how to treat your stress headache.
If the pain becomes just unbearable, it is better to take over-the-counter pain relievers. Be aware, though, that drugs without prescription could cause stomach bleeding, ulcer or other potential side effects.
Apart from the medicines, certain precautions taken can definitely help you avoid the stress headaches. Lifestyle changes such as a proper diet, drinking lots of water and regular exercise are known to prevent stress headaches. Studies have shown that smokers are more likely to experience extreme stress headaches compared to non-smokers. It is better to quit before becoming chronic. If you’re always tired, not getting enough sleep, suppress anger, or always irritable and high-strung about little things, you should relax and take a nap to avoid headaches.
For more information Please visit: Stress Headache
Norma
I have this headache and sometimes I seem to like go deaf for a few seconds and all I can feel is my headache and nothing else and all I can hear is my heartbeat. I do not really know what it is or if it’s connected to my headache. I also feel lightheaded. Does anyone know what it is or is there any remedies or advice?
Vicki
Headaches are one of the most common health grievances of students, adults and even children, Headaches are very common and usually do not point to a serious illness. But even a mild headache can disrupt your daily activities
What actually happens in your body to cause headache?
The skull bones and brain tissues do not have pain sensitive nerve fibers. But muscles of face, mouth, throat, neck , scalp and blood vessels on the surface and base of brain are sensitive to pain as they contain pain sensitive nerve fibers.
The tip of these nerve fibers gets stimulated by various causes like stress, muscle tension, lack of sleep etc. The stimulated nerve tip sends message up the length of the nerve fiber to the related nerve cells of Brain. Brain locates the region of stimulated nerve tip based on these signals and we feel the pain or ache.
The headache may be mild, chronic or severe depending on the underlying cause and pain bearing capacity of the individual.
Our body produces natural pain killing proteins called endorphins. One of the theories suggests that people with low endorphin levels suffer from severe headache and other chronic pains in comparison with people having high endorphin levels.
What triggers headache?
• Anger
• Muscle tension
• Missed meals
• Vigorous exercise
• Sexual excitement
• Infections like Common cold , Flu , Fever , Ear infection ,Tooth infection Sinus infection , Pneumonia , etc
• Coughing - too much coughing can cause a form of traction headache.
• Lifestyle causes Hangover ,Excessive alcohol , Stress , Fatigue , Tension , Tiredness , Excessive smoking
• Dyspepsia
• Eye conditions
• Systemic or metabolic conditions, Hypertension , Thyroid disease ,Anemia , Kidney failure , Uremia
• Brain or head conditions Meningitis ,Encephalitis ,Head injury ,Heatstroke, Sunstroke
• Before, during, or after menstruation
• Hunger
• Medications (Many drugs designed to relieve pain can actually cause headache when the drug is stopped after a period of prolonged use.)
• Alcohol and caffeine withdrawal
• Not getting enough sleep
• Reading for long periods of time or eyestrain
• Doing repetitive work
• Staying in one position for a long time, such as working at a computer.
The same causes of head ache have been explained in Ayurveda also. These causes vitiate all the three doshas (vata, pitta and kapha). The vitiated doshas cause tension, migraine, sinus and other head aches.
Few common types of headache are Tension headache, Migraine headache and sinus headache.
Tension headache:
Tightening of muscles of face and neck cause tension headache. It is characterized by a dull ache in forehead or back of head and pain in neck and shoulders which travels to head. Causes like less sleep, stress, reading for a long time, and working in front of a computer for long hours can precipitate tension headache.
Migraine Headache :
Migraine headache is caused when blood vessels of head get too much dilated or constricted . Females are more prone to this type of headache than males and migraine tends to run in families.
A person suffering from migraine headache feels like vomiting becomes too sensitive to light, sound and other activities. Few people experience spots or flashes before headache.
Few facts like menstruation in females, caffeine, alcohol, aged cheese, cured meat, stress, change in sleeping pattern, strenuous exercise trigger migraine headache.
Sinus Headaches
A sinus headache surfaces when fluids in the nose are not able to drain well and pressure builds up in sinuses. A cold, dust allergies, dirty or polluted water air travel may cause this type of headache.
Sinus headache causes pain in forehead, cheek bones, nose and stuffy nose. The headache increases when face is bent or touched. The symptoms are worse in the morning.
Although headaches are very common, It is recommended to consult a doctor about your headache.
Go to an emergency departmentif any of the following symptoms occur:
• Pain that develops very rapidly
• A change in concentration or ability to think
• A change in level of alertness
• Altered speech
• Weakness, numbness, or difficulty in walking
• Changes in vision
• Headache with a stiff neck or neck pain, or if light hurts your eyes
• If you feel that this the worst headache of your life
• Headache with dizziness, or a feeling that you are falling to one side
• Headache from an injury or blow to the head
• Headache with fever.
Home remedies for tension headache.
For tension headaches massage few drops of peppermint oil or eucalyptus oil on temples.
Massage the scalp with slightly warmed sesame oil. This relieves tension headache and induces sleep.
Regular exercise, yoga and meditation reduce the stress levels and keep the tension headache at bay.
Persons of vata type can use hot water bags on aching parts and a hot shower will be of good help.
Persons of pitta type can use cold or ice packs on aching parts and wrap a wet cold cloth around neck.
Home remedies for migraine headache.
Make a note of facts which trigger the headache and also the foods. Try to avoid these .
Avoid spicy foods, coffee, tea , alcohol, onion and garlic. Avoid citrus fruits except lemon.
Try muscle relaxation exercises. Progressive muscle relaxation, meditation and yoga are definitely going to help. Relax at least for half an hour everyday by doing your favourite activities like listening to music, gardening, taking hot water bath etc.
Stick to you a regular sleep pattern and get enough sleep but don’t oversleep. Avoid sleeping during the afternoon.
Rest in a dark, quiet room when you feel a headache coming on. Place an ice pack wrapped in a cloth on the back of your neck and apply gentle pressure to painful areas on your scalp.
Home remedies for sinus headache.
• Breathe in warm, moist air.
• Moist the nasal passages with the help of saline nasal spray. A saline spray can be used up to six times per day.
• Do not smoke. If you smoke, quit.
• Avoid second-hand smoke and polluted air.
• Avoid exposure to anything that triggers allergy or sinus symptoms.
• Wash your hands frequently to avoid colds.
• Seek treatment for a persistent cold before sinusitis sets in.
• Avoid alcoholic drinks. Alcohol can cause swelling of nasal and sinus tissues.
Viola
My little brother is ill, with a ferocious headache and his body is at least a degree or two higher in his temperature, what should I do…? Is it better for a wet rag to be luke-warm or cold when placed on the forehead?
Clifford
