Overview of Headaches in Kids: Keep Calm & Carry On

As a pediatric headache specialist, I love teaching kids about headaches and partnering with them to improve their pain. Seeing kids get back to what they love (sports, music, hanging out with friends) is so rewarding! Let’s walk through some helpful information about headaches.

Headaches are common!

They happen a lot more often than most people think. More than 75% of kids report a significant headache by age 15. When we look specifically at migraine headaches, 11% of children between the ages of 5 and 15 have migraine, and 28% of teens between the ages of 15 and 19 have migraine (Hershey 2005). With migraine, pain is typically severe enough to interfere with functioning (school, play, or other activities). Migraine is often associated with nausea and/or vomiting. Kids are often sensitive to light, sound, or movement during a migraine headache.

What causes headaches?

It’s complicated. Headaches are affected by lots of things. Stress, sleep, weather changes, hydration, nutrition, and exercise can all influence headaches.

Genes are a big factor.

If one parent has migraine headaches, a child has a 50% chance of also having migraine headaches. This number jumps to around 75% if both parents have migraine headaches. 

The good news? There are MANY ways to help.

Since so many factors affect headaches, there are many things that you and your child can do to decrease and prevent headache pain.

Develop good coping strategies for stress.

We all get stressed, and for those of us who are prone to headaches, we get more headaches when we’re stressed. Just like you can strengthen your arm muscles by lifting weights, you can train your brain to get better at relaxation. Practice relaxed breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, or self-hypnosis for a few minutes each day. ImaginAction is a great resource for this.

The more you practice, the more effective you will be at decreasing stress, and this can decrease headaches. It’s great to practice before bed each night, when you may already be starting to feel relaxed. Once you develop these skills, you can use them any time you feel stressed (at school, before a big game, etc).

Prioritize sleep.

Our brains love consistency! Keep everything the same from day to day, at least as much as possible. Go to bed at the same time each night and wake up at the same time each morning. Keep screens out of the bedroom and develop a relaxing routine for 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime each night. Keep active during the day and avoid naps.

Drink lots of water!

Aim for at least 64 ounces each day (more if you’re exercising a lot!).

Eat healthy foods and don’t skip meals.

Again, consistency is good! Eat at the same times each day and eat healthy foods throughout the day. This helps to keep blood sugar stable, which may prevent headaches. Limit caffeine intake to 1 to 2 times per week or less.

Exercise!

This releases endorphins, our bodies’ “feel good” hormones that decrease pain and stress.

When should we go see a doctor? 

If headaches are causing your child to miss school or activities, or if they occur once a week or more, make an appointment with your child’s primary care physician to discuss headaches.

Don’t wait to take action.  

When your child has a headache, it’s not a good time for “wait and see.”  Treat headaches early with rescue medications. Medications like ibuprofen work best if your child takes them as soon as a headache starts. Make sure to keep some medication at school too. Your child’s physician may recommend that your child rest in a dark quiet room for 30 minutes after taking rescue medication.

A strong offense is a good idea. 

While rescue medications are good once a headache starts, preventive medications and supplements help keep them from happening in the first place. They can take 8 to 12 weeks to be fully effective. If your child’s primary care physician prescribes one, be sure to take it every day as prescribed.

Think outside of the box. 

There are lots of ways to treat headaches in addition to medications and supplements. Acupuncture, neurostimulation devices, cognitive behavioral therapy, biofeedback, and hypnosis are all evidence-based ways to treat headaches. The more tools in your toolkit, the better!

It’s powerful to know that while headaches are nobody’s fault, there are many ways to take control over the pain experience. Partner with your child’s primary care physician to find the medications and additional treatments that work best for your child. If needed, your child’s physician can also refer you to a pediatric headache physician. You’ve got this!