With the rise of technology in recent years, children have a very different upbringing and childhood to the generations before them, and family life today is very different from a few decades ago.
Whether they are doing their homework on the family computer, checking their social networking sites on their phone or playing games on their tablets, handheld devices like these are keeping our kids entertained for hours on end. But did you know these electronics could be causing them to suffer from headaches?
Looking at screens for a long time without a break could be causing eye strain, which can cause headaches. Remind your teenager to take regular breaks to rest their eyes.
Another issue that could be causing your teenager to suffer from headaches could be a lack of sleep. It’s not unusual for our teens to stay up late watching the television or talking to their friends but it is very important at that age to get a sufficient amount of sleep. Teenagers need more sleep than adults and not getting enough quality sleep can impact their behaviour, mental wellbeing and learning. Not getting enough sleep may also be a reason they suffer from headaches, so it is important they aim to get the recommended eight to ten hours of good sleep each night.
Food and drink may be another cause of headaches among teenagers. Some possible triggers include citrus fruits, monosodium glutamate (MSG), caffeine and chocolate. To work out if any foods trigger headaches for your teenager, it can be helpful to ask them to start a headache diary, where they write down what they ate or drank when their pain started, or if anything they ate or drank made their pain worse. After a few weeks, you should start to see if the same things appear again and again which you can then cut out of their diet.
Skipping meals altogether is another reason for headaches to occur, so it’s important that they also try to eat regularly.
These small lifestyle changes can help to combat headaches in teenagers. But if a headache does hit and your teenager needs relief, one option is to try a pain reliever such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. If symptoms persist, it's best to seek medical advice from your doctor.
First published: 4th August 2021
Last updated: 14th September 2023
This article is for general information only and not intended as a substitute for medical advice. All information presented on these web pages is not meant to diagnose or prescribe. In all health-related matters, always consult your healthcare professional.
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It’s been a long day at school and your child comes home complaining of a headache. As parents, we worry when our children complain of pain. Headaches are a common type of pain in children. Headaches can have an impact on your child’s life, causing them to miss school or other activities so it is important to understand them.
