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Study Explains Why Headaches are Common in Children

Study Explains Why Headaches are Common in Children
(Photo : Flickr) Study Explains Why Headaches are Common in Children

A study identifies common reasons for headache among school goers.

Throbbing sensation and discomfort caused by headaches affect children's physical well being, performance in academics and daily activities. Pediatricians at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital found headaches affect nearly 10 percent of young children and 15 to 27 percent of adolescents. They add the condition is prevalent among those with vision problems, who are stressed and do not adhere to healthy habits like eating meals on time, drinking sufficient water and getting adequate hours of sleep.

Headaches during hot seasons can be avoided by remaining hydrated by drinking water and sipping fluids. Many American households stack caffeinated drinks and products that intensify severity and frequency of headaches. The experts recommend against skipping breakfast, overeating junk and not consuming nutritive food like fruits and vegetables in growing children. In addition, sleep deprivation and stress resulting from family issues, parents' divorce or coping up with pressures from school add a toll on mental and physical health of children.

Children and teens need a minimum of 10 hours of shut eye else, they are more likely to get tired and suffer from chronic headaches. Vision troubles like shortsightedness are common in children during growing years. Unclear vision can make a child strain his eyes to see far away resulting in frequent episodes of headache. Parents and caregivers are advised to take their children for regular eye checkups and consult doctors if the problem persists for long.

Migraine headaches are generally rare among children and can be treated with cognitive behavioral therapy to allay painful symptoms.

The current study also links parental heath conditions to occurrence of headaches in young children. The authors say these ailments can be handled by giving mild painkiller medications or seeking medical opinion. Very rarely children need to see a neurologist and get brain scans to detect major health conditions like a brain tumor.

More information is available online in JAMA.

Jul 29, 2014 08:02 AM EDT

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