Treatment Options for Headaches

By peace | November 9, 2005

Once you understand the different types of headaches and some of the common causes, the next question is: How should they be treated?

If you are worried about your headaches — or if this problem begins to disrupt your school, home or social life — see your pediatrician.

Other signs that may mean you should visit your pediatrician include:

Head Injury
Headaches from a recent head injury should be checked right away — especially if you were knocked out by the injury.

Seizures/Convulsions
Any headaches associated with seizures or fainting require immediate attention.

Frequency
You get more than one headache a week.

Degree of Pain
Headache pain is severe and prevents you from doing activities you want to do.

Time of Attack
Headaches that wake you from sleep or occur in early morning.

Visual Difficulties
Headaches that cause blurred vision, eye spots or other visual changes.

Other Associated Symptoms
If fever, vomiting, stiff neck, toothache or jaw pain accompany your headache, you may require an examination —l including laboratory or X-ray tests.

How are headaches treated?
Whichever type of headache you get, and whatever the cause, your pediatrician can explain why you get headaches and how they can be controlled. Be sure to ask any questions you may have.

If you get tension headaches or mild migraines, your pediatrician may suggest an aspirin or an aspirin substitute, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, and rest. If you get more severe headaches or classic migraines (when you have a visual disturbance called an “aura”), prescription medicine may be required. Your pediatrician may suggest that you keep a headache diary to help pinpoint information about what is causing the headaches. A headache diary helps you keep track of the following: when headaches occur, how long they last, what you were doing when the headaches start, what you had eaten, how much sleep you have had, and what seems to make the headaches better or worse.

If what you eat seems to trigger your headaches, your pediatrician will suggest that you eliminate certain foods from your diet. If stress is the culprit, your doctor can help you cope by suggesting special treatments such as relaxation exercises. Headaches that are caused by an emotional or psychological problem may require additional visits to your pediatrician or to other health care professionals to get to the cause of the problem. Sometimes entire families need counseling to eliminate the stress that is causing headaches.

It’s important to know that, whatever the cause, headache pain is real. More importantly, with your pediatrician’s help, you can identify the source of your headaches and get this problem under control.

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