A teenager has a headache: causes, diagnosis and treatment

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In the last few years, eating disorders have become increasingly talked about: anorexia, bulimia, overeating. While many parents have an idea of what anorexia is, they know less about bulimia.

“...After the first time I vomited, I felt bad: nauseated, unpleasant and even sad, but at the same time, I perfectly remember the wonderful sensations of purity and emptiness that replaced them. After all, I ate a regular lunch and, at the same time, didn’t eat anything! And I decided to stick to this regime until I reached the “ideal weight” (of course, as soon as I reached it, it seemed to me that it was too high). After 4 months of no breakfast, no lunch, and a dinner that was quickly eliminated from the body, the first bout of uncontrollable overeating was just around the corner. The irony is that bulimia initially begins as a completely controllable process, but very quickly snowballs and becomes completely out of control. The first breakdown scared me terribly: I realized that I had absolutely no control over what was happening, I could not satisfy the hunger that sat somewhere deep inside ... "

Causes of headaches in teenagers

In adolescence, headaches may appear due to insufficient cerebral circulation, hormonal changes, as well as daily routine. During this period, migraine attacks may occur, especially after physical and mental stress. It is important not to ignore them, because during headaches, nerve cells do not receive oxygen in the required quantity. This can lead to long-term consequences and manifest as migraine attacks in adulthood.

Tension headaches

Main article: Tension headaches

Tension headaches are the most common type. They may begin to appear during adolescence and occur in attacks. Patients note that the sensation is reminiscent of squeezing the head with a hoop from all sides. This is due to muscle tension, vascular spasms and increasing ischemia of brain tissue. After the spasm is relieved, the pain goes away, and the attacks are usually short-lived. Tension headaches are often caused by:

stressful situations;
prolonged mental stress, including during exams;
violation of the daily routine, lack of rest.

Tension headaches are usually not particularly intense or lasting. They can be episodic or chronic. In the first case, they occur no more often than 15 days out of 30, and the duration of the attack ranges from 30 minutes to 7 days. If they appear more often, they are chronic. Treatment consists of adjusting the diet and diet, as well as taking painkillers.

Migraine

Migraine is another condition that can appear during adolescence. It is a primary headache, that is, it is not associated with any pathologies of internal organs. Its causes are not fully understood, but there are theories of its relationship with vascular and nervous disorders. The disease occurs more often in women, but can occur in anyone.

Migraine occurs in a chronic form. The duration of an attack can range from 4 hours to 3 days, and their frequency differs for each patient. Headaches can occur several times throughout your life or recur almost daily. It is believed that the characteristic signs of migraine are pain in only one side of the head, increased sensitivity to light and loud sounds, and the appearance of an “aura.” It appears several hours before the onset of pain and may include the following symptoms:

lacrimation, pain and pain in the eyes in bright light;
noise in ears;
dizziness, weakness;
nausea and vomiting;
rapid heartbeat, possible fainting.

Aura is not a necessary precursor to migraine headache. This set of symptoms occurs in only 20−25% of patients and not before every attack. Migraine usually differs from other types of headaches in its high intensity - it is not relieved by conventional painkillers. If it is confirmed, the doctor will select specific medications that affect the sensitivity of nerve endings and relieve acute pain. It is also important to avoid triggers - factors that provoke the development of migraines. These include sudden changes in weather conditions and climate, lack of sleep, disruption of the daily routine and stressful situations.

Diseases of the heart and blood vessels

Adolescents may develop cardiovascular diseases that cause chronic headaches. They can be suspected by the following symptoms: high or low blood pressure, shortness of breath with minimal physical exertion, coughing and wheezing, frequent bouts of dizziness, chest pain, numbness in the arms and legs. If these symptoms appear, you should urgently undergo a cardiac examination and determine the exact cause of your deterioration. During diagnosis, various disorders may be detected:

Hypertension (Main article: Headache due to hypertension) - previously considered a disease of the elderly, but in reality it also occurs in children and adolescents. It is characterized by an increase in blood pressure even at rest. This condition puts stress on the vascular walls; over time, they expand and lose elasticity. It is important to control hypertension with medications that lower blood pressure, and your doctor may also prescribe sedatives. If left untreated, the disease can significantly weaken blood vessels and cause hemorrhagic stroke.
Hypotension (Main article: Headache with low pressure) - decreased blood pressure. This condition is accompanied by weakness, nausea, fainting, as well as pallor of the skin and mucous membranes, numbness of the extremities. With hypotension, it is important to control physical activity, consume enough vitamins and follow a daily routine. Low blood pressure is no less dangerous than high blood pressure - the brain experiences a lack of oxygen (ischemia), which is a predisposing factor to the development of ischemic stroke.
Atherosclerosis (Main article: Headache as a symptom of atherosclerosis) is a chronic vascular disease that occurs when fat metabolism is disrupted. Cholesterol and lipoproteins are not completely eliminated from the body, but are deposited on the walls of the arteries. Subsequently, the vessels become weak and inelastic, and can be damaged during physical activity and changes in blood pressure. In addition, cholesterol can form blood clots that block the lumen of blood vessels. With atherosclerosis, it is important to follow a low-cholesterol diet and take medications that stimulate its elimination.

In addition to acquired diseases, examination may reveal congenital defects. These include heart defects and anomalies in the development of large vessels. These pathologies lead to impaired blood circulation and nutrition to the brain, causing frequent headaches. They require timely treatment according to a regimen selected by a doctor.

Diseases of the ENT organs

One of the causes of chronic headaches in adolescents is sinusitis. The disease is an inflammation of the paranasal sinuses:

sinusitis – maxillary (maxillary) sinus;
frontal sinusitis - frontal sinus;
ethmoiditis – cells of the ethmoid bone;
sphenoiditis – sphenoid sinus.

Normally, the paranasal sinuses are hollow and filled with air. Their walls are lined with single-layer epithelium. A viral infection or bacteria can lead to inflammation of the walls of the sinuses, increased exudation and filling with various types of contents. Serous or purulent exudate may be found in the sinuses, which must be removed. The disease leads to breathing problems and headaches. Its danger is that sinusitis (usually sinusitis) occurs in a chronic form and can worsen annually.

Another reason why a teenager may have a headache is inflammation of the middle ear. This organ is located in the tympanic cavity and includes several small bones. Inflammation requires urgent treatment, as it can spread to the inner ear, and then to the membranes of the brain. Otitis media is accompanied by characteristic symptoms, including intense headaches and hearing loss. There may also be discharge from the ear canal and impaired coordination of movements.

Other reasons

Headaches in a teenager are not a separate disease, but a symptom of various disorders. They can occur against the background of disruption of the heart and blood vessels, nervous system, and endocrine glands. Often its causes are changes in hormonal levels. Headaches occur in the following cases:

lack of vitamins and microelements in the diet - these substances are necessary for the proper functioning of cells and tissues;
stress and unstable emotional state are one of the causes of vascular spasms and ischemia of brain cells;
diseases of the cervical spine and incorrect posture - cause compression of the nerves and blood vessels that pass to the head;
head injuries and their consequences may appear after a long time;
vegetative-vascular dystonia - increased reactivity of the nervous system, which is manifested by various somatic symptoms, often headaches;
intense physical activity leads to a deficiency of microelements, weakness and headaches.

It is important to understand that headaches occur periodically even in a healthy person. Their causes are unbalanced nutrition, disruption of the daily routine, stress and excessive workload. In most patients, they disappear after rest and normalization of the psycho-emotional state. You should consult a doctor if your headaches occur frequently, 15 days a month or more, the attacks are too intense or prolonged, and are accompanied by additional symptoms.

Illness or bad habit?

As with many other eating disorders, bulimia initially begins as a completely controlled process: almost every woman (and many men) at least once in her life went on a diet or limited food intake, thought about the beauty of her own body and compared herself with others, many spend gyms several hours a week, spend a lot of time choosing food. But not everyone develops bulimia.

Bulimia is not a habit, but a disease, the development of which involves many factors, and which neither a teenager nor an adult can get rid of on their own.

It is just as impossible to recover from bulimia on your own with the help of willpower, as it is to recover from depression or drug addiction.

“...I constantly wanted sweets, cookies, food that I considered “forbidden.” When I couldn’t stand it and still allowed myself to eat a piece of cake, the voice of shame, self-criticism, and fear began to burst into my head: “I’ll weigh a ton tomorrow if I continue to eat these cookies!” How can I do this, what kind of pig am I! Am I really going to just ruin everything because of my laziness and lack of self-control?!“ I still remember that voice. That's when bulimia began. Getting rid of the food was the only way to reduce my anxiety about eating cookies. I don't think I ever ate (or "pushed") a lunch or dinner that exceeded 500 calories in high school. It was all about me, not about the food...”

Diagnostic methods

Timely diagnosis is the key to successful treatment of headaches in adolescents. When visiting a doctor, it is important to accurately identify the location of the pain, the conditions of occurrence and other nuances. To clarify the diagnosis, the following tests may be required:

electroencephalography – assessment of the activity of brain neurons;
X-ray of the cervical spine to identify osteochondrosis, curvature and other pathologies;
MRI of the neck and head is an informative technique that allows you to detect neoplasms and cysts, protrusions and hernias of the spine;
general and biochemical blood tests, study of hormone levels.

At the Clinical Brain Institute, you can undergo a complete examination for headaches of various origins. Examinations are carried out using precise and high-quality equipment using modern technologies. In addition, our center can conduct laboratory tests and complex diagnostic procedures. They allow you to quickly and accurately make a diagnosis in order to begin the stages of treatment.

Treatment of headaches in teenagers

Treatment of headaches is complex. The regimen will include techniques to relieve symptoms as well as address the underlying cause. Taking painkillers at home can relieve pain for a short time, but without proper treatment, attacks may recur. The doctor will select medications individually, depending on the exact diagnosis and individual characteristics:

muscle relaxants - prescribed for problems with the cervical spine;
painkillers - necessary to relieve migraine attacks, as well as for the symptomatic treatment of headaches;
means for improving cerebral circulation;
physiotherapy – a set of techniques to stimulate blood circulation and nerve conduction;
therapeutic exercises and massage;
specific treatment for diseases of the ENT organs, which may include antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs.

For most patients, conservative treatment is sufficient - surgery may be required only in the presence of tumors, hernias, or heart defects. However, for recovery it is important to follow doctors' instructions at home. The medications must be taken in full, and exercise must be performed regularly. In addition, the doctor will recommend getting proper rest, normalizing your daily routine and avoiding activity at night.

Prevention methods

Timely prevention is the key to the health of the musculoskeletal system, cardiovascular and nervous systems in adulthood. For teenagers, it is important to follow the following recommendations from doctors:

monitor your posture throughout the day, especially when working at a monitor, writing or reading;
carry out light physical activity that will maintain muscle tone;
include a sufficient amount of vitamins and minerals in the diet;
undergo regular heart and spine examinations;
avoid stressful situations;
establish a daily routine, leaving at least 7-8 hours of time for sleep.

The Clinical Brain Institute specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of headaches in adults, children and adolescents. In our center you can undergo a full examination and select an effective treatment regimen. Our main features are high-precision modern equipment, as well as competent, highly specialized specialists with many years of experience in treating headaches of various origins.

What is bulimia?

Bulimia is an eating disorder that has three main components:

Overeating: consumption of amounts of food that significantly (often several times) exceeds the needs and capabilities of the body. Often described as uncontrollable and perceived as a “breakdown” or “failure”.
Regular use of “cleansing” methods: an attempt to get rid of “extra” food, weight, and change the shape of the body. This includes inducing vomiting, abusing laxatives and diuretics, following extremely strict diets or completely refusing food, and engaging in heavy physical activity.
The dependence of the emotional state and self-esteem on food directly or indirectly: on certain bodily qualities (weight, certain shapes), on the ability to follow a diet and not “break down”, on the ability to hide the manifestations of the disease. Failure to meet these criteria causes intense feelings of shame, fear, and self-hatred.