Exercise can cause headaches or trigger migraine attacks in teenagers as well as in members of other age groups. Exercise headaches may frighten teens and their parents. With proper diagnosis and treatment, headaches and migraines do not have to limit a teenager's ability to enjoy exercise.
Types
A teenager can experience primary exertional headache following exercise.The exertion of exercise can also trigger migraine. There are several forms of migraine, all of which exercise or other exertion can trigger. These forms of migraine include migraine without aura, migraine with aura and basilar-type migraine. A complete diagnosis includes which form or forms of migraine the teenager may have.
Primary Exertional Headache
Teenagers who experience headaches after exercise generally have symptoms of primary exertional headache, or PEH. Primary exertional headache occurs more frequently in hot weather or at high altitude, but may occur in any weather or at any altitude; occurs more frequently if sufferer consumes caffeine or alcohol before exercising; and generally begins suddenly and lasts from five minutes to 48 hours.
Other possible symptoms of PEH include nausea, vomiting, photophobia--increased sensitivity to light--and phonophobia--increased sensitivity to sound.
The teen who suffers PEH will feel the headache either on only one side of the head or on both sides of the head. The headache may have a throbbing or pulsing quality.
Exercise-Triggered Migraine
Attacks of migraine can be triggered by Many things, including exertion such as exercise, can trigger attacks of the genetic neurological disease migraine.
While migraine shares some of the symptoms of PEH, one characteristic can help a physician diagnosis it: Activity such as climbing stairs or bending over generally makes migraine pain worse. A migraine attack usually lasts between four and 72 hours in teens and adults.
The Importance of Seeing a Doctor
In most cases, headaches in teenagers after exercise present no danger. To be safe, however, a doctor should examine a teenager who experiences headaches to rule out serious problems. For example, in its information about primary exertional headache, the International Headache Society notes, "On first occurrence of this headache type it is mandatory to exclude subarachnoid hemorrhage and arterial dissection."
Treating Primary Exertional Headache
The type of treatment for PEH depends, in part, upon how frequently the headache occurs. For some teens warming up before exercise may prevent PEH. Exercise that starts slowly and gradually increases in intensity may prevent PEH. Seek guidance from a health care provider to treat PEH with over-the-counter or prescription drugs.
Treating Migraines
Migraine specialists Dr. Elizabeth Loder and Dr. John Claude Krusz recommend preventive treatment for teenagers who have three or more migraines per month, regardless of what triggers them. The FDA has approved four medications for migraine prevention. Physicians also prescribe more than 100 other medications that the FDA has not approved for this purpose.
Doctor generally recommend a migraine-abortive medication when a migraine occurs. Abortive medications work in the brain to stop the migrainous process, thus stopping the symptoms. Of the medications in the triptan family, the FDA has approved only Axert for use by adolescents ages 12 to 17. A physician may advise limiting the use of migraine abortive medications to no more than three days per week to avoid medication overuse headache.
Considerations
Your teenager's pediatrician may refer your child to a neurologist, who may in turn, provide a referral to a migraine and headache specialist.
References
- "Cephalalgia": International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2d ed.; May 2004
- Dr. Elizabeth Loder, M.D.: Harvard Medical School; Boston, Massachusetts
- Dr. John Claude Krusz, M.D., Ph.D.; Anodyne Headache and Pain Care; Dallas, Texas
Member Comments