Most people get dull headaches from time to time, but only a few consistently suffer from migraines. Migraines affect about 20 percent of teenagers, and they are more common in girls than in boys, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Migraines are different than typical headaches. The Nemours Foundation describes them as recurrent, intense, pounding headaches accompanied by additional symptoms such as nausea. Teenagers who suffer from migraines may frequently feel debilitated by pain, but they can take some steps to reduce their suffering.
Signs and Symptoms
Migraine headaches typically begin as pulsing or pounding head starting around the eyes, in the forehead or at the side of the head. They generally get progressively worse and are often aggravated by movement, activity, loud noises and bright lights, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Teens with migraines often feel enough pain and nausea or dizziness that they have to skip daily activities such as school and work until a migraine subsides, according to the Nemours Foundation.
Physiology
Migraines seem to be caused partially by changes in the body chemical serotonin, which can affect the blood vessels, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. High levels of serotonin can cause blood vessels to shrink, and dropping serotonin levels can cause them to swell, which may cause pain. Teenagers with a parent who gets migraines are more likely to have migraines than other teenagers, according to the Nemours Foundation.
Triggers
Different events set off migraines in teenagers, but some teenagers who get migraines have common triggers. Typical triggers include stress, skipping meals, eating certain foods, drinking too much caffeine, menstruating, not getting enough sleep, smoking, changes in weather, travel and changes in hormone levels, according to the Nemours Foundation.
Diagnosis
A doctor can typically diagnose migraines by assessing the symptoms a teen describes, but he will also perform a physical examination. In addition, he may perform blood or imaging tests to ensure that a teenager's headaches aren't being caused by anything else, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Treatment
A doctor may prescribe a pain relief medication and medications to reduce nausea and vomiting, but she may also prescribe a daily preventative medication to reduce instances of migraines, according to the Nemours Foundation. Teenagers can supplement these medications by writing down common triggers and trying to avoid them whenever possible.
Home Care
A teenager who starts to get a migraine should immediately take his prescribed medication or medications. He should then go to a dark, cool place and lay down with a wet cloth on his forehead until the pain subsides, according to the American Academy of Family Physician.
