Treating Adolescent Tension HeadachesMany teens suffer from frequent tension headaches. While these adolescent tension headaches are not, in principle, treated differently than similar such headaches occurring in adults (see tension headaches for treatment options) there are some special issues and therapies to be aware of in the case of teens. First of all, adolescents will often not complain of a problem until and unless it becomes chronic. Thus, frequent tension headaches, say a few per week, may not get noticed, but daily headaches will usually prompt a teen to at least discuss the issue with a parent - who will often then bring him or her to a physician for medical evaluation. Adolescents may be particularly susceptible to the effects of chronic stress, anxiety, poor diet, poor sleep habits, and medication overuse. 
Stress and anxietyAlthough these two sound similar, stress is something anyone experiences when confronted with a very difficult task or loss of value, and the reaction may include anxiety. On the other hand, having an anxiety problem means that the anxiety response is inappropriately high for the circumstances or is in response to a situation that is not normally anxiety provoking. A teenager who experiences anxiety before giving a speech is having a normal stress response - while one who experiences the same level of anxiety three times a day, in response to multiple daily events - probably has an exaggerated anxiety response.It is important to find out if a teenager is experiencing stress due to some obvious cause (parental divorce, poor grades, a death in the family) or due to less obvious ones (high grade expectations on the part of the teen or parents, hidden sexual abuse, etc..). Clearly some causes of stress are more easily dealt with than others. Headache physicians are aware that underlying depression and chronic anxiety are found much more commonly among adolescents who have daily headaches. Underlying sources of stress must be identified and a plan made for 'dealing with' them to adequately treat adolescent tension headaches. Sometimes simply acknowledging the source of stress is helpful. Sometimes goals must be modified to reduce the stress. If it is inappropriate or impossible to avoid a stressor, then stress reduction techniques can be employed. Some psychotherapists or physicians provide relaxation therapy. It can also be learned using various books (see Stress Relief & Relaxation Techniques ) and supplemented with recordings (see EnhancedHealing.com ) Referral to a psychotherapist or psychiatrist is clearly warranted for depression or severe anxiety. Poor Diet and Sleep HabitsThese poor habits are almost synonymous with the word 'teenager' but they can clearly contribute to the frequency of adolescent tension headaches.Teenagers may be eating poorly (including taking in soda, candy, and various forms of caffeine) or simply not eating enough, resulting in headaches triggered by hunger. It is helpful to review a list of potential dietary triggers with your teen to see if there is a correlation. (The trigger list provided may lead to either migraine or tension headaches.) Caffeine, in particular, may be a problem. It can act as a headache trigger in some. In others, after it has been consumed regularly, it triggers headaches upon withdrawal. There are many over the counter products and drinks with high doses of caffeine (Goody's Powder, Red Bull, Full Throttle to name a few) which can lead to daily or frequent caffeine withdrawal headaches. Poor sleep habits are also headache triggers. Teenagers may be prone to staying up late, but needing to get up early for classes or other activities - with sleep deprivation being a clear headache promoter. While most adolescents can 'get away' with these poor habits, it is important to emphasize good sleep habits (obtaining regular and sufficient sleep) to those who experience frequent headaches. Medication OveruseAs mentioned above, there are over-the-counter medications, drinks, and powders, containing caffeine, which can result in a daily headache due to withdrawal. This can also occur with other medications including aspirin, ibuprofen, and Exedrine. If a teenager is using these medications more than three times a week, then the headaches themselves may be due to withdrawal from these medications (see Rebound Headaches ). Prescription drugs can also lead to rebound or withdrawal headaches, some common culprits being Fioricet, Fiorinal, Esgic, and narcotic medications.Return from ADOLESCENT TENSION HEADACHES to TENSION HEADACHES
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