Q: I'm 11 years old. Almost every night I go to bed with a headache and I wake with a headache. I've been to the doctors and they have given me medications, but they really don't work. What is causing me to have these headaches?
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A: Headaches that last all day nearly every day are often related to stress. We presume that your doctors have already checked your vision, blood pressure and other causes for frequent headaches. Depression can also be associated with headaches. Have you noticed a relationship to stresses in your life? Are the headaches more likely on school days, and less common on weekends or during school vacations? Are there problems at home or troubles with friends that are upsetting you? Have you had any fun lately? Sometimes keeping a written headache diary can be helpful to establish a pattern. At the end of each day, record your symptoms and experiences for that day before going to bed.
While pain medications and rest may temporarily relieve the headaches, it might be helpful for you to speak with a counselor. Ask your parents, doctor or school nurse to arrange an appointment. And bring your headache diary to the first visit.
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To have TeenGrowth's board of physicians answer your health question, visit the Web site (http://www.teengrowth.com) or e-mail feedback@teengrowth.com. TeenGrowth is a non-commercial Internet site that focuses exclusively on the educational health issues of adolescents.
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