why does my 16 year old son gets frequent headaches?

Question

He started having frequent headaches at the age of 12. Not been to the doctor for check ups before.

Answer 1

There is a huge range of things that it could be.
Stress (No one thinks that a 16 year old could be stressed, but school can be traumatic...Talk to him.)
Also, it could be anything easily explained by going to the doctor.
If he has been having them since he was 12, hurry and book an appointment with his pediatrician. You want to make sure that there isn't something physiological going on. Doctors are expensive, but it will be worth your peace of mind if you know there isn't something seriously wrong.
After that, try acupuncture, or relaxation techniques. Could help.

Answer 2

It could be anything from a vision problem (such as needing corrective lenses - he's straining otherwise) to allergies to migraines to stress, or WORST CASE: a tumor.

Make an appointment with the doctor. From now until you see the doctor, keep a headache diary - when he get the headache (time of day, day of the week, etc.), where the pain is (forehead, around his eyes, back of head, etc.) any pain medication you give, and if the pain worsens or dulls after giving the treatment. Bring this to the appointment. It will help determine a cause and a treatment.

Answer 3

I have always gotten lots of headaches so I sympathize with him.

Probably from him eyes. If he needs glasses, even the slightest bit, he'll suffer from a bad headache.

Could be allergies. Does he get them at a certain time of year?

Tension or stress?

Proper nutrition?

Proper rest?

Have him (or you) chart down exactly when he notices he has a head ache. By marking the time of day on a calendar he can see if they are seasonal or year around. He needs to mark what he was doing at the time - reading, watching television, working on hard assignments. Knowing the time of day - near a meal time, close to bedtime.

And see a doctor! Good Luck! SD

Answer 4

I'd definately take him to an eye doctor first. That seems to be a major warning sign with children. Also, allergies can play a major factor. Smoking around children has also been known to give them headaches, which possibly goes back to allergies. I would just start trying to rule things out and if all else fails, I'd see your regular physician. Good Luck.

Answer 5

How can your son have never been to a doctor? Do you not send him to school? Why would you not have him checked if he has these headaches? I don't seem to understand the question because a responsible parent would have had him to the doctor years ago.

Answer 6

The reasons for these are

1. May need glasses
2. Drinks to much coke
3. The weather

My brother gets headaches alot when the weather changes.

Answer 7

If you can't find an obvious cause I too would suggest a chiropractor. Many do free first visits (which are the expensive ones if you need x-rays) then it's fairly decent in price after that. Any slip or fall could have misaligned something in the back enough to bother a nerve but not cause any other noticable problems. Good luck

Answer 8

I'd say first check his eyes. When I was 12 I had eye problems and given meds for migranes. Once I got glasses though the headaches went away. Good luck

Answer 9

You need to consult with a physician. It could be he has impaired vision causing a strain on his eyes, it could also be something very serious! I had headaches everyday when i was a child, after visiting docs who not find anything wrong with me I began going to a chiropractor and after a couple of visits the headaches went away!

Answer 10

I think he needs to get a good physical done and schedule an eye appt as well. It could be many things... I was 12 when I started getting head aches and found out after testing I had petitmal (mildest form of epilepsy) never would have known if it wasnt for my doc...