Headache facts for kids
A headache is a pain in your head. It's not from hitting your head. Instead, the pain comes from inside your head. Headaches are very common. Almost everyone gets one sometimes.
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What Causes Headaches?
Headaches can happen for many reasons. Sometimes, it's a sign that your body needs something.
Here are some common causes:
- Having a fever.
- Looking at a television or computer screen for a long time.
- Feeling very tired or sleepy.
- Feeling stress or worry.
- Other conditions that affect your nerves or brain, like epilepsy.
Different Kinds of Headaches
There are many types of headaches. Experts have identified over 220 different kinds! They group them into a few main categories:
- Primary Headaches: These are headaches that are not caused by another health problem. Examples include migraine, tension headache, and cluster headache.
- Secondary Headaches: These headaches happen because of another health issue.
- Cranial Neuralgias and Other Headaches: These involve pain in the nerves of the head or face.
Sometimes, people use "headache" to describe something that is very difficult or annoying to deal with.
How to Feel Better: Headache Treatments
Many headaches can be made better. You can try natural ways or sometimes take medicine.
Natural Ways to Relieve Headaches
Often, you can feel better without medicine. These methods can give you longer-lasting relief:
- Gently massaging your temples (the soft spots near your eyes).
- Resting your eyes, like blinking often or covering them with your palms.
- Going for a walk.
- Eating healthy foods with lots of protein and iron. This helps keep your brain healthy.
- Drinking plenty of water. Being dehydrated can cause headaches.
Medicines for Headaches
For mild headaches, there are medicines that can help. These are called pain relievers.
- Common pain relievers include aspirin, paracetamol, and ibuprofen.
- Always ask a doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine. They can tell you what is safe for you.
Images for kids
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An old advertisement for a headache medicine
See also
In Spanish: Cefalea para niños
