Springtime Pediatric Headache and Pain: 5 Things to Know and Try
Temperatures are rising, the sun is shining, birds are chirping… and your child feels worse.
Sadly, sometimes the springtime brings on worse headaches and pain for children, teens, and adults alike. Why might this be, and is there anything we can do about it?
This is not exhaustive, but here are 5 reasons to consider why your child may be feeling worse this spring, and what you might be able to do to help:
Allergies
Allergies and headaches are actually both extremely common in childhood. 18-47% of children under 18 have allergic rhinitis, and 54% of children have experienced headache problems (9.1% with migraine). Though research is ongoing, there certainly seems to be an overlap between the two. Allergies were demonstrated to be a risk factor for headache (Straube et al., 2013), and worsen migraine disability (Focelini et al., 2019).
Of course, anyone who has experienced environmental allergy symptoms such as sinus pressure and congestion could tell you that there certainly seems to be an overlap between allergies and headaches!
What you can do: If you suspect your child has environmental allergies, please consult your pediatrician or a pediatric allergist. They will be able to help provide an accurate diagnosis and suggest a treatment plan based on your child’s unique needs.
2. Barometric pressure fluctuations
Spring weather is known for its crazy patterns. Whereas we may daydream of idyllic, peaceful, temperate sunny days, usually spring weather is characterized by hot and cold days and the occasional storm. One factor underlying these meteorological patterns is barometric pressure. Anecdotally, some individuals notice that barometric pressure fluctuations or low barometric pressure are triggers for their headache or migraine. Research out of Japan using deep learning methods and in American emergency departments (Mukamal et al., 2009) has supported this (Katsuki et al., 2022), but previous research was less consistent. Other research has suggested that barometric pressure alone may not be sufficient to trigger a migraine, but could make a person more vulnerable to getting a migraine attack in combination with other triggers (Bolay & Rapoport, 2011).
What you can do: Try tracking weather and barometric pressure along with your child’s headache, migraine, or other pain to see if there is any pattern you can detect. While there may not be a lot we can do to change the weather, there is good reason to believe that by controlling what you can control, you may be able to reduce the likelihood of weather affecting your child’s likelihood of getting a headache, migraine, or pain attack. Consider making extra efforts in hydration, physical activity, sleep, and stress management.
3. Sleep pattern changes
Between daylight savings time, better weather, more social gatherings, and longer daylight, it’s tempting to go with the flow and stay up late sometimes. However, inconsistent bedtimes or insufficient sleep can be a trigger for headaches, migraine, and pain (Morris et al., 2022).
What you can do: Aim for a consistent sleep schedule for your child, and note concerns such as difficulty falling or staying asleep. A pediatric pain or health psychologist can work with you and your family to find the right balance between allowing for spontaneity and fun, while supporting the good sleep habits that can reduce pain. Curious to learn more about how sleep can affect your child’s wellbeing? Click here. Even more curious? Check out this article on sleep at the end of the school year, and this one on whether teens can catch up on sleep while on vacation.
4. School stress
For some children and teens, springtime does mean more stress. Between preparing for AP exams, standardized testing, college preparations, or just final projects and exams, the end of the school year can be exciting and stressful at the same time.
Pain and stress share common neurobiology (Nelson et al., 2021), so it is not surprising that stress can trigger pain in children, teens, and adults, and vice versa.
What you can do: Help your child or teen manage stress related to the end of the school year practically and emotionally. Focus on behaviors they can control (e.g. study habits, time management, asking for help, self-care), and emotional support (e.g. relaxation, working through anxiety, and positive activities). If your child may benefit from some extra help in this area, a pediatric pain or health psychologist can help them navigate this challenging season and set them up for resilience for the future.
5. Sports
Springtime means sports for many families. All of a sudden, schedules are busier. Though this may spell fun for many, it can also be accompanied by stress and changes in sleep (see #3 and #4). On top of that, sports can mean potential for injuries.
What you can do: Monitor your child for obvious injuries, as well as overuse injuries and concussion. To learn more about concussions and assess for possible injury, check out the CDC’s Heads Up program and consider downloading their mobile app. Schedule an urgent follow up with your pediatrician if you suspect any injury in your child. If a concussion is diagnosed, a return to play and a return to school plan can be developed with a pediatrician, athletic trainer, neurologist, sports medicine specialist, and a psychologist. If your child is struggling to return to activities following any injury, a pain and health psychologist can also help them work through rehabilitation and any lingering fears that may be holding them back.
There is so much to look forward to in the spring, but can mean pain and challenges for some.
Pediatric pain and health psychology can be tremendous support for spring-time headaches, migraine, and pain in children, teens, and young adults. If you or your child are struggling, don’t wait to seek help. Click here for your free consultation call.
References:
Bolay, H., & Rapoport, A. (2011). Does low atmospheric pressure independently trigger migraine?. Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, 51(9), 1426-1430.
Forcelini, C. M., Ramos, M., Santos, I. F. D., Brackmann, G., Bernardon, L. G., Corbellini, A. P. Z., & Perin, B. V. (2019). The influence of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis on migraine disability in children. Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria, 77(6), 418-423.
Katsuki, M., Tatsumoto, M., Kimoto, K., Iiyama, T., Tajima, M., Munakata, T., ... & Shimazu, T. (2023). Investigating the effects of weather on headache occurrence using a smartphone application and artificial intelligence: a retrospective observational cross‐sectional study. Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, 63(5), 585-600.
Morris, E. E., Howell, M. J., Pickup, E., Iber, C., & Wang, S. G. (2022). Pediatric sleep and pain: etiologies, consequences, and clinical considerations. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 18(9), 2281-2289.
Mukamal, K. J., Wellenius, G. A., Suh, H. H., & Mittleman, M. A. (2009). Weather and air pollution as triggers of severe headaches. Neurology, 72(10), 922-927.
Nelson, S., Borsook, D., & Enlow, M. B. (2021). Targeting the stress response in pediatric pain: current evidence for psychosocial intervention and avenues for future investigation. Pain reports, 6(3), e953.
Straube, A., Heinen, F., Ebinger, F., & von Kries, R. (2013). Headache in school children: prevalence and risk factors. Deutsches Ärzteblatt International, 110(48), 811.