Children today are under enormous pressure, which can manifest in headaches. These are often due to the three common types of stress:
- Physical: This type of stress could be due to kids staring at their tablets or phones or sitting hunched over their computer for hours. Carrying heavy backpacks could also create physical stress.
- Emotional: Academic pressure or tension in their family life can create emotional stress in children.
- Chemical: From air pollution to toxins in household products, or medication, chemical stress can cause headaches in kids.
Too Much Tech Time a Culprit
While technology is here to stay, kids and teens who spend lots of time on their devices can experience physical stress, including tension headaches. These headaches can be caused by eye strain, neck or back strain due to poor posture.
How Chiropractic May Help
Getting adjusted and checked regularly can remove interference in the atlas, which houses the brainstem. Because chiropractic care takes pressure off the nervous system, the neck structure can develop better and your child can get relief from headaches and other common conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are headaches common in kids?
According to the National Headache Foundation, 20 percent of school-aged children (5-17) in the United States are prone to headaches.
How can I tell if my young child has a headache?
Typically, we don’t see little ones with headaches. However, if they can’t talk yet, they might be extra irritable. They might touch their head and lower skull area, or the front of their head more.
“In my clinical experience, if a child has any sort of neck or cervical subluxation, it’s going to manifest as other things, such as learning challenges with processing information, temperament issues, etc.,” said Dr. Katie.
How do you treat headaches?
We don’t treat headaches. Instead, our objective is to support the overall nervous system, so the body can function optimally, deal with stressors better, and adapt within its environment. That being said, chiropractic can support a child that’s struggling with headaches. If your child is experiencing headaches, contact us today for an appointment.
Contact us today to book an appointment for pediatric chiropractic care.