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American Morning
House Call: Your Kid May Not be Faking How Bad Their Headaches Are
Aired July 07, 2003 - 09:44 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: There was a new study out now that finds that headaches are devastating to the quality of life of children who suffer from them. Dr. Sanjay Gupta in his morning "House Call" back with us and what parents need to know. Good morning, Sanjay.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
Yes, you know, headaches are a common problem. Everyone certainly has heard about headaches and maybe even had one themselves. But just how common? In all children, one in ten kids complain about headaches, but in adolescents the numbers actually increase to one in four. Those are some startling numbers, I think. Most people surprised at the numbers that high.
So you know that they're common, but how big of a problem are they really? Well, that was the focus of a new study that actually focused on looking at what exactly do headaches do to children overall in terms of school functioning? First of all, they found that it interfered significantly with school functioning. Also emotional functioning as well as physical health. All of these things affected by headaches.
And you may ask specifically, what about these headaches that's causing these sort of problems? What are the different types of headaches? Well, there are several different types of headaches. Tension headaches, for example, one of the most common headaches both for children and adults. They're usually lasting 30 minutes, even up to a couple of days.
Usually not as severe, though, however, as what are known as chronic headaches. These are headaches that can last every day for months at a time, sometimes more severe.
And then finally migraine headaches. These are the most painful headaches of all, if you've ever had them. I've had them, and they are very painful. They often occur on just one side of the head and dramatically can really cripple somebody when somebody has something like that.
There are all sorts of medications out there nowadays, both for children and adults. Again, important to know, medications to not only treat the symptoms of headache but medications that are becoming more popular.
Also medications to actually prevent the headaches from ever starting in the first place. Those are important medications. Sometimes those can be anti-depressant medications, anti-seizure medications. Again, people surprised when they hear those types of medications beneficial for headaches.
Also psychological counseling in the form of biofeedback may be beneficial and certainly lifestyle changes as well. If you're getting headaches every day for some particular reason you may need to change that reason -- Bill.
HEMMER: How about this one? What do you tell parents based on the intensity of the headache as to when they should go see a doctor? Take their kid to go see a doctor, rather?
GUPTA: Well, I'll tell you, that is really the most important question when it comes to headaches? You know, when is it too bad? When is it time to go see a doctor? You know, I'm a neurosurgeon. And obviously, parents always concerned could this be a tumor? Could this be something underlying?
Here's the good news, first of all. Statistically it's unlikely to be any of those sorts of things. It's most likely to be just a headache, not a brain tumor, not an aneurysm. But there are some guidelines, really, to when you should go see the doctor.
Certainly if the headache is so severe, you know, if it's something that's severe and something causes extreme discomfort, that can be a time to go see the doctor. Obviously most times, again, it will still end up being nothing, but that may be a reason to go see the doctor.
Altered level of consciousness. If your child just simply isn't acting right or is overly sleepy that maybe a reason to go see the doctor as well. Certainly an inability to move any part of the body, any kind of awkwardness or disorientation, those are all important reasons to go see the doctor.
But again, the good news bill, the most important news, statistically it's unlikely it's going to be anything other than just a headache.
HEMMER: Thank you, Sanjay. See you tomorrow.
GUPTA: All right, Bill.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Headaches Are>
Aired July 7, 2003 - 09:44 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: There was a new study out now that finds that headaches are devastating to the quality of life of children who suffer from them. Dr. Sanjay Gupta in his morning "House Call" back with us and what parents need to know. Good morning, Sanjay.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
Yes, you know, headaches are a common problem. Everyone certainly has heard about headaches and maybe even had one themselves. But just how common? In all children, one in ten kids complain about headaches, but in adolescents the numbers actually increase to one in four. Those are some startling numbers, I think. Most people surprised at the numbers that high.
So you know that they're common, but how big of a problem are they really? Well, that was the focus of a new study that actually focused on looking at what exactly do headaches do to children overall in terms of school functioning? First of all, they found that it interfered significantly with school functioning. Also emotional functioning as well as physical health. All of these things affected by headaches.
And you may ask specifically, what about these headaches that's causing these sort of problems? What are the different types of headaches? Well, there are several different types of headaches. Tension headaches, for example, one of the most common headaches both for children and adults. They're usually lasting 30 minutes, even up to a couple of days.
Usually not as severe, though, however, as what are known as chronic headaches. These are headaches that can last every day for months at a time, sometimes more severe.
And then finally migraine headaches. These are the most painful headaches of all, if you've ever had them. I've had them, and they are very painful. They often occur on just one side of the head and dramatically can really cripple somebody when somebody has something like that.
There are all sorts of medications out there nowadays, both for children and adults. Again, important to know, medications to not only treat the symptoms of headache but medications that are becoming more popular.
Also medications to actually prevent the headaches from ever starting in the first place. Those are important medications. Sometimes those can be anti-depressant medications, anti-seizure medications. Again, people surprised when they hear those types of medications beneficial for headaches.
Also psychological counseling in the form of biofeedback may be beneficial and certainly lifestyle changes as well. If you're getting headaches every day for some particular reason you may need to change that reason -- Bill.
HEMMER: How about this one? What do you tell parents based on the intensity of the headache as to when they should go see a doctor? Take their kid to go see a doctor, rather?
GUPTA: Well, I'll tell you, that is really the most important question when it comes to headaches? You know, when is it too bad? When is it time to go see a doctor? You know, I'm a neurosurgeon. And obviously, parents always concerned could this be a tumor? Could this be something underlying?
Here's the good news, first of all. Statistically it's unlikely to be any of those sorts of things. It's most likely to be just a headache, not a brain tumor, not an aneurysm. But there are some guidelines, really, to when you should go see the doctor.
Certainly if the headache is so severe, you know, if it's something that's severe and something causes extreme discomfort, that can be a time to go see the doctor. Obviously most times, again, it will still end up being nothing, but that may be a reason to go see the doctor.
Altered level of consciousness. If your child just simply isn't acting right or is overly sleepy that maybe a reason to go see the doctor as well. Certainly an inability to move any part of the body, any kind of awkwardness or disorientation, those are all important reasons to go see the doctor.
But again, the good news bill, the most important news, statistically it's unlikely it's going to be anything other than just a headache.
HEMMER: Thank you, Sanjay. See you tomorrow.
GUPTA: All right, Bill.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Headaches Are>
