What Are the Causes of Fatigue & Headaches in Teenagers?

Teenagers often complain of vague health concerns such as fatigue and headaches.Sometimes these complaints are minor and other times they may indicate more serious health issues. There are many reasons for fatigue and headaches in teenagers.

Minor Cause of Headaches

• According to Medicine Net, as many as 56 percent of boys and 74 percent of girls between 12 and 17 stated they had a headache in the past 30 days. Most of these causes are minor. Parents often find that poor eyesight leads to headaches, and glasses fix the problem. Allergy and sinus issues can also be to blame for repeated headaches in teenagers. Tension headaches are common in teenagers, just as they are in adults.

Major Causes of Headaches

• Prolonged or repeated headaches could indicate more serious concerns such as a brain tumor. Encephalitis and meningitis are diseases that can cause severe headaches. Although rare in teenagers, blood clots often present with a major complaint of headaches. Teenagers who have long-term severe headaches might also be experiencing migranes.

Minor Causes of Fatigue

• Teenagers often complain of fatigue. The most common reason is overactivity and lack of rest. Improper diet is often to blame as teenagers tend to eat non-nutritious foods such as fast foods and junk foods. Girls often experience a lack of iron as they begin their periods and go through puberty. A lack of iron can cause fatigue.

Major Causes of Fatigue

• Although minor if treated, untreated depression can be serious. Your teen might experience fatigue, and not be aware it is a sign of depression, and needs to be treated by a psychiatrist immediately. While parents don't want to admit it, drug use can result in fatigue in a teenager. Fatigue combined with other symptoms such as weight loss or vomiting could indicate a more serious cause for the fatigue.

Headaches and Fatigue Together

• If a teenager experiences both headaches and fatigue at the same time, it could be a minor health concern that displays both. Flu and viruses often result in both headaches and fatigue. Simple bed rest and over-the-counter medications will resolve the illness. However, displaying both could be a more complicated health concern such as brain tumors or leukemia. This would require a specialist to treat your teenager.