What to do for a headache in the right temple

• March 20, 2019
• Neurology
• Elena_Ladypain

Almost everyone has had a headache in their life, and most of them have had it many times. If it's minor, it's not too serious and can be relieved with an over-the-counter pain reliever, some food, coffee, or rest. But if the headache is too intense or unusual, you may be concerned about a stroke, tumors, or blood clot. Fortunately, such problems are rare. However, if you have a headache (ache in your temples), what should you do? You need to know when it is an emergency.

When should you worry?

What to do if you have a headache in your temples? You can take care of yourself to minimize discomfort. But some headaches require urgent medical attention. Below are some warning signs when you should be concerned about your health. They include the following:

• constant headaches that develop after 50 years;
• a significant change in the pattern of your headaches;
• unusually severe pain;
• if it increases with coughing or movement;
• if it constantly intensifies;
• if it causes changes in behavior or cognitive function;
• headaches accompanied by fever, neck stiffness, confusion, decreased alertness or memory, or neurological symptoms (such as visual disturbances, slurred speech, weakness, numbness, or seizures);
• discomfort accompanied by painful redness of the eyes;
• sensations that arose after the blow;
• pain that interferes with normal daily activities;
• that appear suddenly, especially if they wake you up at night;
• in patients with cancer or with a weakened immune system.

Origin of pain syndrome

Pain in the right temple can be of a different nature and depends on the cause of the pathological process.

Quite often, the causes of pain in the temporal region or near the eyes are hidden in food that contains monosodium glutamate. The pathology is accompanied by shortness of breath, increased sweating, tension in the muscles of the face and jaw.

Tension headaches

If you have a headache in your temples, what should you do? To begin with, it is worth assuming that the sensations arose from tension. This happens in about three out of every four adults. Tension headaches are the most common. Most cases are mild to moderate and occur infrequently. But some people experience severe discomfort, and some suffer from it three or four times a week.

A typical tension headache causes a pressing, squeezing pain in both temples. People may feel as if their head is being squeezed in a vice. The shoulders and neck may also be bothersome. Some tension headaches can be caused by fatigue, emotional stress, or problems with the muscles or joints of the neck or jaw. They can last from 20 minutes to two hours. What to do if you have a headache in your temples from tension?

If you experience occasional headaches, you may be able to get rid of them yourself. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as analgin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Nurofen, Ibuprofen, Aspirin) often help very quickly. Be sure to follow the directions on the label and never take more than you should. In addition to medications, a heating pad or a warm shower will help. Some people begin to feel better after eating a meal or even a snack.

Causes of temporal pain

Pain in the temples is caused by two groups of factors - exogenous and endogenous.

Endogenous causes:

1. If a person has a headache in the temples, there is a risk of increased intracranial pressure.
2. A sharp and prolonged increase in blood pressure causes severe pain in the temples.
3. Age-related metamorphoses of the vascular system, decreased elasticity of capillaries.
4. Migraine. Appears in the morning, after waking up. It occurs on one or both sides. Along with temporal pain syndrome, there is pain in the eyes, increased sensitivity to light and loud sounds. Possible increased pain when walking and physical activity. Lasts up to several days.
5. Mechanical head injuries - blows, concussions - always provoke intense temporal pain.
6. Severe vasoconstriction or impaired blood circulation in the brain.
7. Benign or malignant tumors. Any neoplasm has a compressive effect. Malignant tumors cause intoxication and metastases.
8. Adrenal pheochromocytoma. An increased concentration of the hormone adrenaline causes severe temporal pain. This is accompanied by nausea, sweating, and frequent pallor.
9. Problems with the functioning of the adrenal glands or pituitary gland. At the same time, the level of the stress hormone cortisol in the blood increases sharply. Its action causes temporal headaches.
10. If no disorders of the cardiovascular and nervous system are detected, but the patient still has pain in his temples, he should be checked for the presence of pathologies of the temporomandibular joint. They are accompanied by teeth grinding and increased jaw tone.
11. Damage, inflammation or damage to the trigeminal nerve often causes headaches in the temple area. Problems with it appear after suffering neck pathologies or spinal injuries. In this case, noise effects may be added.
12. Pinched nerves.
13. Anemia. A decrease in the number of red blood cells (erythrocytes) leads to brain hypoxia. With anemia, the pain loses intensity in a supine position.
14. Hormonal imbalance during pregnancy, menopause or premenstrual syndrome are also accompanied by headaches in the temples, mainly on the right side.
15. A bacterial or viral infection causes a headache in the temples. Its intensity increases with the development of the disease. This happens with sinusitis, meningitis, influenza, and sore throat.
16. Dental problems. With neuralgia or tooth pulpitis, pain can radiate to the temporal region of the head, especially if wisdom teeth are affected. The pain intensifies during chewing movements.
17. Acute or chronic diseases of the ENT organs. Adenoiditis often causes severe pain in the temple area. Most often, children are affected by this pathological condition.
18. Decrease in usual indicators of intracranial pressure. In this case, the pain in the temples becomes dull or aching. There are disturbances in the functioning of the auditory and visual analyzers.
19. Increase in usual indicators of intracranial pressure. Accompanied by tinnitus. Mainly found in overweight people.
20. Reduced tone of venous or arterial vessels. In this case, headaches in the temple area radiate to the back and other areas of the head. Sometimes there is a loss of sensation in the limbs.
21. If a person has a headache in the temples, this may indicate inflammation of the epidermis of the temporal or carotid artery (temporal arteritis). Occurs in old age. Accompanied by throbbing pain and hyperthermia. It worsens when talking, chewing movements, lying down, touching the temples. Intensifies in the evening and night hours.
22. Temporal pain is a sudden cessation of drinking alcohol after prolonged use.
23. The source of pain in the temples is the development of atherosclerosis. The vessels of the brain are affected by excess cholesterol and reduce their area. This causes pressing or throbbing pain in the temples, impaired heart function, and fatigue.
24. Autonomic pathologies, vegetative-vascular dystonia.

How to get rid of this?

So, you have a headache (pain in your temples). What to do if this is caused by overvoltage? If you suffer from frequent such ailments, try to identify the causes so that you can avoid them. Don't overwork yourself or skip meals. Explore different relaxation techniques. Yoga is especially beneficial because it can relax both your mind and neck muscles.

If you need more help, your doctor may prescribe stronger pain medication or physical therapy. Many people with recurring tension headaches can prevent attacks by taking a tricyclic antidepressant. Fortunately, simple methods help most sufferers of this disease.

Treatment

If you experience slight tingling in your head, do not run to the hospital. First, give your body a rest, because overwork leads to headaches.

To improve your health, give up cigarettes and alcohol, switch to healthy foods, and try to spend more time in the fresh air.

But, if this does not help and every day the tingling in your head becomes stronger, then do not switch to painkillers and do not suffer attacks. By starting a disease, you complicate its treatment. And an experienced doctor will help you solve the problem with tingling in the head in the shortest possible time if you contact it at an early stage.

Migraine

This problem is a common cause of headaches and pressure on the temples. Migraines are less common than tension headaches, but they are usually much more severe. This condition is two to three times more common in women than in men. One study reported that migraines increase the risk of heart attacks by 42%.

Neurologists believe that migraines are caused by changes in brain circulation and nerve cell activity. Genetics plays a role in 70% of cases - pain sufferers often have at least one close relative with the same problem.

Although migraines can appear without warning, they are often triggered by specific causes. These factors vary from person to person. But everyone who is sick often has sensitivity to common causes.

The main factors that cause migraine:

• Changes in weather: increased humidity, heat.
• Lack of sleep or excess.
• Fatigue.
• Emotional stress.
• Sensory triggers: bright or flashing lights, loud noises, strong smells.

In addition, dietary habits may also be reasons:

• lack of food for a long time;
• alcohol, especially red wine;
• chocolate;
• nitrates in smoked meat and fish;
• aged cheese;
• increasing or decreasing the amount of caffeine;
• MSG food additive (often found in Asian foods and processed foods).

Migraines often begin in the evening or during sleep. In some cases, attacks are preceded by several hours of fatigue, depression and slowness, irritability and anxiety. Because symptoms vary widely, at least half of all sufferers think they have tension headaches.

About 20% of migraines begin with one or more neurological symptoms called aura. Visual manifestations are the most common. These may include the appearance of halos, sparkles or flashing lights, wavy lines, and even temporary loss of vision. The aura may also cause numbness or tingling on one side of the body, especially the face or arms. Some patients experience symptoms without headaches. They often think they are having a stroke rather than a migraine.

In typical cases, the pain is felt on one side of the head, often starting around the eye and temple before spreading to the back of the head. The sensation is often severe and described as pulsating or "explosive." Nausea is also common, and many sufferers experience watery eyes, a runny nose, or a stuffy nose. If these symptoms are noticeable, they may lead to a misdiagnosis of sinusitis.

If the right temple of the head hurts, what should you do? Without effective treatment, attacks usually last between four and 24 hours. When you suffer from migraines, even four hours is too long, which is why early treatment is so important.

If you detect migraine symptoms in the earliest stages, you can control them with over-the-counter pain relievers. Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Nurofen and a combination of painkillers and caffeine will be effective if you take the appropriate dose at the onset of the attack.

Why does the head hurt in the temple area?

Soreness in one temple or both cannot be regarded as an independent disease. This is only one manifestation of a complex pathological process. Only by curing the underlying disease can you get rid of the unpleasant symptom.

If you have a headache in your temples, you should not try to drown out the sensations with analgesics. There is no guarantee that they will provide at least temporary relief, and if abused, medications can cause severe pain.

Migraine

The disease is characterized by attacks in which the headache is severe and prolonged. They can last from 2-3 hours to 3 days. The sensations are usually one-sided, pulsating, growing. They are often localized in the temple on the left or right, spreading to the entire half of the head, putting pressure on the forehead and eyeball.

In addition to headaches, migraines are accompanied by the following symptoms:

• increased sensitivity to light, smells, sounds;
• nausea and vomiting, which brings relief;
• dizziness, problems with orientation in space;
• lethargy and drowsiness or increased degree of agitation;
• irritability, attacks of aggression, depression.

In this case, temporal headache is not associated with injuries, changes in arterial or intracranial pressure, tumors and organic lesions of the brain. Typically, attacks occur 1-2 times a month, but can occur every week. Lack of specialized treatment and attempts to endure can lead to psychosis and neurological disorders.

You can learn more about migraines and methods for eliminating them here.

Cluster headache

The pathology is characterized by a series of attacks.
Each lasts from 15 to 60 minutes, appears several times a day and continues for weeks and even months. This is followed by a long period of remission without any symptoms. A harbinger of the beginning of a cluster (series) is congestion in the ear. Soreness occurs on the same side of the head in the area of ​​one of the temples and behind the eye. The sensations are strong and painful. They are accompanied by lacrimation, redness of the mucous membranes and face, increased sweating and nasal congestion. Smoking men with large weight are predisposed to the disease. Read more about this type of pain in this article.

Tension headache (tension cephalalgia)

In 1988, the concept of “tension cephalgia” replaced “tension headaches” in the international nomenclature of diseases, but this is the same pathology. Today, this problem is diagnosed in 21% of the world's population. Patients note that they have headaches in the temples and back of the head. Soreness usually occurs at the end of the working day, against the background of chronic fatigue or prolonged stress. It is caused by impaired blood circulation in certain areas due to increased muscle tone.

Patients describe attacks as constant and severe pressure throughout the head or in a separate part of it. The sensation is similar to the result of wearing a narrow hoop or tight headdress. They are symmetrical in most cases. If the temple begins to hurt on the left or right, then soon the sensations spread to the other half of the head. When you press on the problem area, the symptom intensifies due to increased muscle tone and the onset of the inflammatory process. In severe cases, there is an aching type of pain.

You will learn more about this type of pain and methods for eliminating it here.

Meningitis

Inflammation of the meninges can be serous and purulent. In the first case, the symptoms are slightly smoothed out, in the second they are increasing and painful. Patients report pain in the temples and attacks of nausea. If vomiting occurs, it does not bring relief. The pain is sharp, bursting, and intensifies with pressure on the eyes, back of the head, and areas near the external auditory canal. The patient reacts violently to light taps on the skull and sudden tilts of the head.

Intracranial hypertension

Increased cerebrospinal fluid pressure inside the skull leads to painful sensations in the temporal regions and other parts of the head. They are accompanied by nausea and vomiting. If the symptom persists for a long time and there is no treatment, a decrease in the quality of vision is observed. The patient takes a forced position, designed to alleviate his condition. Often it becomes fixed and persists even with normal pressure, which leads to overstrain of the neck and head muscles. A significant increase in indicators is fraught with convulsive seizures, respiratory and heart rhythm disturbances, and hypertension.

Traumatic brain injuries

Pain in the temple area is typical for head injuries, and the blow does not necessarily have to fall on this area. Additional symptoms depend on the degree of tissue damage and the affected area.

Manifestations are not only acute, but also delayed. Delayed pain complicates diagnosis, so for this symptom it is important to collect a detailed medical history of the patient.

Pain in the head is often the result of damage to the masticatory muscles or a displaced disc in the jaw joint. This is observed after injury and against the background of malocclusion. Symptoms can be so severe that the clinical picture resembles the development of migraine or brain damage.

Temporal arteritis

A disease of older people in which the membranes of the carotid and temporal arteries become inflamed. The sensations are strong, pulsating, appear acutely and are accompanied by signs of general malaise. Often characteristic pain in the temporal zone appears after an infectious disease. The patient experiences an increase in temperature, and sleep problems are common. Symptoms increase during the day, reach their peak in the evening, and intensify with chewing and talking. Palpation of the affected areas causes pain; lumps can be felt under the fingers.

Trigeminal neuralgia

Chronic disease occurs due to compression of nerve endings. It affects people over 40 years of age and is characterized by headache attacks. The sensations are very intense, shooting, lasting from a few seconds to 2 minutes. A person experiences such intense temporal pain on one side of his head that he freezes and is afraid to move. Sometimes he starts rubbing the problem area and cheek, but this does not bring relief. In rare cases, a unilateral painful tic is observed.

You can read more about pain in the right temple here.

Anemia

A decrease in the number of red blood cells in the blood leads to oxygen starvation of the brain. The pain in this case is dull, constant and pressing. It weakens a little if you take a horizontal position.

The clinical picture of anemia is complemented by dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath, decreased concentration, increased heart rate even with minor physical exertion. As the disease progresses, symptoms intensify and make it difficult to concentrate on current affairs.

Cerebral angiodystonia

Pain in the temples occurs due to impaired tone of the walls of local arteries and veins. It is dull, aching or aching. It can appear at any time of the day and lasts for an arbitrary amount of time. The pathological condition is accompanied by insomnia, dizziness, changes in blood pressure, numbness of the fingers, and tinnitus. Sometimes patients note a decrease in memory, a change in the quality of smell perception, depression, and difficulties in controlling their emotional background.

Atherosclerosis

The deposition of cholesterol plaques on the walls of blood vessels leads to a narrowing of the lumen of the channels. This creates obstacles to the flow of biological fluid, leading to oxygen starvation and tissue ischemia. Pain in the temple area due to this condition is usually caused by damage to the blood vessels of the brain. The diagnosis indicates a predisposition to stroke and requires the initiation of specialized treatment. In advanced cases, the condition is accompanied by mental changes, deterioration of intellectual abilities and memory.

The likelihood of atherosclerosis is indicated by pale and cold extremities, irritability, fatigue, and problems with the heart.

Brain tumor

Pain in the temples and nausea may indicate the appearance and growth of a tumor in the brain. The combination of symptoms in the presence of a benign tumor occurs due to the pressure that the mass puts on the meninges. In the case of cancer, this is accompanied by the toxic effect of atypical cells on healthy tissue. Depending on the location, type and size of the formation, the clinical picture is supplemented by functional disorders in the body, changes in the psyche and emotional background.

How to cure this?

It also happens that you often have a headache (back of the head and temples). What to do with a very severe migraine? When prescription medications are needed, most doctors prescribe triptans, which are available as tablets, nasal sprays, or injections. Some of the most common such drugs are Sumatriptan (Imitrex), Zolmitriptan (Zomig) and Rizatriptan (Maxalt).

Triptans provide complete relief within two hours for 70% of patients. The effect is best achieved if treatment is started early. Some patients require a second dose within 12 to 24 hours. Because triptans can affect blood flow to the heart as well as blood vessels in the head, people with coronary artery disease or underlying risk factors for heart disease should not use them. Another contraindication is taking antidepressants.

Older migraine medications, including ergot extracts that contain barbiturates, are still used by some people. Others need to use anticancer drugs, stronger prescription painkillers, or even corticosteroids such as Dexamethasone.

Consult with your doctor to find the method that's best for you. Remember, however, that overuse of medications can lead to headaches returning and a vicious cycle of taking stronger medications. So if you need treatment more than two or three times a week, consider preventatives.

If you often have a headache (pain in your temples), what should you do? Some people can prevent migraines by simply avoiding their causes. Others benefit from quick treatment for occasional attacks. But people who suffer from frequent attacks should take preventative medications.

The most effective prescription drugs are beta blockers (such as Propranolol, Atenolol, and Metoprolol), some antidepressants (Amitriptyline), and antiseptics (Divalprox, Topiramate, and Gabapentin). "). Severe cases can be minimized by contacting a headache specialist.

Basic preventive measures

Physical activity and fresh air, yoga classes will help overcome pain. The absence of negative habits and a correct lifestyle will also have a positive effect on your health. For short-term periodic syndrome, aromatherapy is suitable. But some smells can, on the contrary, increase the intensity of headaches. Before taking water procedures, you should make sure that there is no allergic reaction to one or another component.

Impact on the whole body, and especially on the cervical-collar area will help get rid of migraines. Rest duration is about 8 hours. For sleep, it is advisable to use an orthopedic therapeutic and prophylactic pillow.

A constant feeling of discomfort in the temporal part of the head can be a manifestation of a rather dangerous pathology. In no case should you self-medicate without a proper examination, since it is first necessary to identify the causes of the pain syndrome and eliminate the presence of a serious disease.

Cluster headaches

Why does the left temple of the head hurt, what to do in such cases? The cause may be cluster pain. These are unusual but very strong sensations that occur five times more often in men than women. Although anyone can experience this condition, the typical patient is a middle-aged man with a history of smoking.

The problem gets its name because headaches tend to affect only a certain part of the head. In this case, attacks occur from one to eight times a day for one to three months every year.

The pain always affects one side of the head and is very severe. The eye on the painful side becomes red and inflamed, the eyelids may droop, and the nose becomes stuffy. The attack begins suddenly and lasts from 30 to 60 minutes. Most sufferers become restless and agitated during an attack. Patients are unable to sit still; they walk, run in place, or bang their heads against the wall. Nausea and sensitivity to light and sound may accompany these symptoms.

If for this reason you have a headache (pain in your temples), what should you do? Inhaling pure oxygen may help relieve an attack. Sumatriptan is often particularly effective, especially when injected. Other triptans may also help. Some patients prefer lidocaine nasal drops, dihydroergotamine injections, or other treatment methods. The most effective means of preventing attacks is Verapamil, a calcium channel blocker. Other drugs that may help are Divalprox, Topiramate and Lithium.

The main factors provoking cephalalgia

• Migraine

A painful and severe headache on the right side most often occurs with an illness such as migraine. Before an attack, a whole complex of sensory, visual and auditory disorders appears. That is, a person experiences lacrimation, and only on one side of the face, he begins to react painfully to sounds, smells, and becomes very irritable.

This disease is mainly characteristic of women, and in the best years of their life, from eighteen to about forty years. This is the main cause of temporary disability among the fair sex.

At the moment, the mechanism of development of pain during migraine has not yet been sufficiently studied; only the factors that cause its occurrence have been elucidated. Heredity is considered the main one. Numerous observations have shown that girls whose mothers suffer from migraines subsequently also experience the torment of this disease.

With moderate strength and clear localization in one side, this may be the result of a disease, such as a brain tumor. In this case, you need to consult a neurologist.

• Chronic paroxysmal hemicrania.

It is characterized by unilateral severe pain, which is localized in the temple or frontal lobe. The attacks are daily and have a burning and boring nature. In rare cases, it can manifest as throbbing pain and cover the entire head. The attacks are repeated and sometimes occur up to 16 times during the day. Moreover, the shorter the attacks become, the more often they appear. With such pain, the eye is affected, it turns red, the pupil narrows and does not react to light, the eyeball sinks. It is believed that such a disease is akin to migraine, but there are no reliable factors. The disease is mainly characteristic of mature women.

• Cluster headache.

Also characteristic of the right or left side of the head. It appears without the slightest warning and radiates to the eye area. Patients characterize her as unbearable and wild to such an extent that she wants to tear her eye out of its socket. This type of cephalalgia radiates only to the temporal and frontal part of one side of the head. A person’s face turns red during an attack, the eye becomes red, and the nose becomes stuffy.

• Glaucoma.

The left side of the head also hurts with incipient glaucoma. With this disease, intraocular pressure increases, which can cause pain in the affected eye, and it spreads to the frontal lobe or the entire hemisphere of the affected eye. The pain with this disease is acute and dull, manifested by aching.

• Sinusitis.

With it, inflammation in the sinuses is accompanied by very intense bursting pain in the frontal-orbital region. As a rule, this disease causes a dull, spreading pain that sometimes intensifies and sometimes becomes less intense.

• Pain on any side, but always one-sided.

Characteristic of inflammation of the organs of vision.

Side effect from drugs

Side effects of many drugs include headaches. And although it is counterintuitive, many medications used for treatment can also cause discomfort. Migraine sufferers are especially vulnerable to this vicious cycle, which leads to the use of more drugs, which causes even more frequent attacks. If medications give you a headache in the temple area, what should you do?

If you experience frequent discomfort and take over-the-counter or prescription medications (or both) more than 10 to 15 days a month, the problem is most likely caused by the medications. To avoid this, you may need to stop or reduce your usual medications, but you should first consult your doctor. Taking a corticosteroid such as Prednisolone may help control pain during the withdrawal period.

Main characteristics of the syndrome

Most patients, when discomfort occurs in the temple area, immediately take analgesics. What to do is strictly prohibited, since all pain syndromes have their own character. Also, throbbing pain in the temple on the right may indicate the presence of a certain pathology, for the treatment of which painkillers cannot be used.

For example, one of these diseases is migraine. In which pain in the right temple radiates to the ear or eye, which is the main symptomatology of this disease. But there are also external stimuli that cause this condition. These include:

• constant stress;
• sunstroke;
• alcohol abuse;
• taking a certain group of drugs;
• lack of oxygen (for example, a stuffy room);
• menstruation, etc.

A strict diet can also cause headaches in the right or left temple. Fasting for more than 24 hours has a negative effect on the human body, worsening its health. Therefore, people suffering from various diseases should not get carried away with diets without first consulting a doctor.

High blood pressure

Except in cases of very high blood pressure, hypertension does not cause headaches. In fact, most people with this problem have no symptoms at all. Moreover, some studies report that hypertension is associated with a reduction in headaches. But this is not a reason to neglect measuring your blood pressure. So, if you have a headache and pounding in your temples, what should you do?

Hypertension leads to strokes, heart attacks, heart failure and kidney disease, so all people should check their blood pressure and then take steps to correct the problems.

Living with constant headaches

For most people, a sudden headache is a temporary hit during a busy day. Despite this, many can alleviate the problem with simple measures: small lifestyle changes and over-the-counter medications. Some relaxation techniques, yoga and acupuncture can also help manage the sensations.

But for some, headaches are a big problem. Learn to recognize warning signs that require prompt medical attention. Talk to your doctor to develop a program to prevent and treat migraines and other serious problems, and don't fall into the trap of drug abuse.