What Your Headache Location Tells You

Written by Natalie Slivinski

Medically Reviewed by Jennifer Robinson, MD on March 17, 2023

• Common Headache Types by Location
• Consider the Type of Pain, Too
• Treatment

Where your head hurts isn’t a foolproof way to diagnose the cause, but the location of your headache can be a good starting point for figuring out the root of the problem.

Different types of headaches can show up in similar places though, so what it feels like will also help you narrow down a plan for how to deal with your pain and decide when to see a doctor.

The headaches people usually get are tension headaches, migraines, and cluster headaches. Cluster headaches don’t happen as often, but men are five times more likely to get them.

A dull, “tightening” feeling that doesn’t throb, or when your head is tender to the touch, is probably a tension headache. These are very common. Many things can set one off, including:

• Stress
• Lack of sleep
• Allergies
• Eyestrain
• Caffeine withdrawal
• Hormones related to your period
• After an injury or trauma
• Exercising hard or for a long time
• Hangover
• Hunger or dehydration
• Brain freeze
• Rebound, after stopping an anti-headache medication
• High altitude you’re not used to
• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) problems, when your headache comes with a clicking sound or popping in your jaw

Pain that’s throbbing and lasts a while, or that comes with nausea or changes in your vision or other senses, probably means a migraine. Light and noise make it worse. A migraine could hurt on just one side, but not for everyone. It’s not very common, but a migraine might make your nose runny or stuffy and your eyes watery, so you mistake it for a sinus infection. When you get migraines, they’re typically triggered by the same things each time. Recognizing the pattern is key to avoiding them.

Other things that could cause migraine-like symptoms, but are much less likely, are:

• Autoimmune diseases such as arthritis or giant cell arteritis, an autoimmune disease that causes joint pain, facial pain (especially in the forehead) and sometimes difficulty with vision that can be permanent.
• Hemicrania continua, a one-sided headache that doesn’t go away
• Brain tumors

Sharp, searing, one-sided pain that comes on quickly but doesn’t last long is probably a cluster headache, especially if it happens over and over, about the same time for several days. This type tends to run in families. These headaches can also give you a stuffy, runny nose and make you sweat and tear up. You probably won’t be able to sit still.

If your headache comes with cold-like symptoms and pressure or tenderness in your face, you could have a sinus headache. They’re often confused with other types, and they’re not as common as you may think.

Attacks of brief, sharp, “electric shock” jolts that last only a few minutes or seconds could be occipital neuralgia. It’s a chronic disorder caused by pinched or damaged nerves that run from your spinal cord to your scalp.

A stroke, aneurysm, or hemorrhage will typically feel like an intensely painful “thunderclap” — the worst headache of your life. But unless the pain is sudden and very severe, it’s much more likely to be a common headache. If you think it’s a serious condition, you should call 911 right away.

Your doctor will have to help find out the cause of your headache to see what treatment will be best.

For tension headaches and migraines, over-the-counter (OTC) pain relief with ingredients such as acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen can help. Repeated or severe migraines and cluster headaches are harder to treat. If OTC medicines aren’t doing the trick, talk to your doctor about clarifying the diagnoses whether stronger prescription meds are needed as well as preventive treatments. Using OTC products on most days can set you up for overuse headaches, too.

Pain medicines, decongestants, and antihistamines may bring some relief from true sinus headaches, but you’ll need to deal with the infection that brought it on, too.

Your doctor should get involved for causes like nerve pain or autoimmune diseases.

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What Can It Tell You?

The location of your head pain can be an important clue in determining what type of headache you have and the potential remedies.

Headaches are very common. In fact, it’s estimated that about half to three quarters of adults have experienced some type of headache within the last year.

Chronic headache, which means 15 or more headache days every month, affects between 1.7 to 4 percent of adults.

Let’s take a closer look at the most common types of headaches based on location, as well as when it’s important to seek medical care.

The whole-head headache can feel like there’s a tight band around your head. This often indicates a tension headache, the most common primary headache disorder.

However, it’s important to point out that there are times when migraine pain can be holocranial. This means the pain can be felt around the head instead of just on one side.

With a tension headache, pain and pressure may extend to your neck, and you may also feel pain and tenderness around your forehead.

Tension headaches are caused by muscle contractions in your head and neck. This type of headache tends to last a few hours, but can linger for days.

A tension headache can be caused by stress or neck problems. However, you might also have an all-over headache from:

• caffeine withdrawal
• physical exertion
• hunger
• hangover
• fatigue
• having a cold or flu
• head trauma
• eye strain or staring at a computer for too long
• using too much headache medicine, also known as rebound headache

An occasional tension headache doesn’t typically require medical attention. Do see your doctor if you experience 15 or more headache days per month.

Migraine

Whether it’s the left side or the right side, one-sided head pain often indicates migraine.

Migraine is a primary headache disorder that causes recurrent attacks. Symptoms of migraine typically include:

• throbbing, pulsating pain
• nausea or vomiting
• aura
• noise, light, and odor sensitivities
• difficulty focusing

Migraine can be caused by a variety of contributing factors, including changes in brain chemicals. In particular, a decrease in serotonin levels.

Many other factors may also trigger an attack, such as:

• loud sounds
• bright or flashing lights
• specific odors
• certain foods
• changes in weather conditions
• lack of sleep
• hormonal changes
• skipping meals
• dehydration

These triggers vary from person to person. It can even be a combination of factors that bring on an attack. It’s not always possible to identify triggers.

Cluster headache

Cluster headache is another primary headache disorder that causes pain on one side of the head.

The pain is often located behind or around one of your eyes. In some cases, the pain may spread to your forehead, side of your head, nose, neck, or shoulders on the same side.

Cluster headaches tend to occur in cycles or, as the name suggests, “clusters.” You may experience headaches for a few weeks or months, followed by a remission period.

These headaches often come on suddenly and the pain usually becomes severe within about 10 minutes of starting.

Some common symptoms of a cluster headache include:

• burning, stabbing pain behind or around one eye
• a red, teary eye
• a smaller, constricted pupil
• a drooping eyelid
• puffiness under or around one or both eyes
• runny or stuffy nose
• facial flushing
• feeling restless

Once you get the right diagnosis, migraine and cluster headaches can be treated and managed.

Medication overuse and head trauma can also cause pain on one side of the head.

A headache behind your eyes and nasal passages can be due to allergies, such as hay fever, which can also produce symptoms similar to that of the common cold.

However, true sinus headaches tend to be rare. These headaches usually turn out to be migraine, which can cause pain over the sinuses.

A headache behind your eyes is rarely related to eyestrain.

If you think you’re having sinus headaches, consider seeing your doctor to get a diagnosis. Your doctor can help determine if your headache is truly caused by allergies, or if it could be migraine.

Pain in the back of your head can be due to arthritis of the neck. Pain tends to get worse when you move.

This type of headache can also be due to poor posture or neck problems such as a herniated disc.

A back of the head headache, often accompanied by neck pain, can also be a sign of a low-pressure headache, otherwise known as spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH). It’s caused by low spinal fluid pressure in the brain.

Another sign of SIH is that the pain eases when you lie down, but worsens when you:

• sit upright
• stand
• cough or sneeze
• strain
• engage in physical activity

This type of headache can occur following a lumbar puncture. If you’ve recently had this procedure and develop a headache, see your doctor as soon as possible for treatment.

If you have any type of chronic headache, it’s a good idea to contact your doctor or healthcare provider. Headaches are considered chronic if they happen 15 days or more per month.

By identifying your specific type of headache, your doctor can determine the best type of treatment. Getting the right kind of treatment for your headache may help improve your overall quality of life.

Sometimes, a headache can indicate a more serious medical condition such as:

• aneurysm
• stroke
• meningitis
• encephalitis (inflammation of the brain tissue)
• brain tumor

Signs that you may need immediate medical attention for a headache include:

• sudden onset of severe headache
• a rigid neck
• double vision
• weakness or paralysis on one side of your body
• numbness on either side of the body
• balance and coordination problems
• speech difficulties
• high fever
• lethargy
• reduced or altered consciousness level
• hallucinations

Everyone is different, so it may take some trial and error to figure out what works best for your headaches.

Here are some ways that you may be able to help ease your headache pain with self-care:

• Lie down in a dark, quiet room. Take a nap if you can.
• Apply ice or a cold compress to the area that hurts. Some people find that heat works better.
• Drink water to stay hydrated.
• Do some deep breathing exercises.
• Take over-the-counter (OTC) nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories as directed. Be careful, because taking too many can lead to rebound headaches.
• Drink a little caffeine.

For chronic headaches, your doctor may prescribe medications based on the specific type of headache you have. These medicines include:

• triptans
• ergot derivative drugs
• combination analgesics and caffeine

Preventive medications for chronic headache include:

• anticonvulsants
• beta-blockers
• calcium channel blockers
• calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) antagonists
• onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox)
• selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
• serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
• tricyclic antidepressants

The area of your head that hurts can tell you something about the type of headache you’re having. Other symptoms and the frequency of your headache pain can tell you a lot more.

If your headaches aren’t too severe or frequent, home remedies and OTC medicines may help get you through them.

If you get headaches frequently, or the pain disrupts your daily life, be sure to follow up with your doctor for a proper diagnosis and treatment.

A headache that’s accompanied by certain symptoms can be a sign of a more serious condition. If you have head pain with symptoms such as partial paralysis, high fever, blurred vision, or speech difficulties, call 911 or go to your local emergency room.

Causes of headache | Doctor KIT

• Main
• Causes of headaches

experienced headache symptoms. Unpleasant sensations are not a disease in themselves, but they allow diagnosing a number of other diseases. Headache can be different. It can be classified according to the type of sensations – pressing, pulsating, sharp. Pain is also distinguished by the cause of occurrence – it is an independent disease or a symptom.

Primary headache is an independent disease. Unpleasant sensations are the main and often the only symptom. Such cases account for approximately 90% of all visits to a therapist. This category includes:

• Tension headache.
• Migraine.
• Cluster headache.
• Pain during physical exertion, sexual tension, etc.

Symptomatic (secondary) pain is a manifestation of pathologies and diseases of the brain and other structures that are in this area. Secondary ones include drug-induced headache (MIH), which usually develops if the patient has already had migraines.

Women are more prone to migraine. Most intensively manifested in 35-45 years. It is diagnosed as an intense attack that occurs 2-4 times a month.

Migraine is a pain of a throbbing nature, the focus is on one side of the face, in the forehead, at the temple and around the eyes. At the beginning of an attack, unpleasant sensations appear in the back of the head and “crawl” forward. When moving, the discomfort becomes stronger. A well-known symptom of migraine is photophobia, as well as a sharp reaction to sound. The disease is often accompanied by nausea, and in young people – drowsiness.

Migraines are usually caused by stress. This category also includes lack of sleep and vice versa, excessive sleep, hunger. In women, the onset of menstruation can provoke an attack.

Tension headaches are treated equally regularly. HDN is divided into episodic and chronic. Both types are characterized by the same clinical picture, differ only in the duration and frequency of attacks.

In tension-type headache, the sensations are pressing, not pulsating, and can be described as a “hoop” squeezing the head. It is bilateral in nature, can spread to the back of the head, neck and trapezium. Unlike migraine, it is less intense, rarely accompanied by additional symptoms, although some patients report mild nausea or dizziness.

TTH is usually caused by nervous tension, fatigue, or muscle spasm in the neck and shoulders. Usually starts in the afternoon after hard work. However, the patient remains functional.

Most often, HDN provokes prolonged forced retention of the muscles of the head and neck in one position, for example, when working at a computer or driving a car. Discomfort also occurs with excitement and negative emotions.

Cluster pain combines features of primary headache and neuralgia. This is one-sided severe pain, the focus of which is in the eye area, in the superciliary or temporal region. All attacks usually occur in the same place. From severe pain, the eyes tear, the eyelid swells, nasal congestion and sweating are noted.

Cluster pain is characterized by seasonal exacerbation and alternation of attacks and a remission period. The exact cause of the disease has not been established, but doctors attribute pain to the work of the hypothalamus. Its rhythmic activation leads to the expansion of the vessels of the dura mater, the release of pain neuropeptides. This creates a spasm similar to a migraine attack.

The only way to get rid of the problem is to start a course of drugs as soon as possible, after the first signs of an exacerbation, and strictly follow the doctor’s recommendations. If the patient’s attack can be predicted, then treatment begins in advance.

Symptomatic headaches

There are many problems that are symptomatic of headaches. So with osteochondrosis, it hurts in the back of the head, and pain and pressure in the temples is one of the symptoms of blood pressure drops.

Pain in the temples can be caused by an infection, with a general feeling of being unwell. Headache concentrated in the frontal lobe speaks of inflammatory processes. Such sensations are accompanied by pneumonia, meningitis, as well as more serious infectious diseases. In this case, there is an increase in temperature, body aches.

The cause of regular pain may be a head injury, sensations depend on the location and nature of the injury. Such pain is often aggravated by a change in the weather.

The whole head, without a pinpoint focus, hurts with allergies. Since the disease is accompanied by a runny nose and swelling, which creates excessive pressure in the head. Sensations of a general type are manifested with the abuse of caffeine. When a break in the use of the drink provokes discomfort throughout the face and head.

Cheeks, eye area and forehead hurt with sinusitis. If this phenomenon is regular, you need to check if the nasal septum is curved.

Stress is a common cause of headaches. Pulsations are felt in the forehead area with an overabundance of emotions, anxiety or severe overwork.

Malocclusion can also cause pain in the lower part of the face. Improper jaw position creates excess force. In this case, you can hear characteristic clicks in the temples.

The causes of headaches are varied. Even when discomfort is not a symptom of serious health problems, without proper treatment, the disease easily becomes chronic. Self-medication can also worsen the condition. So with migraine, uncontrolled intake of painkillers can provoke chronic attacks.

Therefore, an experienced doctor should deal with the diagnosis and selection of a course of medicines. In our clinic, you can undergo diagnostics and get a detailed consultation about your problem.

After passing the examination, the therapist will select the optimal course of treatment, after which the pain will not affect the emotional state and performance. Even with a chronic problem, the quality of life will again reach the proper level.

Make an appointment with a general practitioner by calling

8 (8652) 99-88-55

or on the website of the Clinic of Innovative Technologies

What can the location of your headache reveal? – Drink-Drink

11.07.2022 DrinkDrinkAdmin

Contents

• Headache that affects the whole head
• One side of your head
  • migraine
  • Cluster headache
• Front of head and face
• Occiput
• Headache symptoms requiring medical attention
• Headache treatment
• Bottom line

The location of your headache can be an important clue to what type of headache you have and possible treatments.

Headaches are very common. In fact, it is estimated that about half to three-quarters of adults have experienced some type of headache in the last year.

Chronic headache, which means 15 or more days of headache each month, affects 1.7 to 4 percent of adults.

Let’s take a closer look at the most common types of headaches by location and when it’s important to seek medical attention.

Headache that affects the entire head

Headache that affects the entire head may feel like a tight band around the head. This often indicates tension headache, the most common primary headache disorder.

However, it is important to note that there are times when migraine pain may be holocranial. This means that the pain may be felt around the head and not just on one side.

With a tension headache, the pain and pressure may radiate to the neck, and you may also feel pain and tenderness around the forehead.

Tension headaches are caused by muscle contractions in the head and neck. This type of headache tends to last for several hours but may persist for several days.

Tension headache can be caused by stress or neck problems. However, you may also have a persistent headache due to:

• caffeine withdrawal
• exercise
• hunger
• hangover
• fatigue
• cold or flu
• head injury
• eye fatigue or too long looking at the computer
• using too much headache medicine, also known as rebound headache

Recurrent tension-type headache does not usually require medical attention. Be sure to see your doctor if you experience headaches 15 or more days a month.

One side of your head

migraine

Whether on the left or right side, a headache on one side often indicates a migraine.

Migraine is a primary headache disorder that causes recurrent attacks. Migraine symptoms typically include:

• throbbing, throbbing pain
• nausea or vomiting
• aura
• sensitivity to noise, light, and smell
• difficulty focusing

Migraines can be caused by a variety of factors, including changes in brain chemicals. In particular, a decrease in serotonin levels.

Many other factors can also trigger an attack, for example:

• loud noises
• bright or flashing lights
• peculiar odors
• certain foods
• changes in weather

900 03 lack of sleep

• hormonal changes
• skip meals
• dehydration

These triggers vary from person to person. It may even be a combination of factors that trigger an attack. It is not always possible to identify triggers.

Cluster headache

Cluster headache is another primary headache disorder that causes pain in one side of the head.

The pain is often located behind or around one of your eyes. In some cases, the pain may radiate to the forehead, side of the head, nose, neck, or shoulders on the same side.

Cluster headaches tend to occur in cycles or, as the name suggests, “clusters”. You may experience headaches for several weeks or months, after which there is a period of remission.

These headaches often come on suddenly and the pain usually becomes severe within about 10 minutes of onset.

Some common symptoms of cluster headache include:

• burning, stabbing behind or around one eye
• red, watery eye
• smaller, constricted pupil
• drooping eyelid
• puffiness under or around one or both eyes
• runny or stuffy nose
• flushing of the face
• anxiety

Once you get the correct diagnosis, migraine and cluster headaches can be treated and controlled.

Drug abuse and head trauma can also cause pain on one side of the head.

Before the head and face

Headache behind the eyes and nasal passages can be caused by allergies such as hay fever, which can also cause cold-like symptoms.

However, true sinus headaches are generally rare. These headaches usually develop into migraines, which can cause sinus pain.

Headache behind the eyes is rarely associated with eye strain.

If you think you have sinus headaches, consider seeing your doctor for a diagnosis. Your doctor can help determine if your headache is really caused by an allergy or if it could be a migraine.

Neck

Pain in the back of the head can be caused by neck arthritis. The pain tends to get worse with movement.

This type of headache can also be caused by poor posture or neck problems such as a herniated disc.

Headache in the back of the head, often accompanied by pain in the neck, can also be a sign of low pressure headache, also known as spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH). It is caused by low pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid in the brain.

Another sign of SIH is that the pain gets better when you lie down but gets worse when you:

• sit upright
• stand
• cough or sneeze
• strain
• engage in physical activity yu

This type of head pain may occur after a lumbar puncture. If you have recently had this procedure and have developed a headache, see your doctor as soon as possible for treatment.

Headache symptoms requiring medical attention

If you have any chronic headaches, it is recommended that you contact your doctor or health care provider. Headaches are considered chronic if they occur 15 or more days per month.

By determining your specific type of headache, your doctor can determine the best type of treatment. Proper headache treatment can help improve your overall quality of life.

Sometimes a headache may indicate a more serious condition, for example:

• aneurysm
• stroke
• meningitis
• encephalitis (inflammation of the brain tissue)
• brain tumor

Signs that you may need immediate medical attention for a headache include: 90 013

• sudden onset of severe headache
• stiff neck
• double vision
• weakness or paralysis on one side of the body
• numbness on both sides of the body
• problems with balance and coordination
• speech problems
• high fever
• lethargy
• decreased or altered level of consciousness
• hallucinations

a lot of trial and error to figure out what works best for your headaches.

Here are some ways you can relieve a headache by taking care of yourself:

• Lie down in a dark, quiet room. Take a nap if you can.
• Apply ice or a cold compress to the area that hurts. Some people find that heat works better.
• Drink water to stay hydrated.
• Do some deep breathing exercises.
• Take over-the-counter (OTC) non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as directed. Be careful because taking too much can lead to rebound headaches.
• Drink some caffeine.

For chronic headaches, your doctor may prescribe medication depending on the specific type of headache. These drugs include:

• triptans
• ergot preparations
• combination of analgesics and caffeine

Prophylactic drugs for chronic headache include:

• anticonvulsants 9000 4
• beta blockers
• calcium channel blockers
• peptide antagonists, related to calcitonin (CGRP)
• Onabotulinum toxin A (Botox)
• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
• Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
• Tricyclic antidepressants

On the bottom line

The area of ​​your head that hurts can tell you something about the type of headache you have.