What causes headaches behind the eyes. How to identify different types of headaches. Which treatments are most effective for eye-related headaches. When to seek medical attention for headaches behind the eyes.

Understanding Headaches Behind the Eyes: Types and Symptoms

Headaches that manifest with pain behind the eyes can be particularly distressing. They often indicate specific types of headaches, each with its own set of symptoms and triggers. Recognizing these distinctions is crucial for effective management and treatment.

Migraine Headaches

Migraines are a common cause of pain behind the eyes. They typically begin with discomfort around the eye and temple area, potentially spreading to the back of the head. What distinguishes migraines from other headaches? Migraines often come with additional symptoms:

• Visual auras (halos or flashing lights)
• Nausea
• Runny nose or congestion
• Sensitivity to light, sounds, or smells

Migraine duration can vary significantly, lasting anywhere from several hours to a few days. This extended timeframe can significantly impact daily life and productivity.

Tension Headaches

As the most prevalent type of headache, tension headaches often manifest as a dull pain behind the eyes. How do tension headaches differ from migraines? They typically affect both sides of the head or spread across the forehead. Additional characteristics include:

• Pain in the shoulders and neck
• Shorter duration (20 minutes to a few hours)
• Less intense pain compared to migraines

Cluster Headaches

Cluster headaches are less common but extremely severe. They cause intense pain around the eyes, often affecting only one side. Why are they called “cluster” headaches? These headaches tend to occur in groups or cycles, with periods of frequent attacks followed by remission periods that can last months or even years.

Distinctive features of cluster headaches include:

• Watery eyes
• Nasal congestion
• Red, flushed face
• Restlessness during attacks
• Short duration (30 to 60 minutes per attack)

Interestingly, cluster headaches predominantly affect men, setting them apart from other headache types in terms of gender prevalence.

Sinus Headaches

Sinus headaches result from sinus infections (sinusitis) and cause pain in areas where the sinuses are located: around the eyes, nose, forehead, cheeks, and upper teeth. How can you distinguish a sinus headache from other types? Look for these accompanying symptoms:

• Fever
• Nasal congestion
• Thick nasal discharge
• Pain that worsens throughout the day

It’s worth noting that true sinus headaches are relatively rare. Many headaches diagnosed as sinus-related are actually migraines or cluster headaches, highlighting the importance of accurate diagnosis.

Identifying Triggers for Headaches Behind the Eyes

Understanding what triggers headaches behind the eyes is crucial for prevention and management. Different types of headaches may have distinct triggers, but some commonalities exist.

Migraine Triggers

Migraines can be set off by a variety of factors, including:

• Sleep deprivation
• Weather changes
• Stress
• Bright lights or loud noises
• Strong smells
• Certain foods and drinks (e.g., alcohol, chocolate, MSG)
• Skipping meals

Tension Headache Triggers

Tension headaches often result from:

• Stress
• Eyestrain
• Poor posture
• Neck or jaw muscle issues
• Fatigue
• Dehydration
• Bright sunlight
• Certain odors

Cluster Headache Triggers

Cluster headaches have fewer known triggers, but common ones include:

• Alcohol consumption
• Smoking
• Certain medications

Effective Treatment Strategies for Eye-Related Headaches

Treatment approaches for headaches behind the eyes vary depending on the type and severity of the headache. A combination of medication and lifestyle changes often yields the best results.

Medication Options

For occasional headaches, over-the-counter pain relievers can be effective. These include:

• Acetaminophen
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen or naproxen

For more frequent or severe headaches, prescription medications may be necessary:

• Triptans (e.g., sumatriptan, rizatriptan) for migraines
• Beta-blockers or antidepressants for chronic migraine prevention
• Antidepressants like amitriptyline for tension headaches
• Oxygen therapy or injected triptans for cluster headaches
• Antibiotics and decongestants for sinus headaches

Home Remedies and Lifestyle Changes

Non-pharmaceutical approaches can also provide relief:

• Caffeine or ice packs for migraines
• Heating pads or warm showers for tension headaches
• Stress management techniques like yoga or deep breathing
• Regular meal times and adequate sleep
• Warm, moist air inhalation for sinus congestion
• Regular eye breaks and artificial tears for eyestrain

Prevention Strategies for Headaches Behind the Eyes

Preventing headaches is often more effective than treating them after onset. How can you reduce the frequency and severity of headaches behind the eyes?

Lifestyle Modifications

• Maintain a regular sleep schedule
• Stay hydrated
• Exercise regularly
• Practice good posture, especially when working at a computer
• Manage stress through relaxation techniques or therapy
• Avoid known triggers, such as certain foods or environmental factors

Preventive Medications

For chronic or severe headaches, doctors may prescribe preventive medications:

• Beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers for migraines
• Antidepressants for tension headaches
• Corticosteroids or verapamil for cluster headaches

When to Seek Medical Attention for Headaches Behind the Eyes

While many headaches can be managed at home, certain symptoms warrant immediate medical attention. When should you consult a healthcare professional for headaches behind the eyes?

• Sudden, severe headache unlike any you’ve experienced before
• Headache accompanied by fever, stiff neck, confusion, or vision changes
• Headaches that worsen over time or don’t respond to treatment
• New headaches starting after age 50
• Headaches following a head injury

These symptoms could indicate more serious underlying conditions that require prompt evaluation and treatment.

Diagnostic Approaches for Headaches Behind the Eyes

Accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective headache management. How do healthcare providers determine the cause of headaches behind the eyes?

Medical History and Physical Examination

Your doctor will likely start by asking detailed questions about your headaches:

• Frequency and duration of headaches
• Pain characteristics (location, intensity, type)
• Associated symptoms
• Potential triggers
• Family history of headaches

A thorough physical examination, including a neurological check, will also be performed.

Diagnostic Tests

In some cases, additional tests may be necessary:

• Imaging studies (MRI or CT scan) to rule out structural abnormalities
• Blood tests to check for underlying conditions
• Sinus x-rays if a sinus infection is suspected
• Eye examinations to assess vision and eye health

Impact of Headaches Behind the Eyes on Quality of Life

Chronic or recurrent headaches can significantly affect various aspects of daily life. How do headaches behind the eyes impact overall well-being?

Work and Productivity

Headaches can lead to:

• Reduced work efficiency
• Increased absenteeism
• Difficulty concentrating on tasks

Social and Family Life

The impact extends beyond the workplace:

• Cancellation of social engagements
• Strain on personal relationships
• Reduced participation in family activities

Mental Health

Chronic headaches can also affect mental well-being:

• Increased risk of anxiety and depression
• Feelings of frustration or helplessness
• Sleep disturbances

Recognizing these impacts underscores the importance of effective headache management and seeking appropriate medical care.

Emerging Treatments for Headaches Behind the Eyes

As medical research advances, new treatments for headaches behind the eyes are being developed and refined. What innovative approaches show promise in headache management?

Neuromodulation Techniques

These non-invasive treatments use electrical or magnetic stimulation to alter nerve activity:

• Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
• Vagus nerve stimulation
• Occipital nerve stimulation

Botulinum Toxin Injections

Originally used for cosmetic purposes, Botox injections have shown effectiveness in treating chronic migraines. How does this treatment work?

• Blocks release of pain-transmitting chemicals
• Reduces muscle tension in the head and neck
• Typically administered every 12 weeks

CGRP Antagonists

A new class of drugs targeting the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) pathway has shown promise in migraine prevention and treatment. These medications include:

• Erenumab (Aimovig)
• Fremanezumab (Ajovy)
• Galcanezumab (Emgality)

Mindfulness and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

While not new, these psychological approaches are gaining recognition for their effectiveness in headache management:

• Mindfulness meditation to reduce stress and pain perception
• Cognitive behavioral therapy to modify pain-related thoughts and behaviors
• Biofeedback techniques to control physiological processes

These emerging treatments offer hope for individuals who may not have found relief with traditional approaches. However, it’s important to consult with a healthcare provider to determine the most appropriate treatment plan for your specific situation.

Understanding the causes, triggers, and treatment options for headaches behind the eyes empowers individuals to take control of their health. By working closely with healthcare providers and adopting a comprehensive approach to headache management, many people can find significant relief and improve their quality of life. Remember, while headaches are common, persistent or severe pain should always be evaluated by a medical professional to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment.

Headache Behind Eye: Causes, Triggers, and Treatment

Written by Mary Jo DiLonardo, John Donovan

Medically Reviewed by Jennifer Robinson, MD on December 13, 2022

• What Is a Headache Behind the Eye?
• Causes of Headache Behind the Eye
• Headache Behind the Eye Triggers
• Headache Behind the Eye Treatment
• Waking Up With a Headache Behind the Eyes?

If you feel pain behind your eyes, there are many possible causes. There’s a good chance it could be a specific type of headache.

Migraine headaches

These headaches often begin with pain around your eye and temple. They can spread to the back of your head. You might also have an aura, which can include visual signs like a halo or flashing lights that sometimes come before the pain starts.

You may also have nausea, a runny nose, or congestion. You could be sensitive to light, sounds, or smells. Migraine headaches can last several hours to a few days.

Tension headaches

These are the most common type of headache. They usually cause a dull pain on both sides of your head or across the front of your head, behind your eyes. Your shoulders and neck may also hurt. Tension headaches might last 20 minutes to a few hours.

Cluster headaches

These cause severe pain around your eyes, often around just one eye. They usually come in groups. You may have several of them every day for weeks and then not have any for a year or more before they start again.

Along with the pain, you may also have watery eyes, congestion, and a red, flushed face. The attacks last 30 to 60 minutes and are so strong that you may be restless and can’t stand still while they happen. Cluster headaches aren’t very common and mostly happen in men.

Sinus headaches

A sinus infection (sinusitis) can cause a headache around your eyes, nose, forehead, cheeks, and upper teeth. This is where your sinuses are. You’ll often also have a fever, congestion, and a thick nasal discharge. The pain usually gets worse throughout the day.

True sinus headaches are rare. Migraine and cluster headaches are often mistaken for sinus headaches.

Eyestrain

This is when your eyes get tired from working too hard from doing things like staring at a computer screen or driving for a long time.

Other symptoms can include:

• Sore, itching, burning eyes
• Watery eyes
• Blurred vision
• Sore shoulders or back

Eyestrain isn’t serious and usually goes away when you rest your eyes.

Different things may set off each type of headache.

You might get migraines because of:

• A lack of sleep
• Weather changes
• Stress
• Lights
• Noises
• Smells
• Things you eat or drink, like alcohol, chocolate, or MSG
• Missing a meal

Things that may give you a tension headache include:

• Stress
• Eyestrain
• Poor posture
• Problems with the muscles or joints in your neck or jaw
• Fatigue
• Dehydration or missing a meal
• Bright sunlight
• Noise
• Certain smells

Cluster headaches are often triggered by alcohol, smoking, or certain medications.

Learning to avoid your triggers may prevent headaches or make them less painful. If you do get one, there are many kinds of treatments.

Medication for headache behind the eye

Over-the-counter pain medicine can ease occasional headaches. It may even help with migraine if you take it early enough. Doctors often recommend acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen or naproxen. But remember that taking them too often can trigger overuse headaches.

If you get frequent tension headaches, your doctor may prescribe medication. Antidepressants like amitriptyline help many people.

Sometimes, prescription drugs are the only things that will ease migraine pain. Some of the most common are triptans such as almotriptan (Axert), eletriptan (Relpax), rizatriptan (Maxalt), sumatriptan (Imitrex), and zolmitriptan (Zomig). They help most people within 2 hours if taken early enough. People who get chronic migraines often take medicine like beta-blockers or antidepressants every day to help cut back on how many they have.

Breathing pure oxygen may bring relief of cluster headaches. Injected triptans like sumatriptan and lidocaine nose drops might also help. Some people take medicines such as verapamil (Calan, Verelan) or prednisone to prevent attacks.

Treat a sinus headache by clearing up the infection. Your doctor might suggest antibiotics and decongestants.

Home remedies for headache behind the eye

Caffeine or ice packs may help with migraine pain.

For a tension headache, try a heating pad or a warm shower, or rest until the headache goes away. It can also help to find better ways to handle stress. Learn relaxation techniques like yoga or deep breathing. Try not to skip meals or get too tired.

When you have a sinus infection, breathe in warm, moist air from a vaporizer or a pot of boiling water to ease congestion. Warm compresses can also help.

If your eyes are often strained, take breaks and blink more. Artificial tears may also refresh your eyes. Check with your doctor to make sure your vision prescription is up to date, and ask about exercises to strengthen eye muscles.

If you wake up in the morning with a pounding headache behind your eyes, you’re not alone. Here’s a look at some common causes of morning headaches:

Hangovers. After drinking too much alcohol, when your blood alcohol content drops back to normal or close to it, you start to feel symptoms that can include headaches. They can be caused by a couple of things. When you drink, the alcohol causes your body to make more urine, which can cause you to become dehydrated. The alcohol also causes your blood vessels to expand, which can lead to headaches. If you have more severe symptoms like confusion, seizures, slow breathing, or loss of consciousness, get medical help right away.

Migraine. The most common time for a migraine to happen is the early morning as pain medication you took before you went to sleep begins to wear off. But migraine headaches are complicated. They’re different for everybody. If you have a migraine or headache of any type that continually wakes you in the morning and gets in the way of your work or personal life, a doctor’s visit may be in order. Treatments, including over-the-counter and prescription medications, are available.

Sleep apnea. This is a condition where your throat muscles partially collapse while you sleep and interrupt your breathing. Other signs of sleep apnea include dry mouth and snoring. Sleep apnea is a serious health problem. Your doctor may suggest that you do a sleep test. A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine might help, and lifestyle changes like losing weight and rolling off your back while you sleep could also help you get better rest.

Other sleep disorders. The relationship between sleep and headaches is a tricky one. Sometimes headaches are the cause of poor sleep, sometimes they’re the result of it. If it’s hard to get to sleep, stay asleep, or if you just wake up too early, you may have insomnia. It’s been tied to some forms of chronic headaches, including morning headaches. Circadian rhythm sleep disorders mess with when you fall to sleep or wake up. They can lead to morning headaches, too. If you think you may have a sleep disorder, see your doctor.

Overmedication. A medication overuse headache (MOH) can happen if you’re already prone to headaches and you take a lot of pain meds. A MOH usually hits right when you wake up. For those with chronic headaches, using medication more than 2 or 3 days a week may be too much. Check with your doctor about this. They can help you treat your headaches without overusing pain meds.

TMJ. The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects your jaw to your skull. Pain in the joint and its surrounding muscles, caused by things like too much gum chewing or clenching and grinding your teeth at night, can bring a morning headache. A dentist can prescribe an oral device to keep you from grinding your teeth at night. 

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Headache Behind Eye: Causes, Triggers, and Treatment

Written by Mary Jo DiLonardo, John Donovan

Medically Reviewed by Jennifer Robinson, MD on December 13, 2022

• What Is a Headache Behind the Eye?
• Causes of Headache Behind the Eye
• Headache Behind the Eye Triggers
• Headache Behind the Eye Treatment
• Waking Up With a Headache Behind the Eyes?

If you feel pain behind your eyes, there are many possible causes. There’s a good chance it could be a specific type of headache.

Migraine headaches

These headaches often begin with pain around your eye and temple. They can spread to the back of your head. You might also have an aura, which can include visual signs like a halo or flashing lights that sometimes come before the pain starts.

You may also have nausea, a runny nose, or congestion. You could be sensitive to light, sounds, or smells. Migraine headaches can last several hours to a few days.

Tension headaches

These are the most common type of headache. They usually cause a dull pain on both sides of your head or across the front of your head, behind your eyes. Your shoulders and neck may also hurt. Tension headaches might last 20 minutes to a few hours.

Cluster headaches

These cause severe pain around your eyes, often around just one eye. They usually come in groups. You may have several of them every day for weeks and then not have any for a year or more before they start again.

Along with the pain, you may also have watery eyes, congestion, and a red, flushed face. The attacks last 30 to 60 minutes and are so strong that you may be restless and can’t stand still while they happen. Cluster headaches aren’t very common and mostly happen in men.

Sinus headaches

A sinus infection (sinusitis) can cause a headache around your eyes, nose, forehead, cheeks, and upper teeth. This is where your sinuses are. You’ll often also have a fever, congestion, and a thick nasal discharge. The pain usually gets worse throughout the day.

True sinus headaches are rare. Migraine and cluster headaches are often mistaken for sinus headaches.

Eyestrain

This is when your eyes get tired from working too hard from doing things like staring at a computer screen or driving for a long time.

Other symptoms can include:

• Sore, itching, burning eyes
• Watery eyes
• Blurred vision
• Sore shoulders or back

Eyestrain isn’t serious and usually goes away when you rest your eyes.

Different things may set off each type of headache.

You might get migraines because of:

• A lack of sleep
• Weather changes
• Stress
• Lights
• Noises
• Smells
• Things you eat or drink, like alcohol, chocolate, or MSG
• Missing a meal

Things that may give you a tension headache include:

• Stress
• Eyestrain
• Poor posture
• Problems with the muscles or joints in your neck or jaw
• Fatigue
• Dehydration or missing a meal
• Bright sunlight
• Noise
• Certain smells

Cluster headaches are often triggered by alcohol, smoking, or certain medications.

Learning to avoid your triggers may prevent headaches or make them less painful. If you do get one, there are many kinds of treatments.

Medication for headache behind the eye

Over-the-counter pain medicine can ease occasional headaches. It may even help with migraine if you take it early enough. Doctors often recommend acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen or naproxen. But remember that taking them too often can trigger overuse headaches.

If you get frequent tension headaches, your doctor may prescribe medication. Antidepressants like amitriptyline help many people.

Sometimes, prescription drugs are the only things that will ease migraine pain. Some of the most common are triptans such as almotriptan (Axert), eletriptan (Relpax), rizatriptan (Maxalt), sumatriptan (Imitrex), and zolmitriptan (Zomig). They help most people within 2 hours if taken early enough. People who get chronic migraines often take medicine like beta-blockers or antidepressants every day to help cut back on how many they have.

Breathing pure oxygen may bring relief of cluster headaches. Injected triptans like sumatriptan and lidocaine nose drops might also help. Some people take medicines such as verapamil (Calan, Verelan) or prednisone to prevent attacks.

Treat a sinus headache by clearing up the infection. Your doctor might suggest antibiotics and decongestants.

Home remedies for headache behind the eye

Caffeine or ice packs may help with migraine pain.

For a tension headache, try a heating pad or a warm shower, or rest until the headache goes away. It can also help to find better ways to handle stress. Learn relaxation techniques like yoga or deep breathing. Try not to skip meals or get too tired.

When you have a sinus infection, breathe in warm, moist air from a vaporizer or a pot of boiling water to ease congestion. Warm compresses can also help.

If your eyes are often strained, take breaks and blink more. Artificial tears may also refresh your eyes. Check with your doctor to make sure your vision prescription is up to date, and ask about exercises to strengthen eye muscles.

If you wake up in the morning with a pounding headache behind your eyes, you’re not alone. Here’s a look at some common causes of morning headaches:

Hangovers. After drinking too much alcohol, when your blood alcohol content drops back to normal or close to it, you start to feel symptoms that can include headaches. They can be caused by a couple of things. When you drink, the alcohol causes your body to make more urine, which can cause you to become dehydrated. The alcohol also causes your blood vessels to expand, which can lead to headaches. If you have more severe symptoms like confusion, seizures, slow breathing, or loss of consciousness, get medical help right away.

Migraine. The most common time for a migraine to happen is the early morning as pain medication you took before you went to sleep begins to wear off. But migraine headaches are complicated. They’re different for everybody. If you have a migraine or headache of any type that continually wakes you in the morning and gets in the way of your work or personal life, a doctor’s visit may be in order. Treatments, including over-the-counter and prescription medications, are available.

Sleep apnea. This is a condition where your throat muscles partially collapse while you sleep and interrupt your breathing. Other signs of sleep apnea include dry mouth and snoring. Sleep apnea is a serious health problem. Your doctor may suggest that you do a sleep test. A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine might help, and lifestyle changes like losing weight and rolling off your back while you sleep could also help you get better rest.

Other sleep disorders. The relationship between sleep and headaches is a tricky one. Sometimes headaches are the cause of poor sleep, sometimes they’re the result of it. If it’s hard to get to sleep, stay asleep, or if you just wake up too early, you may have insomnia. It’s been tied to some forms of chronic headaches, including morning headaches. Circadian rhythm sleep disorders mess with when you fall to sleep or wake up. They can lead to morning headaches, too. If you think you may have a sleep disorder, see your doctor.

Overmedication. A medication overuse headache (MOH) can happen if you’re already prone to headaches and you take a lot of pain meds. A MOH usually hits right when you wake up. For those with chronic headaches, using medication more than 2 or 3 days a week may be too much. Check with your doctor about this. They can help you treat your headaches without overusing pain meds.

TMJ. The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects your jaw to your skull. Pain in the joint and its surrounding muscles, caused by things like too much gum chewing or clenching and grinding your teeth at night, can bring a morning headache. A dentist can prescribe an oral device to keep you from grinding your teeth at night. 

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Ripples in the eyes and headache: causes and how to treat

Sometimes, abruptly getting up from the table, you can seem to lose control over your own vision: your head is spinning, and your eyes are dazzled so that you can’t see anything even at arm’s length. This is a fairly common phenomenon, which is also called noise and flicker.

Ripples before the eyes can either occur in a single case, or disturb a person on a regular basis. That is why it is so important to know why this can happen and what to do about it.

What are the causes of ripples, why does it sometimes appear in only one eye, and how to get rid of it once and for all? Let’s tell you more.

Why ripples in the eyes?

If the problem occurs far from the first time, it is worth contacting a specialist who will help identify the cause – however, there are factors that affect vision most often, and you can familiarize yourself with them in advance.

Among the main reasons for the appearance of ripples in the eyes are the following:

• cervical osteochondrosis – a disease in which the nerve endings of the upper spine are pinched;

• diseases of the heart and blood vessels;

• problems with the retina or vitreous body;

• constriction of blood vessels due to pregnancy.

In addition, it also happens that it ripples in only one eye – right or left. In most cases, this is due to ocular migraine, which can be concentrated in a specific focus. However, there is a possibility that one eye is simply more vulnerable, because it was struck by some kind of ophthalmic disease – you definitely need to make an appointment with a doctor.

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Why is sometimes a headache added to the ripples?

The ripples don’t always appear on their own – you may find that you also have a very bad headache. This is most often due to one of the following factors:

• you work at the computer and at the same time lead a sedentary lifestyle, rarely change activities;

• smoke and drink a lot;

• often sit in a closed room that is almost not ventilated – most likely, you simply do not have enough fresh air;

• sudden change in weather.

In this case, getting rid of the ripples is not so difficult – you just need to take some preventive measures.

What to do if it ripples in the eyes?

The first step, of course, is to make an appointment with an ophthalmologist, but be prepared to completely change your lifestyle in the long run – this is reliable prevention.

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Consider taking regular breaks. Of course, processing brings more money, but in the long run it will negatively affect the body. If you learn to take more time to take care of yourself, you will maintain visual acuity and definitely forget about the ripples in the eyes forever.

Eliminate alcohol and nicotine, adjust your diet – the healthier the food you eat, the better. Look for foods rich in vitamins for the eyes.

Change activities more often, do not forget about physical activity.

Treatment of ripples in the eyes

Turning to a specialist, be prepared for the fact that it is not an ophthalmic disease – as mentioned a little higher, ripples can occur due to osteochondrosis or heart disease.

Therefore, tune in to several stages of treatment in advance:

The sooner you use professional help, the better – a competent specialist will be able to solve the problem as quickly as possible. Take care of yourself!

What diseases cause headaches in the forehead and eyes – Multidisciplinary Center in Saratov

Headaches in the forehead and eyes are a fairly common occurrence. What could be their cause and what to do to help yourself?

Migraine

The most common cause of this specific pain location is migraine. Many people think that a migraine is just a headache. In reality, a migraine attack is not only an unpleasant sensation. An attack usually consists of 4 stages or phases. A migraine attack develops as a result of the action of provoking factors and only in the presence of a genetic predisposition.

Provocateurs include weather changes, physical overstrain and emotional stress, certain foods (smoked meats, cheeses, nuts, chocolate, seafood) and drinks (champagne, beer, wine, especially red wine), skipping meals, lack of liquid in body, too much or too little sleep.

A migraine attack is manifested by throbbing or pressing pains in the forehead, temple, eye on one side, the duration of which is 4-72 hours. From attack to attack, the side of the pain can change. Migraine headaches are accompanied by nausea, less often by vomiting, intolerance to loud sounds, bright lights, pungent odors that increase pain.

Before an attack, the so-called migraine aura may occur, which is manifested by various visual (flashes before the eyes, loss of half of the field of vision), auditory (noise, ringing in the ears), olfactory, gustatory and other sensory phenomena.

For rare (1-2 times a month) and mild migraine attacks, it is necessary to choose drugs for successful pain relief. With more frequent and / or more severe attacks (high intensity of pain and ineffectiveness of drugs to relieve an attack), prophylactic treatment lasting from 6 to 12 months is necessary, which is selected only by a doctor, taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient.

Cluster headaches

This disease is much rarer than migraine. It is manifested by very intense pain in the temple and eye on one side, lasting from 15 minutes to 3 hours (usually 30-60 minutes). They are accompanied by lacrimation and redness of the eye on the side of pain, swelling of the eyelid, nasal congestion and discharge, and a painful attack may be accompanied by psychomotor agitation. Attacks of pain can occur several times a day, very often they develop at night, between 11 and 3 am.

Cluster headaches are characterized by exacerbations (“bundle” or cluster) that can last from 2 weeks to 3 months. More often exacerbations occur in spring and autumn. Rarely, cluster headaches are chronic.

If a patient has cluster headaches, it is necessary to prescribe preventive treatment during the “bundle” period and use drugs that remove the attack. Each patient during the treatment period needs dynamic monitoring.

Paroxysmal hemicrania

This is an even rarer type of headache and can sometimes be confused with migraine due to the throbbing nature of the pain.