We hear the phrase “suddenly got a headache” often, and yet it doesn’t make sense. In the case of migraine, however, the cause (both the illness itself and accompanying symptoms such as nausea) is not always identifiable.
Alcohol dilates blood vessels, cigarettes tighten
A person on the second day after a party pays for the pleasure of the previous evening. Alcohol and cigarettes contain toxic substances that affect the vascular system. They contribute to the compression and expansion of blood vessels, causing their movement, which is perceived as a headache, which is localized in the frontal part, the back of the head, in the ears or temples... Sometimes a headache from the frontal part radiates to the shoulders.
Other diseases
Pain can be caused by carbon monoxide poisoning, prolonged fasting, climbing to a height, flying on an airplane, or descending to great depths. There are also other reasons for discomfort:
- Trigeminal neuralgia. Such inflammation can lead to damage to the nerve fibers of the skull. Pathology develops in patients who have reached 40 years of age. The attack is characterized by an intense headache that appears spontaneously. A spasm occurs on the face; unpleasant sensations can affect the cheeks, teeth, and eyes.
- Head injury. Headache in the temples is not the main symptom.
- Poor nutrition. Some foods and drinks that contain monosodium glutamate may cause headaches. If you use them constantly, this will negatively affect the overall functionality of the body.
The condition of our body directly depends on nutrition. The picture shows products containing artificial monosodium glutamate, which causes various disorders, as well as headaches
- Lack of sleep. Insomnia very often leads to a person having a headache in the temples. Moreover, if this state lasts constantly, then over time the body becomes exhausted, which does not have the opportunity to restore its energy reserves.
- Adrenal pheochromocytoma. It provokes an unpleasant pulsation in the temple. The fact is that with such a pathology, an excessive amount of adrenaline is produced in the human body. This provokes a sharp increase in blood pressure, sweating appears, the skin turns pale, and the head hurts. The duration of the attack ranges from 5 minutes to 2 hours.
Pain in the temple and forehead can strike a person at any time. However, if it recurs frequently, then you need to undergo an urgent examination. This pathology should be treated by a neurologist, as well as other specialists, depending on the cause of the headache.
Osteochondrosis
This disease is extremely common and affects older people.
The spinal cord roots are pinched in the cervical region, causing unbearable pain of various types (aching, shooting and squeezing pain).
The disease occurs against the background of goosebumps on the skin in the head, a burning sensation, tingling sensation, coordination of movements is impaired, and noises are felt in the ears.
Injuries
At the site of the abrasion, under the skin, there is a hematoma. If an internal injury occurs, the resulting hematoma affects nearby blood vessels, disrupting normal blood circulation.
There is a difficulty in the flow of blood through the ducts in a certain area, preventing the flow of useful substances and oxygen to the brain.
Headache limited to the temples and forehead is characteristic of many diseases. For convenience, all these conditions were divided into three broad groups. Ailments of the same type are characterized by a similar clinical picture and methods of dealing with the problem.
When blood vessels in the brain are pinched, narrowed, or affected by plaque, it disrupts the flow of blood to and from the brain. The result is oxygen starvation of tissues, their poisoning with their own decay products.
A dense vascular network in the temporal region leads to the fact that diseases manifest themselves as headaches of precisely this localization. Symptoms include sleep disturbance, dizziness, weakness, and decreased brain activity.
The most common pathologies here include hypertension, VSD, migraine, and arteritis. Ignoring signs of developing problems can lead to a stroke.
If a patient experiences nausea and vomiting, neck stiffness, and fear of light, this may indicate meningitis. Even an ordinary ARVI can cause serious complications if its treatment is taken lightly.
The list of diseases that cause headache as a concomitant symptom is quite large, but the most common of them can be divided into separate profile groups.
Pain that develops against the background of impaired blood circulation through the vascular system of the body, dysfunction of the liquor system or inflammatory processes occurring in the meninges can be a sign of the following pathologies:
- hypertension or hypotension;
- intracranial hypotension or hypertension;
- hydrocephalus;
- atherosclerosis of blood vessels in the structure of the brain;
- temporal arteritis;
- tumor formations and hematomas, regardless of the nature of their origin.
The development of pain syndrome is a consequence of disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system, which are caused by the influence of factors that irritate it or damage to nerve endings. As a result, pulsating, pressing or shooting pains develop, localized in the forehead and temples. These symptoms appear when:
- migraine attacks;
- neuroses;
- neuralgia of the endings of the optic or trigeminal nerve;
- pain of a fascicular and cluster nature.
Why does everyone get a headache from time to time?
This is true. Everyone is familiar with this disease, regardless of the location of the pain - in the frontal part, back of the head, ears, temples; for example, with a migraine, one half of the frontal part or one temple most often hurts. There are always reasons why a headache occurs, it’s just that a person cannot always associate them directly with the illness. Problems can arise due to exposure to any viral disease, strained neck muscles in the spinal area, weather changes or stress. In women, headaches (in the frontal part, the back of the head, in the temples or ears) can occur in connection with the menstrual cycle; the causes of the disease are often hidden behind incorrectly selected glasses, high blood pressure... In these cases, a headache (in the frontal part, the back of the head ) is a symptom of another, primary, problem and is accompanied by other manifestations (nausea is often present), of which there can be a large number. In cases where a headache (in the frontal part, back of the head, etc.) is accompanied by other symptoms, such as nausea, severe dizziness, a condition where one temple or eyes hurt, it is advisable to consult a doctor who can determine the causes of the disease .
Prevention
In order to avoid headaches, it is recommended to follow certain preventive measures:
- Normalize your work and rest schedule. For an adult, sleep duration is at least 8 hours.
- Eat properly. The diet must include vegetables and fruits. They will help maintain immunity and reduce the risk of developing infectious and viral diseases.
- Avoid stress, anxiety and neuroses.
- Get rid of bad habits. These include smoking and drinking alcohol.
- Walk outdoors and exercise every day. It is important to dress appropriately for the weather conditions and not overexert yourself.
- After waking up, take a contrast shower.
Compliance with the rules of prevention will significantly reduce the risk of headaches when they are localized in the temples and forehead area.
If unpleasant sensations occur regularly, you should consult a doctor who will conduct a diagnosis, determine the cause of their occurrence and, if necessary, prescribe a course of therapy.
Lifestyle changes can help reduce and relieve attacks:
- Long night sleep, at least 8 hours. Maintaining a routine of wakefulness and rest will help reduce the frequency of headaches.
- Regular physical activity. Weekly exercise will help relieve stress.
- Control your caffeine intake.
- Drink enough water throughout the day, as dehydration leads to headaches.
- Constantly monitor your posture, especially when sitting for a long time. Try to keep your back straight, but at the same time the lower part of it should be supported. While working, take regular breaks and stretching exercises.
- Refrain from frequent use of painkillers, alcohol, and quit smoking.
Take your pill! Is this really good advice?
This advice is good as long as the pain does not become too severe and atypical, accompanied by nausea/vomiting or dizziness. Tablets do not solve the main problem, they only weaken the symptoms. Painkillers may be used for mild to moderate, dull headaches that slightly interfere with a person's ability to concentrate and work. If the illness comes suddenly, seems “strange”, and is accompanied by dizziness or nausea/vomiting, you should go to the doctor.
Viruses and infections
There are causes of pain in the temples and frontal part of the head, which are provoked by viruses and infections. What are they like:
- Flu and colds. Diseases are provoked by hypothermia or bacteria. The first signs of illness are pain in the head, after which additional symptoms appear in the form of fever, coughing, sneezing, chills, weakness and fever.
- Acute respiratory and viral diseases. They are provoked by viruses and pathogenic bacteria transmitted by airborne droplets. When infected, unpleasant symptoms appear, including a headache. The pain syndrome occurs against a background of elevated temperature, body aches, chills and general malaise.
- Meningitis. The disease is characterized by inflammation in the meninges. The causative agents of the inflammatory process are fungi, bacteria and viruses. Pain occurs in the temples and frontal part of the head. The patient may lose consciousness, react poorly to bright light, feel chills, and have a fever. This disease is very serious and requires immediate consultation with a doctor to prescribe special treatment.
- Encephalitis. Pathogenic microorganisms provoke an inflammatory process in the brain. With this disease, the body temperature rises sharply, the upper respiratory tract and gastrointestinal tract are irritated.
There is a fear of bright light, vomiting, and sometimes epileptic manifestations. The patient looks lethargic, depressed and irritable.
What is within the normal range? How many times a month can a healthy person have a headache?
If we are talking about 1-2 times a month, this does not raise suspicions.
2-3 times a week and, especially, a day, this is not normal. What is the difference between ordinary cephalalgia and migraine? Evil tongues say that migraine is a disease of hysterical women...
This is said not only by evil tongues, but also by uninformed people who have never experienced migraine. Unlike ordinary pain, migraine is an attack-like disease. This is a neurological disorder of the brain. In this case, we are not talking about a symptom of any other disease, but about primary cephalgia.
Treatment methods
Treatment for frontal headaches depends on what caused it. The main direction is to eliminate the impact of the etiological factor.
If the cause of the complaint is unknown, treatment may consist mainly of painkillers and or anti-inflammatory drugs. In some cases, additional techniques may be useful.
If there is no disease hiding behind the pain in the head, it is caused by overexertion, lack of sleep or stress, you can use special pharmaceutical medications.
Cause of the disorder | Name | Purpose | How to use | Price in rub. |
Tension pain | Imipramine | Antidepressant, relieves chronic pain syndromes | The dose is set individually, but not more than 50 mg per day | 250 |
Ibuprofen | Non-steroidal drug for inflammatory pain and other disorders (neuralgia, myalgia) | For moderate syndrome 1200 mg/day | 33 | |
Paracetamol | Analgesic, anti-inflammatory drug, myalgia, migraine, toothache | 500-1000 mg 1 time/day | 16 | |
Migraine | Voltaren | Non-steroidal analgesic drug, infectious diseases of the ENT organs, migraine, | Initial dose 50 mg 2–3 times/day, increase is permissible up to 150 mg/day | 120 |
Novalgin | Analgesic with antipyretic properties. Pain syndromes of various etiologies | 1–4 times/day, 1–2 tablets, no more than 6 per day | 160 | |
Sinusitis | Nurofen | Sinusitis, ENT diseases, fever | 1200 mg/day, | 80 |
Acetaminophen, analogue – Paracetamol, Tylenol | Analgesic, used for migraines, sinusitis, neuralgia, toothache | Daily dose: 500 mg, taken three times daily | 250 | |
Cluster pain | Melatonin (Melaxen) | Adaptogenic agent, used for pain, sleep disorders, depressive syndrome | 3 mg 1 time per day | 349 |
Sedalite | Normalizes mental state, has a sedative effect | Daily dose from 300 to 600 mg three times a day | 116 | |
Sumatriptan | Has analgesic activity, relieves migraine attacks and other types of pain | For acute attacks, 50 mg is prescribed over 24 hours. | 77 | |
Vitamin preparations | Lithium Lithium Aspartate, | Has a positive effect on the nervous system, has a sedative, antidepressant effect | Take 1 capsule daily | 650 |
Lithium orotate lemon flavored | Improves mental state, relieves headaches | Take no more than 1 ml/day | 474 | |
Vitrum, Vitrum Superstress | Contains a large amount of vitamins and minerals | Tablets are taken after meals, 1 piece. | from 500 | |
Riboflavin | Regulates redox processes, supports vision | 5–10 mg/day, in special cases 10 mg up to 3 times/day | 115 | |
Magnelis B6 | The drug in combination with vitamin B6, magnesium relieves headaches | 6–7 tablets/day | 300-500 |
Most over-the-counter medications should not be taken long-term. The duration of treatment should not exceed 5 days. For migraines, conventional analgesics usually do not help. It is not advisable to combine various drugs with each other or with alcohol.
Traditional methods
If stress consistently leads to a forehead headache, the best strategy is to prevent it. Since external circumstances that lead to stress often cannot be changed, you should do relaxation exercises and take your mind off difficult situations.
Hydrotherapy is used against numerous diseases. Headaches are well relieved by alternating foot baths or taking a relaxing general bath with warm water.
- Alternating foot baths require two containers in which to place your feet. One contains water at 38˚, the other - from 12 to 18˚C. Both feet are placed in warm water for three minutes, then placed in cold water for ten seconds. The immersion is done three times in a row, the procedure ends with a cold bath.
- Relaxing bath. You can take a thermal bath with the addition of active ingredients from spruce needles and rosemary. Arnica-based supplements have an analgesic effect. Lie quietly in warm water, 36–38˚С, for 20–30 minutes.
Rubbing the forehead with essential oils of eucalyptus and peppermint helps a lot. They should not be used frequently as they cause migraine attacks in some people.
Caffeine is an additive in some over-the-counter pain relievers. A cup of strong coffee can have the same effect.
- Coffee with lemon.
- Coffee with milk.
Tinctures, herbal teas, juices help relieve tension pain:
- Pour 150 ml of boiling water into 1 tsp. (2-3 grams) valerian root, strain after 10-15 minutes. Drink 1-3 times a day, the last time before bed.
- Add peppermint or lemon balm to regular tea, 1 tsp. Drink 2-3 times during the day.
- Willow bark tincture. Willow bark is a medicinal plant that contains salicylates in large quantities; it is added to the drug Aspirin. The dried bark is added to tea or a drink is prepared from the bark alone. Drink several times during the day. Incompatible with blood thinning medications.
- Orange and carrot juice are good for relieving stress.
Other methods
Headache in the frontal region (the causes should be identified before choosing a treatment method) can be reduced using additional methods. Constant tension affects the muscles, so relaxing them is useful for those who often suffer from headaches.
- Breathing exercises and meditation. The purpose of exercise is to relieve chronic tension. Relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises, autogenic training and meditative qigong are performed daily for 30 minutes. in a day. All exercises are aimed at regulating and establishing proper breathing.
- Tai chi and yoga. Gymnastic exercises aimed at improving the functioning of the vestibular apparatus, relieving fatigue, irritation, and reducing brain tension.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy. The technique is used in the treatment of chronic disorders.
- Acupressure. In case of distress, you should massage certain pain points above the temples until the pain disappears or is reduced. The massage should not last longer than 15 minutes.
- Acupuncture will help relieve tension, migraine symptoms, and tension headaches.
What are the triggers for migraines?
There are a lot of them and they are very diverse. They are often similar to the causes of ordinary cephalalgia, but may have a different background. Often food products are responsible for the attack - chocolate, mature cheese, mayonnaise, tropical fruits, alcohol (especially red wine), nuts. Acute stress can also be a trigger. Imagine a restless, nervous man “just before the explosion.” At that moment, a cell phone rang, “finishing off” his nervous system... While phlegmatic people will hardly unbalance anything, explosive people, just like shy, timid people, have a weaker nervous system, and even a small stimulus from the outside can easily cause an attack.
Why does my temple and ear hurt?
Headache in the temples, and the pain radiates to the ears due to:
- diseases associated with the ears;
- circulatory disorders;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- traumatization of the ears;
- development of oncological tumors in the ear and cranial cavities;
- migraines of different types;
- dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint (the jaw is directly connected to the ears, therefore, due to its damage, the ears in the temples suffer);
- stressful situations (severe fatigue, emotional swings, excessive tension);
- toothache (unpleasant sensation due to inflammation of the gums and jaw tissues).
Is migraine related to profession?
Yes, such a relationship has been registered. Most often, teachers become victims of the disease - working with children is characterized by many stressful situations. Quite often, the disease affects artists and artists, i.e., people who live in their own emotional world, as well as people in leadership positions. In this case, the trigger becomes working with people and the associated overexertion.
Pressing pain in the temples with neurocirculatory dystonia
Headaches with neurocirculatory dystonia can be chronic and short-term. Such pain is characterized by prolonged attacks that can only be blocked with strong painkillers. The unpleasant sensation in the temporal region intensifies in the evening, when blood pressure rises several times.
Headache in the temples with neurocirculatory dystonia due to severe fatigue, excessive physical exertion, constant worries and stressful situations.
There are several effective ways to treat pain:
- sedatives;
- medicinal plants;
- acupuncture;
- massage;
If you have a headache in your temples, a massage will help reduce it. - vitamin supplements;
- spa treatment (visiting sanatorium-resort establishments, including many procedures that promote rapid recovery).
Can we talk about age as a migraine trigger?
Age is not a deciding factor.
It happens that some postmenopausal women who previously suffered from migraines suddenly have no problems. It is noteworthy that migraines rarely bother pregnant women. But from this point of view, age does not solve anything; in the end, children also suffer from the disease. A common trigger is genetics, although it has not yet been possible to determine which gene is the culprit. If both parents have migraines, there is a 75% risk that the child will inherit the condition. If only one of the parents suffers from the disease, then this assumption is 50%.
Temple pain during pregnancy
Headache in the temples during pregnancy due to several reasons:
- changes in weather conditions;
- stressful situations;
- severe fatigue;
- insomnia;
- eating foods that are prohibited during pregnancy;
- bright light;
- strong sound;
- physical exhaustion;
- emotionality;
- changes in the functioning of the endocrine and exocrine glands;
- arterial hypertension;
- toxicosis;
- poor nutrition;
- dehydration;
- low blood sugar levels;
- poor microclimate in the house.
You can treat severe headaches during pregnancy by starting with the following:
- ventilation of the room;
- taking a comfortable pose;
- listening to light and soothing music;
- inhalation of essential oils;
- nap;
- yoga class;
- auto-training session;
- eating fresh berries;
- applying a compress with propolis tincture to the temples;
- applying slices of fresh potatoes to your temples.
Treatment of temporal headache with medications
A headache in the temple area can occur due to various reasons; treatment should be started with medications that can only be prescribed by the attending physician.
For severe cramps, the following medications will help:
- Citramon;
Solpadeine;- Ibuklin;
- Tempalgin;
- Nurofen;
- Pentalgin;
- Paracetamol;
- Panadol;
- Calpol;
- Migrenol;
- Analgin;
- Moment;
- Faspik.
Unusual means
There are some simple, but at the same time unusual ways to get rid of head pain. Here are some of them:
1. To eliminate unpleasant symptoms, you should lean your temple or forehead against a cold window. Glass neutralizes the electrical charge accumulated in the skin and eliminates discomfort.
2. Immortelle sewn into a pillow will help a child with headaches. When the baby sleeps on it all night, the weed should be brewed. The resulting decoction must be used to wash his hair.
3. A strip of woolen material approximately seven centimeters wide will help relieve discomfort. It is tied to the frontal part, covering the eyebrows.
4. According to the advice of Bulgarian healers, you need to make a “potato cap” for headaches. To do this, grate 1 kg of vegetable and mix the prepared pulp with 50 ml of fresh raw cow's milk. The mixture should sit for half an hour. Next, the drug should be squeezed out and laid out in a 1 cm layer on a piece of thin cotton fabric, which is placed on the head. A woolen hat should be worn on top. A similar procedure is performed for 1.5 hours before bedtime once every two days. According to former patients, after 10 or 12 sessions, even those pains that torment a person for a long period go away forever.
5. Traditional medicine recommends another rather unusual recipe. If a headache occurs, you should heat a spoon in a glass of hot tea and place it against the side of your nose on the side of the unpleasant sensation. As the spoon cools, the procedure is repeated. Next, on the sore side, the earlobe is warmed up in the same way, and then the fingertips are dipped into the tea.