Headache can be experienced at different places in the Head. The location along with associated symptoms and pain character can help you figure out the cause of headaches. Headache in Temples can be throbbing, aching, or griping, depending on the underlying cause or the type of headache.
- Tension Headache
- Migraine
- Hypertension Headache
- TMJ Headache
- New Daily Persistent Headache
- Post Traumatic Headache
- Paroxysmal Hemicrania
- Dehydration Headache
- Caffeine Headache
- Exercise Headache
- Giant cell Arteritis
- Stroke
1- Tension Headache
Tension headache generally causes pain or a sense of pressure around the head that radiates forwards from the occiput (back of the head) to the forehead and in temples.
Symptoms:
- Pain behind the eyes
- Headache in the temples
- Tenderness over the skull vault
- Pain at the occiput
- Mood and sleep disturbances
Causes:
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Depression
Treatment:
Over-the-counter painkillers, Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen, and Aspirin can relieve the pain.
2- Migraine
Two major types of Migraine; migraines with auras (classic) and without auras (common) can occur in one half of the head but can also be experienced at one point in head, in the forehead and temples or even in whole head.
Symptoms:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Irritability and low mood
- Low blood pressure
- Sensitivity to light and sound
- Shimmering, silvery, zigzag lines marching across the visual fields.
- A temporary visual field loss (in some cases).
- Ringing in the ears
Causes:
Migraine begins when over reactive nerve cells send out signals to trigeminal nerve-a nerve that supply sensation to our head and face, activation of this nerve cause release of certain chemicals which cause blood vessels in the scalp of our brain to swell up, a process called vasodilation, this releases excess neurotransmitters that can cause inflammation and sensation of pain.
Treatment:
- Excedrin is a drug used to combat severe migraine headaches
- Analgesics such as Aspirin, Paracetamol, Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
- Antiemetic for nausea like Metoclopramide, Domperidone
- Sumatriptan is administered for severe attacks.
3- Hypertension Headache
Most of the people with hypertension experience Hypertension Headache when the blood pressure is raised and typically causes Headache in Temples, Forehead, and back of the head.
Symptoms:
- Pulsating and throbbing pain in temples
- The feeling of pressure at the back of Head and shoulders
- Nose bleeding
- Facial flushing
- Subconjunctival hemorrhages
- Blurred vision
Causes:
Hypertension can cause increased pressure on the brain and causes the leakiness of blood vessels in the brain. This disrupts the blood-brain barrier and causes a headache.
Treatment:
Hypertension needs to be managed to relieve the Headache.
4- TMJ Headache
Since the TMJ Headache is related to the temporomandibular joint so it is felt on the side where the TMJ is problematic. In some cases, the Headache in Temples is present on both sides of the head.
Symptoms:
- Lockjaw symptoms.
- Cheek pain
- Stiffness and soreness of jaw muscles
- Difficulty in opening and closing mouth
Causes:
- Constant grinding of teeth may lead to a headache.
- The facial muscles or jaw muscles may cause a headache as they become tired out of supporting and stabilizing the jaw in its abnormal position.
Treatment:
TMJ Headache is relieved permanently by treating the underlying condition. Most of the times TMJ disorder can be relieved using a complementary approach.
5- New Daily Persistent Headache
The New Daily Persistent Headache lasts all day with no pain-free episode in between and an abrupt onset with no prior history of such Headaches.
Symptoms:
- Tightening/pressing Headache in Temples
- Constant pain with no pain-free episode
- Characteristic symptoms of a migraine
- Tension-type headache symptoms
- Most patients with NDPH can pinpoint the exact date of the onset
Causes:
- Most of the people develop New Daily Persistent Headache after an episode of nervous system inflammation.
- In some patients with NDPH, Calcitonin Gene-related Peptide was raised, studies suggest that CGRP might have a role to play in inducing New Daily Persistent Headache.
Treatment:
For an acute attack
- Triptans give relief from headaches.
- Nerve blocks can be performed according to the location of the pain.
6- Post Traumatic Headache
Post Traumatic Headache can occur due to mild, moderate, or severe trauma to the brain or even nerves from the spinal cord. Depending on the location of injury or concussion, the pain can be present in temples.
Symptoms:
- Throbbing Headache like migraines
- Dizziness
- Insomnia
- Concentration Problems
- Sensitivity to light and sound.
- Anterograde Amnesia
Causes:
People who undergo a Traumatic Brain Injury develop a Headache very often. This can be due to several causes:
- Concussion
- Brain Hemorrhage
- Imbalance of chemicals in the brain
- Swelling of Brain structures
- Shrinkage of Brain
Treatment:
- During the first few weeks:
- Anti-Inflammatory drugs: Aspirin, Acetaminophen.
- If the headache persists, your doctor would put you on preventive treatment.
7- Paroxysmal Hemicranias
Paroxysmal Hemicrania is a rare headache disorder that belongs to Trigeminal Autonomic Neuralgia and includes sudden onset of debilitating headache on one side of the head and temple.
Symptoms:
- Headache in Temples is throbbing in character
- Resembles a Cluster headache
- Neurological symptoms on the opposite side of the body
- Pain is triggered by movement
- Responsive to indomethacin
Causes:
There is no known cause of Paroxysmal Hemicrania but some possible causes are these:
- Traumatic injury to your neck or head
- Arteriovenous malformation
- Pituitary gland tumor
Treatment:
Paroxysmal Hemicrania responds very well to indomethacin, an NSAID.
Identify your triggers and try to avoid them.
8- Dehydration Headache
Dehydration Headache is mostly seen in dry and hot climates and is typically felt on both sides of the head and temples.
Symptoms:
- Decreased frequency and volume of Urination
- Dark-colored, concentrated Urine.
- Loss of skin elasticity
- Sunken eyes
- High Heart rate, Low blood pressure.
- Lethargy
- Unconsciousness
Causes:
As the amount of liquid leaving the body exceeds water intake, the body becomes dehydrated and cause severe Brain damage. This leads to increase in inflammatory markers that cause Headache.
Treatment:
Oral Rehydration Serum is the best treatment for a Dehydration Headache.
If the Headache persists, an OTC Analgesic can help.
9- Caffeine Headache
Missing on the cup of coffee at the usual time triggers a Caffeine Headache. The brain gets used to the dose of coffee and experiences withdrawal symptoms. Headache is typically felt on both sides of the head and temples, starting from behind the eyes, moving to the forehead, and further into the rest of the head.
Symptoms:
- Low mood and energy levels
- General lethargy
- Lack of concentration
- Anxiety and depression
- Constipation
- Tremors (in severe cases)
Causes:
Caffeine generally constricts the blood vessels of your brain. However, once its effects fade off, the blood vessels tend to dilate, boosting blood flow towards the brain and cause a Headache.
Treatment:
- Over the counter, analgesics to help with the pain.
- Over the counter pain killers, containing caffeine such as Excedrin.
10- Exercise Headache
While you are working out, the muscles of your head, neck, and scalp require more blood to meet the oxygen requirements. This leads to vasodilation in the head leading to an Excercise Headache.
Symptoms:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Lethargy
- Congestion
- Neck stiffness
Causes:
The muscles of your head require more blood to meet its oxygen requirements during exercise. This leads to vasodilation in the blood vessels of the head leading towards a Headache.
Treatment:
Primary Excercise Headache is usually benign and responds to over-the-counter analgesics. Indomethacin is the most commonly prescribed drug. For Secondary Headache, the cause is treated.
11- Giant cell Arteritis
This is an inflammatory condition of blood vessels located at temples. Headache in Temples is just a complication of Giant cell Arteritis.
Symptoms:
- Flu-like symptoms
- Headache on one side of Head involving the forehead, temporal, and occipital regions
- Drastic weight loss
Causes:
- Inflammation of temporal blood vessels can sometimes cause leakage of blood that results in a headache.
Treatment:
The underlying condition that is giant cell arteritis should be managed to get rid of the Headache.
12- Stroke
Abrupt onset of a severe headache may indicate a stroke. This can be located anywhere depending upon the injury. The constant Internal bleeding creates pressure in the brain and causes ischemic necrosis which results in cell death.
Symptoms:
- Numbness on one side of the body.
- Loss of balance and coordination.
- Blurred vision and slurred speech.
Treatment:
It is a medical emergency that needs immediate medical attention.
FAQ
Post-traumatic headache is very common. If it persists and the symptoms only keep on worsening, consult your doctor.
An eye strain headache is associated with the use of computer screen and causes pain behind the eyes, forehead, and temples.
Persistent headaches can make you take over the counter analgesics on a daily basis which can lead to the development of medication overuse headache or chronic daily headache.
Treating the cause of headache is the only option. For an acute attack over the counter analgesics provide relief from pain.
