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The temporal part of the head on the left hurts. Causes of pain in the left temple. Associated symptoms of left temporal pain

Every person has pain in their left ear, temple, back of the head or another part of the head at least once in their life. Periodic attacks of pain are an extremely unpleasant sensation, especially if the pain is severe. This involuntarily makes you wonder: what is the cause of the syndrome, how can you cope with it? Some people know for sure: you get a headache if you are very tired. For others, it is much more difficult to determine the prerequisites for its occurrence, and the sensations themselves are chronic and constantly appear throughout life.

It hurts: how?

The head can hurt in different areas and zones. Features of localization depend on the underlying causes of pain, as well as a number of individual factors and characteristics. As a rule, at the appointment, the doctor first of all clarifies whether the pain is in the right half of the head or the left, then gradually determines the source of the most severe sensations. It is known from statistics that very often patients come to the clinic due to a headache in the left temple. Soreness can spread to the visual and auditory organs, covering the back of the head and crown.

Pain in the left side of the head is a common occurrence, but this does not mean that it is completely safe. It is known that most often the symptom occurs during night rest and early morning, but it may occur at an unpredictable moment. At the appointment, the doctor will ask you to characterize the syndrome, to clarify whether there is throbbing pain in the left temple, sharp, dull, aching, pressing, bursting, stabbing. The most accurate description will help the doctor make a correct preliminary diagnosis.

Causes and consequences

Why can a dull, sharp pain appear in the left temple, coming in attacks or tormenting constantly? The symptom indicates some pathology, and what kind of pathology will have to be found out by passing tests and undergoing instrumental studies chosen by the doctor. Often, pain in the temple indicates caries or breathing problems, nasal congestion. There are no less frequent cases when the root cause of the patient’s complaints is vegetative-vascular dystonia.

Elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) is a pathological condition that is very widespread among ordinary people. Often it is this that causes pain in the left temple. Due to intracranial pressure that exceeds the norm, headaches more often occur in adolescents, young people, and adults who are very tired due to school and work. The higher the intensity of mental activity, the more severe the manifestations of VSD. Everyday stress also plays a role. The attack can be activated by bending over, sudden physical activity, or rising from a horizontal position.

If a headache radiating to the left temple is caused by VSD, the sensations will be dull and pressing. The visual system may be affected: the eye twitches from above. For some, the soreness extends to the jaw.

Migraine

This reason most often provokes pain in the left temple of the head in young and adult people. According to statistics, people over 25 years of age are most susceptible to migraines. A high percentage of patients are young women who have recently given birth to a child. In addition, migraine is observed against the background of hormonal imbalance. The blood vessels dilate, which causes pain.

A migraine attack provokes pain in the temples. It can appear on the left, on the right, or on both sides at the same time. When you press on the sore area, the person’s condition worsens. Accompanying phenomena are fear of light, nausea.

Migraine is a pathological condition that requires correction and treatment. Pain in the left temple is relieved with analgesics. The medications must be selected by a doctor. They are considering drugs that relieve vascular spasms. It is impossible to completely cure migraine, so the main course is aimed at eliminating the symptoms.

Vascular diseases as a cause of pain

If your head, left temple and eye hurt for a long time, the cause may be blood vessel disease. Often this phenomenon is provoked by tachycardia, insufficient functioning of the heart.

Periodic attacks of pain, due to poor health of the circulatory system, spread to the upper jaw. Before choosing a treatment program, it is necessary to determine the root cause, the pathology that provokes the pain. Based on an accurate diagnosis, medications and procedures are prescribed.

Hormonal reasons

Sometimes throbbing pain in the left temple indicates hormonal imbalances. Jumps in the concentration of various active compounds in the blood can affect the functioning of various systems and organs, worsen health, and trigger headaches. Often, problems with hormonal balance provoke pain, described by patients as “shooting.” Identification of symptoms requires clarification of the diagnosis by an endocrinologist.

Allergic and infectious causes

Sometimes the left temple not only hurts, but it seems to be bursting, and it seems as if the head is swollen. Similar sensations can bother the eye. Symptoms may indicate immune problems. Secondary manifestations usually include nasal congestion and pulsation inside this respiratory organ.

With a weak immune system, there is a high probability of infection by bacteria, viruses, and the start of an infectious process. Head pain often accompanies sinusitis and allergies. To determine the root cause, it is necessary to donate blood and samples of other tissues and fluids for laboratory testing. Based on the results of the tests, the optimal course of treatment is selected.

Poisoning

When figuring out why the left temple hurts, you should analyze the last few days: how the diet changed, what drugs were taken, what harmful conditions the person was in. Perhaps soreness indicates poisoning. Intoxication often causes pain in the temple on the left and cheekbone on the same side of the head. If you have acute and strong sensations that do not go away for hours, you should consult a doctor.

An additional symptom of acute intoxication is a feeling of fullness in the head. When you touch the sore area, it feels as if a bruise has formed there. The patient feels slightly nauseous and sometimes vomits. The head is dizzy, the person feels weak. In some cases, this indicates influenza and other diseases, sometimes - to poisoning of a different nature.

Arteritis

The term usually refers to inflammatory processes localized in the cerebral arteries. Finding out why the left temple hurts, the doctor may suspect just such a pathological condition. It is quite dangerous, without adequate qualified help there is a possibility of death. In areas of inflammation, the arterial walls become thinner and weaken. As the disease progresses, the likelihood of disruption of the integrity of the arterial walls increases, which will cause cerebral hemorrhage.

If you have persistently disturbing pain in your left temple, you should consult a doctor. Additional phenomena indicate arteritis: the spread of sensation to the forehead, to the cheekbone on the left, their activation when pressing on the temple. If arteritis is confirmed, treatment begins immediately.

Stroke

Perhaps this reason is one of the most terrible, dangerous, frightening. It’s not surprising: if the left temple hurts due to a stroke, the condition has gone quite far. People often call a stroke an apoplexy. This condition is significantly more dangerous than all those described above, and it develops very, very quickly. There are also cases known in medical statistics when the ambulance did not have time to reach the patient, despite timely treatment and departure - the progress of the pathology can be so active.

Pain in the temporal region on the left side may indicate a stroke if other accompanying signs of this pathological condition are observed. Some people have slurred speech, others lose consciousness. During a stroke, the skin burns, you feel dizzy, your vision blurs, this condition is activated if you turn around or try to bend over. The toes go numb, the face becomes asymmetrical, the patient cannot smile, is unable to pronounce his name or raise his arms. If you have any of these symptoms or several, you should immediately contact an ambulance.

Osteochondrosis

Sometimes for this reason the left temple hurts, sometimes the right one, but pain is also possible in any other part of the head. The pain becomes most severe if you put pressure on the neck and move this part of the spine. Often the symptoms are especially severe if you have a cold in the neck.

The most modern medications and hardware help get rid of osteochondrosis. True, you will have to strictly follow all the doctor’s recommendations, switch to proper nutrition and practice neck exercises. You will have to give up salt, protect your neck from drafts and take a number of other measures to maintain health.

Neoplasm

Another terrible reason, in some cases explaining why the left temple hurts, is a tumor. Possible benign formation or atypical degenerated cells. In any of the options, the gradual growth of the area becomes the cause of nagging pain in the head. The tumor compresses nerve fibers and interferes with the passage of blood vessels. All this affects the general condition of the patient and provokes pain. Most often it hurts above the temple, spreading to the forehead.

Nutrition and pain

In some cases, the cause of pain in the left temple can be explained by poor nutrition. If the body does not receive the required amount of irreplaceable, useful, important components, vitamins, and acids from food, it can signal a problem with unpleasant sensations. Data about the lack are sent to the brain, processed and expressed in pain felt by a person. The nature of the sensations can be very different. People often complain of acute pain in the left temple.

Causes and phenomena

In some cases, pain in the left half of the head, especially pronounced in the temporal region, can be explained by cerebral atherosclerosis. The disease is quite serious and dangerous and requires the immediate administration of an adequate therapeutic course.

Alcohol poisoning can cause headaches. After a stormy evening or night, many suffer in the morning from what has become a familiar hangover. Sometimes such pain is strong enough to reduce a person’s ability to work for the entire day to zero. More severe cases are also known in medicine, when alcohol poisoning caused coma and even death.

Pain in the left temple may be due to high blood pressure. Hypertension is a dangerous chronic pathological condition that requires medication correction and lifestyle changes. In some cases, headaches are associated with psychogenic causes. Pain in the temple can be caused by fasciculata or problems with the functionality of the nerve endings of the spinal cord.

How to get rid?

To choose the right remedy or method for getting rid of headaches, you should consult a qualified doctor. Only by determining the exact root cause of the phenomenon can you successfully find a remedy for pain. Self-treatment or ignoring a symptom will not lead to anything good, just like using painkillers without the supervision of a doctor - this will negatively affect the functioning of internal systems and organs, and sooner or later will provoke additional negative consequences.

A responsible approach to your health involves starting treatment for headaches by contacting a therapist. The doctor will collect the patient’s complaints, make a presumptive diagnosis and refer him for tests and examination to a more specialized specialist. The therapist knows that sometimes pain indicates serious illnesses, and can suspect which of them is characteristic of the case (if there are such risks). You should not neglect to consult a doctor in a timely manner, especially in case of severe and sharp pain: perhaps the sensations signal a mortal danger.

What to prepare for?

To clarify the diagnosis, you will probably have to undergo ultrasound, MRI and Doppleroscopy to clarify the condition of the heart and vascular system. Treatment will be entrusted to an endocrinologist, neurologist, cardiologist or other specialist, based on the information obtained during the tests. If the disease is severe, at an acute stage, hospitalization is possible. If the pathology is quite harmless, treatment falls on the therapist.

If the disease is relatively safe, treatment can be practiced at home, regularly visiting a specialist to monitor the success of the process. Analgesics are used to relieve attacks of pain. The doctor will tell you which ones are safe and effective in a particular case at your appointment.

Almost every person has experienced temple pain. Many people do not consider it necessary to see a doctor even if they experience regular and severe discomfort, but such a symptom may indicate serious morphological changes in the cardiovascular system or brain. Find out why your temple hurts when pressed and how to properly deal with this painful sensation.

What is temple pain

According to statistics, almost 70% of people experience such unpleasant sensations periodically or constantly. The sensation of pain in the temple is acute, pulsating and indicates problems with blood vessels, blood pressure and cerebral circulatory disorders. When the temple hurts when pressed, a person may additionally note the following symptoms:

  • nasal congestion;
  • dizziness;
  • photophobia;
  • fatigue;
  • sleep disorders;
  • increased irritability;

Causes

The main cause of pain in the temples is a violation of the tone of the wall of cerebral vessels. In people under the age of 35, pain occurs with vegetative diseases, migraines or increased intracranial pressure. In elderly patients with such complaints, it is necessary to exclude arterial hypertension and serious pathological changes in the brain of the atherosclerotic type. If, with pain in the temple, the patient feels heaviness in the occipital region, this may indicate intoxication of the body.

So, the main causes of discomfort are considered to be:

  • atherosclerosis;
  • flu;
  • alcoholic delirium;
  • infectious sore throat;
  • stroke;
  • cerebral angiodystonia;
  • arterial hypertension;
  • temporal arteritis;
  • migraine;
  • cluster pain;
  • neuralgia;
  • inflammation of the trigeminal nerve;
  • osteochondrosis of the cervical spine;
  • osteoarthritis;
  • hormonal disorders during menopause or pregnancy;
  • increased intracranial pressure;
  • vegetative-vascular dystonia.

In some cases, the cause of a headache localized in the temple may be mental or emotional stress, as well as stress, regular lack of sleep, or taking certain medications. In addition, eating certain foods can provoke discomfort in the temple: spicy Asian dishes, excessively salty foods (especially with a large amount of glutamate), fast food, smoked meats.

When pressed from the left side

Severe pain in the left temple is usually caused by various reasons: inflammatory diseases of a bacterial or viral nature, allergic reactions. They contribute to the development of pressing, dull and constant pain. Discomfort appears not only in the left temporal region, but also in the forehead, cheeks, and sometimes the auricle. If the pathological condition is accompanied by an increase in body temperature, the patient notes congestion or noise in the ears.

If there is pressure on the left temple not constantly, but periodically, mainly in the late afternoon, after a school or work day, then you should think about the psychogenic nature of the disease. In this case, it is necessary to increase the duration of sleep, the duration of walks in the fresh air, and eliminate the consumption of strong coffee and alcohol. Often, if the left temple hurts when pressed, inflammatory diseases of the middle ear or nasopharynx are detected. Sometimes this condition is accompanied by unpleasant sensations in the eyes.

On the right side

Pain in the right temple appears when the tone of the vascular wall of the arteries is disturbed. In addition, sometimes they indicate the presence of autonomic dysfunction, high blood pressure, and atherosclerotic lesions. Additional symptoms include heaviness in the head, clouding of consciousness, loss of concentration and attention. If the right temple hurts severely, then this indicates intoxication of the body due to infectious diseases, influenza, pneumonia.

Pain syndrome localized to the right indicates migraine and is accompanied by photophobia, nausea, loss of performance, sleep disturbances and weakness. Often excruciating pulsating painful sensations occur with hormonal disorders, inflammation of the walls of the temporal vessels, traumatic brain injuries and pathologies of the cranial nerves.

What to do if your temple hurts

In order to alleviate your condition, you need to consult a neurologist who will make prescriptions based on the complex of symptoms and causes of the disease. The following activities will help reduce temple pain:

  • taking medications;
  • performing acupressure self-massage;
  • use of folk remedies;
  • changing sleep and rest patterns;
  • regulation of diet.

Drugs

Medicines that are indicated for use by patients must have anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and analgesic effects. Pharmacological agents should reduce the manifestations of accompanying symptoms: nausea, vomiting, weakness, drowsiness, etc. The following medications are used to relieve pain in the temples:

  1. Analgin. A medicine that contains metamizole sodium. It has a powerful anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect, helps relieve attacks of severe headaches of various origins. The advantage of the medication is its low cost, and the disadvantage is its negative effect on liver cells.
  2. Citramon. Analgesic, blood thinning drug based on caffeine and acetylsalicylic acid. This medication improves brain microcirculation, increases blood pressure, and lowers body temperature. The advantage of the medication is its low cost and versatility of use, but the disadvantage is a large number of contraindications for use.
  3. Ibuprofen. A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug from the group of drugs based on propionic acid. Has an analgesic and antipyretic effect. Recommended for use in cases of cervical osteochondrosis and inflammation of the walls of blood vessels. The advantage of the drug is its effectiveness and low cost, and the disadvantage is its negative effect on the kidneys.
  4. Aspirin. Pharmacological agent based on acetylsalicylic acid. The medication improves microcirculation in brain tissue, thins the blood, due to inhibition of the synthesis of prostaglandins and the enzyme cyclooxygenase. The advantage of the drug is its powerful pharmacological effect, and the disadvantage is a large number of contraindications for use.
  5. Has A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that has a strong analgesic, vasodilator and antispasmodic effect. The active ingredient of the drug is ibuprofen. The advantage of this pharmaceutical product is the versatility of its use for treatment, and the disadvantages are high cost, hepatotoxic effect and negative effects on the kidneys.
  6. Valemidin. Pharmacological product based on extracts of medicinal herbs (valerian, motherwort, peppermint) and diphenhydramine. The medication has an antispasmodic, sedative effect and is prescribed for the treatment and prevention of neuroses, vegetative-vascular dystonia, stress and sleep disorders. The advantage of the pharmacological drug is its natural composition, and the disadvantage is the frequent development of allergic reactions with uncontrolled use of the drug.
  7. Ibuklin. Antipyretic, analgesic pharmacological agent. Stimulates the natural production of endogenous interferon. It is prescribed mainly for viral lesions of the ENT organs (tonsillitis, otitis, pharyngitis, etc.). The advantage of the drug is its wide range of uses, and the disadvantage is its toxic effect on the liver and kidneys.
  8. No-shpa. Analgesic, antispasmodic medication. The active substance of this drug is drotaverine hydrochloride. The drug is effective for pathologies of the vascular wall, arterial hypertension and cerebrovascular accidents. The advantages of No-shpa are considered to be fast action, accessibility and versatility of use, and the disadvantages are a negative effect on liver tissue and a high risk of developing an allergic reaction.

Remember that any pharmacological drugs have their contraindications for use; using any tablets without the advice of a specialist can harm your health and life. What remedy will be prescribed for pain in the temples directly depends on the cause of its development, the presence of concomitant diseases and the need to use other medications.

Pain in temples– this is one of the most common complaints that patients talk about when contacting a neurologist. Statistics show that more than 70% of the adult population experience chronic or episodic headache in the temples. However, this figure does not reflect the current state of affairs, since many patients do not want to see specialists and self-medicate.

Pain in the temples is not an independent disease, but only a manifestation of some pathology. Therefore, in order not only to eliminate these painful sensations, but to cure their cause, it is necessary to establish an accurate diagnosis.

Painful sensations in the temple area can be the result of many reasons, including serious diseases:

  • disturbance of cerebral vascular tone;
  • autonomic dysfunctions;
  • increased intracranial pressure;
  • increased blood pressure;
  • vascular atherosclerosis;
  • temporal arteritis;
  • migraine and cluster pain;
  • trigeminal neuralgia;
  • pathology of the temporomandibular joint;
  • head injuries;
  • infectious diseases;
  • intoxication of the body;
  • muscle strain;
  • mental disorders;
  • formation of the menstrual cycle and menopause;
  • consumption of certain foods.

Headache in the temples due to impaired cerebral vascular tone (cerebral angiodystonia)

Pain in the temples can be caused by disorders in both arterial and venous vessels. In addition to pain, this pathology is characterized by symptoms such as:
  • numbness of fingers;
  • blood pressure surges;
  • memory impairment;
  • decreased sense of smell;
  • weakness in the limbs;
  • pain in other areas of the head, as well as in the back;

Headaches in the temples due to impaired cerebral vascular tone can occur at any time of the day. Most often they are dull, aching and aching in nature.

In some cases, these patients experience irregular depressive episodes. They may be accompanied by difficulty breathing, aches throughout the body, and loss of control over one’s emotional state. In addition, studies have revealed that patients with cerebral angiodystonia are prone to frequent allergies and the occurrence of gastrointestinal pathologies.

Pain in the temples with autonomic dysfunctions

Autonomic dysfunctions or vegetative-vascular dystonias are disorders of the automatically performed functions of our body. The list of them is very large - which means that manifestations of VSD can affect almost all organs and systems of the body.

Here are the most common syndromes accompanying the disease vegetative-vascular dystonia:
Cardiovascular (cardiovascular) syndrome. It manifests itself with the following symptoms:

  • heart rhythm disturbances (increasing or slowing down, as well as sensations of interruptions in the functioning of the heart);
  • variability of blood pressure;
  • pronounced vascular reactions (marbling or pallor of the skin, chilliness and coldness of the feet and hands);
  • cardialgic syndrome - aching, stabbing or throbbing pain or discomfort in the heart area (unlike angina pectoris, these pains are not associated with physical activity and do not stop after taking nitroglycerin);
  • sudden heartbeats.
Hyperventilation syndrome and respiratory disorders. Their symptoms are:
  • rapid breathing;
  • feeling of lack of air;
  • feeling of incompleteness or difficulty breathing.
In this case, there is a lack or excess of carbon dioxide in the blood, which leads to depression of the respiratory center in the brain. This may result in the development of muscle spasms, sensory disturbances around the mouth, feet and hands, as well as dizziness.

Disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. The most common is irritable bowel syndrome, which has the following symptoms:

  • spasmodic and aching pain in the lower abdomen;
  • frequent urge to defecate;
  • stool instability.
In addition, digestive system disorders may include:
  • appetite disorders;
  • the appearance of nausea and vomiting;
  • swallowing disorders;
  • feeling of pain and discomfort in the pit of the stomach;
  • heartburn, flatulence and constipation.
Syndrome of mental and neurotic disorders, including:
  • sleep disorders;
  • neurotic disorders;
  • hand trembling;
  • feeling of inner trembling;
  • fear of heart pathologies (cardiophobia);
  • emotional instability;
  • high level of anxiety;
  • tearfulness;
  • excessive concern for health (hypochondria).
Cerebrovascular syndrome. It is associated with the appearance of headaches in the temples, as well as dizziness, noise in the ears and head, and a tendency to faint.

Sweating disorders, which, as a rule, occur in the form of increased sweating (hyperhidrosis) of the soles and palms.

Thermoregulation disorders, manifested in a persistent but slight increase in temperature, a feeling of heat in the face or chills.

Urinary system disorders in the form of cystalgia - frequent painful urination without signs of pathologies of the urinary system. In some cases, there may be difficulty urinating, which contributes to the development of urolithiasis.

Syndrome of adaptation disorders (asthenic syndrome) characterized by the following symptoms:

  • fast fatiguability ;
  • weakness;
  • intolerance to physical and mental stress;
  • weather dependence;
  • swelling of tissues.
Sexual disorders, which are manifested by impaired erections and ejaculations in men, and anorgasmia and vaginismus in women. Sexual desire may be maintained or slightly reduced.

Pain in the head in the temples with increased intracranial pressure

Intracranial pressure is the pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid located inside the skull (in the ventricles of the brain, cavities of the dura mater, and also in the spaces between the membranes of the brain).

Clinically, increased intracranial pressure manifests itself:

  • headache in the temples and other areas of the skull;
  • nausea and vomiting;
  • often forced position of the head;
  • long-term visual impairment.
With a significant increase in intracranial pressure, disturbances of consciousness and seizures may occur. When brain structures are damaged and compressed, there is a slowdown in heart rate, breathing problems, decreased or absent pupillary response to light, and an increase in blood pressure.

Pain in the temples with increased blood pressure

For patients in the older age group, headaches in the temples are often an indicator of high blood pressure and the development of arterial hypertension.

In such cases, patients also complain of a feeling of heaviness in the head, and pain in the temporal or occipital region has a pressing or pulsating character. The occurrence of these pain sensations is usually associated with changes in weather, mental and physical fatigue, or emotional outbursts.

In addition to pain in the temples, patients with high blood pressure also complain of:

  • pain in the heart area;
  • general weakness;
  • noise in ears;
  • sleep disorders;

Pain in the left and right temple with atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis of blood vessels is the deposition of cholesterol plaques on their inner wall, which over time begin to narrow the lumen of the vessel, thereby complicating the blood circulation process.

Headache in the temple with atherosclerosis is most often observed if the vessels of the brain are affected by this disease. In addition to pain, cerebral atherosclerosis is manifested by deterioration of its functions, weakening of memory, decreased intellectual abilities and changes in the psyche.

Common symptoms of atherosclerosis also include:

  • frequent coldness of the extremities;
  • often their pronounced pallor;
  • frequent heart problems;
  • blood supply disorders;
  • decreased concentration;
  • irritability and fatigue.
Patients with high blood pressure, as well as those suffering from diabetes mellitus and kidney pathologies are more susceptible to atherosclerosis than others.

Pain in the head and temples with temporal arteritis

This disease is characterized by inflammation of the membranes of the carotid and temporal arteries. This pathology occurs almost exclusively in elderly people (after 50 years).

Temporal arteritis manifests itself as strong, pronounced pain of a pulsating nature at the location of the affected vessels. The disease begins acutely, with general malaise, fever, insomnia and headache. Respiratory infections often precede the onset of the disease.

Pain in the temples worsens at night and in the afternoon, as well as when talking and chewing. Sharp pain is noted when palpating the affected areas. You can also feel by touch the compaction of the parietal and temporal arteries, and the formation of nodules on the scalp.

Sometimes, with temporal arteritis, damage to the organs of vision also occurs. It is manifested by diplopia, decreased visual acuity up to blindness, iritis, iridocyclitis, conjunctivitis, etc. This is due to associated damage to the ocular vessels.

Severe pain in the temples with migraines and cluster pain

Quite common diseases in which headaches in the temples are observed are migraine and cluster pain. The most common and characteristic symptom These pathologies are regular or episodic severe, painful attacks of headaches. There is no connection between pain and serious head injuries, strokes, brain tumors, increased or decreased blood pressure, attacks of glaucoma, or increased intracranial pressure.

Migraine
Migraine attacks, in addition to headaches, are characterized by the following manifestations:

  • photophobia, increased sensitivity to bright light (photophobia);
  • sound phobia, increased sensitivity to loud sounds (phonophobia and hyperacusis);
  • increased sensitivity and aversion to smells (hyperosmia);
  • nausea, sometimes vomiting;
  • loss of spatial orientation;
  • dizziness;
  • severe irritability or depressed, depressed mood;
  • excitement or, conversely, lethargy and drowsiness.
With a migraine, the headache usually occurs in only one side of the head, and can spread to the upper jaw, eye and neck. Painful sensations have a constant pulsating character, and intensify with the action of any irritants. The average duration of a migraine attack ranges from half an hour to several hours. Sometimes there are severe migraine attacks that drag on for several days and are called status migraine.

Migraines can be triggered by sleep disturbances, chronic lack of sleep, and severe overwork. Some neurologists associate the occurrence of such throbbing pain in the temples with an unhealthy diet, which includes an excess of sweet, salty and spicy foods.

Cluster pain
Cluster pain occurs in series (or clusters, which gives the syndrome its name) of attacks several times a day, over a period of weeks and sometimes months. Then the attacks suddenly stop and are not observed for months, or even years. The duration of such an attack is usually from 15 minutes to 1 hour. And the strength of the pain with it is so great that even suicidal attempts have been noted in order to get rid of the pain.

The attack usually begins with a stuffy ear on one side of the head. Then there is a sharp pain in the temple and behind the eye. There is lacrimation, redness of the eye due to burst blood vessels, blockage of the nasal cavity, increased sweating, and a rush of blood to the face. The pain is often seasonal: the most dangerous seasons are spring and autumn. Such cluster pains occur most often in men of large build who abuse smoking.

Headache in the temple area with trigeminal neuralgia

Damage to the nerve fibers of the skull can also provoke headaches, including in the temples. A striking example of such a condition is trigeminal neuralgia, which mainly affects people over 40 years of age. This is a chronic disease that manifests itself in attacks of intense, shooting pain. These attacks are very short-lived - from a few seconds to two minutes. The cause of pain is compression of the trigeminal nerve.

During an attack, the patient freezes, afraid to increase the pain with movement, and less often, begins to rub his cheek and temple. Painful sensations often cause a spasm of the facial muscles on the affected side - a painful tic occurs. An attack of pain occurs spontaneously, or can be provoked by talking, chewing, washing, shaving.

In addition, pain may spread to the ears, lips, eyes, nose, cheeks, scalp and forehead, teeth and/or jaw, and sometimes even the left index finger.

Pain in the temple area with pathologies of the temporomandibular joint

Headache in the temples is one of the most common signs of diseases of the temporomandibular joint. With such pathologies, pain is usually recorded in the temples and back of the head, and sometimes even in the shoulders and shoulder blades. In addition, teeth grinding and jaw clenching are symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorders. This causes muscle tension, which causes headaches.

Pain in the temple can also occur when the disc of the temporomandibular joint is displaced. In this case, pain also radiates to the forehead or neck. Often these headaches are so severe that they are mistaken for migraine attacks or brain pathology.

Pain in the temples due to head injuries

Of course, pain will accompany head injuries in the temple area due to falls, blows, etc. Acute injury is quite easy to diagnose, but you need to remember that pain in the temples can also be a delayed symptom, a consequence of damage to bone tissue or brain.

Pain in the head and temples due to infectious lesions

One of the symptoms of various infectious diseases, including influenza infections or sore throats, may be pain in the temples. But usually it is not the leading sign of such a disease. Main symptoms:
  • general weakness and lethargy;
  • increased body temperature;

Headaches in the temple area due to poisoning

Pain in the temples can be observed with various intoxications of the body. It may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, stool disorders, etc. The most common example is fusel oil poisoning, which occurs as a result of abuse of alcoholic beverages.

Pain in the temples when overexerting

Muscle tension pain is a condition in which the head begins to ache after prolonged stress, for example, a hard day at work. The pain is usually aching, as if the head is being squeezed by a hoop or a too-tight headdress. Pain from muscle tension is characterized by symmetry of pain sensations.

This condition can cause increased tone of the facial, neck and shoulder muscles. Therefore, this symptom is most often observed in office workers who spend long working days sitting in an uncomfortable position in front of a monitor. Increased muscle tone causes difficulty in their blood supply, and the accumulation of substances in them that provoke inflammatory reactions. Therefore, the headache may continue to hurt for several hours even after eliminating the factor that caused the pain.

Mental causes of headaches in the temples

A headache may have a mental rather than a physical origin - this is the so-called psychogenic pain. In this case, aching, dull painful sensations that do not have a clear localization appear in the temples. They are accompanied by irritability and the rapid onset of fatigue, and sometimes a tendency to hysteria and tearfulness. Patients also experience a feeling of anxiety, a feeling of general discomfort and an inability to concentrate.

Frequent headaches in the temples associated with the menstrual cycle and menopause

In women, headaches in the temples may be associated with the menstrual cycle. For the first time, such painful sensations make themselves felt during puberty, which is characterized by hormonal instability. At this age they are most pronounced. During pregnancy, pain in the temples decreases, and after childbirth such attacks may disappear forever.

Age-related hormonal changes, for example, menopause, can also cause headaches in the temples in women.

Headache in the right and left temples associated with food

Pain in the temples can be caused by eating certain categories of foods. This symptom most often occurs when consuming foods and drinks containing monosodium glutamate. This is a flavoring additive that ends up in many products during processing. The headache, which appears approximately 15-30 minutes after eating such food, is pulsating and dull, and is localized mainly in the temples and forehead.

In addition, monosodium glutamate may cause:

  • pathological sweating;
  • shortness of breath;
  • reflex tension of the jaw and facial muscles.
Products that contain increased amounts of monosodium glutamate are:
  • dry and canned soup semi-finished products;
  • some seasonings and spices;
  • toasted nut kernels;
  • products obtained by processing meat;
  • many factory-made sauces and gravies;
  • turkey meat cooked in its own juices;
  • some varieties of chips and other potato snacks.


Modern medicine is also familiar with the so-called “hot dog” headache. Throbbing pain in the temples occurs approximately 30 minutes after eating a meal rich in nitrites.

In addition to hot dogs themselves, increased amounts of nitrites also contain:

  • salted meat products (corned beef);
  • canned ham products;
  • Bolognese sausage and salami;
  • bacon;
  • smoked fish.
One of the strong catalysts for pain in the temples is chocolate products. It can be caused by the caffeine it contains. In addition, another compound in chocolate, finylethylamine, causes constriction of blood vessels, which, in turn, provokes the development of pain.

What to do if you have pain in your temples?

Temporal headaches have many negative consequences. Constant pain in the temples can cause vision and hearing problems. The emergence of mental disorders is possible. Severe and prolonged attacks, especially those associated with circulatory disorders, can lead to serious diseases such as cerebral strokes. Regular pain in the temples provokes disturbances in the emotional status of a person who is constantly in an irritated and hot-tempered state, which has an extremely negative effect on the nervous system.

Experts say that headache is often one of the main factors that significantly reduces the quality of life. That is why you should not endure a headache - it must be eliminated by establishing the correct cause!

Which doctor should I contact for pain in my temples?

Pain in the temples is caused by various diseases, so if this symptom appears, you should consult doctors of various specialties. In each case, you should contact a doctor whose competence includes the diagnosis and treatment of the pathology that allegedly caused pain in the temples. And to assume the causal pathology of pain in the temples, you need to analyze all the other symptoms a person has. Thus, it is obvious that the choice of a specialist for pain in the temples is determined by the accompanying symptoms. Below we will indicate which doctors should be contacted if pain in the temples is combined with other symptoms.

If pain in the temples is combined with nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, stool upset, loss of orientation in space, muscle paralysis and other numerous incomprehensible symptoms, then you should immediately call an ambulance, as poisoning is suspected.

If there are attacks of dull aching or aching pain in the temples in combination with pain in other parts of the head, with insomnia, numbness of the fingers, surges in blood pressure, dizziness, deterioration of memory and sense of smell (smell), tinnitus, weakness in the arms and legs and pain in the back, then cerebral angiodystonia is suspected. In this case, you must contact neurologist (make an appointment) or cardiologist (make an appointment). You can also contact therapist (make an appointment). This possibility of treatment by doctors of different specialties is due to the fact that cerebral angiodystonia is a nervous disease, but since it is caused by a violation of vascular tone, a cardiologist and therapist can also diagnose and treat it.

If the disease manifests itself as periodic crises, during which a person is bothered by symptoms from various organs, such as slow or rapid heartbeat, decreased or increased blood pressure, shortness of breath, a feeling of lack of air, discomfort or pain in the heart area, pale or marbled skin coloring, cold hands or feet, muscle spasms, dizziness, cramping abdominal pain, alternating diarrhea and constipation, flatulence, fainting, sleep disturbances, tearfulness, anxiety, trembling limbs, tinnitus, sweating, weather dependence, joint pain, sexual dysfunction etc., then vegetative-vascular dystonia is suspected, and in this case it is necessary to consult a neurologist.

When pain is recorded in the temples and other parts of the head, combined with nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, possibly convulsions, fainting, difficulty breathing, slow heartbeat, increased blood pressure, then increased intracranial pressure is suspected. In this case, you need to contact a neurologist, cardiologist or therapist. In the case of increased intracranial pressure, the situation is the same as with cerebral angiodystonia, that is, the pathology relates to nervous diseases, but is provoked by vascular disorders, and therefore, regarding it, you can contact not only a neurologist, but also specialists whose competence includes diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the cardiovascular system, that is, to a cardiologist or therapist.

If periodic headaches in the temple are combined with weakening of memory, attention, deterioration of intellectual function, mental changes, heart problems, pallor of the skin of the extremities, then atherosclerosis of the cerebral vessels is suspected, and in this case it is necessary to consult a neurologist or cardiologist. In their absence, you can contact a therapist.

When periodic pain in the temples is combined with pain in the back of the head of a pressing or throbbing nature, a feeling of heaviness in the head, pain in the heart, weakness, tinnitus, sleep disturbance, shortness of breath, then an increase in blood pressure is suspected, and in this case it is necessary to consult a doctor -cardiologist or therapist.

If there are periodic paroxysmal severe throbbing pains in the temple, aggravated by talking and chewing, combined with malaise, elevated body temperature, insomnia, possibly decreased visual acuity, double vision, inflammation of the eyes, then temporal arteritis is suspected, and in this case it is necessary to contact To rheumatologist (make an appointment), since the disease belongs to systemic vasculitis, and not to pathologies of the cardiovascular system.

When a person suffers from periodic attacks of severe headache of varying duration (from minutes to hours), which is localized in the temples, forehead, eyes, upper jaw, but only on one side (right or left), combined with intolerance to bright light, loud sound, strong odors, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, ear congestion, irritability, agitation or lethargy, then a migraine or cluster pain is suspected, and in this case it is necessary to consult a neurologist.

When a headache in the temples appears in short attacks, has a shooting, burning character, possibly spreads to the ear, lip, eyes, nose, cheeks, jaw, is combined with a muscular tic of the face on the side of the pain, provoked by talking, chewing, shaving or washing too hot /cold water, then trigeminal neuralgia is suspected, and in this case it is necessary to consult a neurologist.

If very severe pain in the temples is combined with pain in the back of the head, grinding of teeth, strong clenching of the jaws, radiates to the neck, forehead, shoulders and sometimes shoulder blades, appears mainly at night, then a disease of the temporomandibular joint is suspected, and in this case it is necessary to contact dentist (make an appointment), maxillofacial surgeon (make an appointment) or traumatologist-orthopedist (make an appointment).

If pain in the temples occurs against the background of high body temperature, runny nose, cough, pain and sore throat, sneezing, aches in muscles and joints, general weakness and malaise, then flu or acute respiratory infection is suspected. In this case, you need to contact a general practitioner.

If aching, dull pain is felt in the temples, combined with irritability, tearfulness, tearfulness, fatigue, anxiety, and inability to concentrate, then a psychogenic headache is suspected. In this case, you must contact psychiatrist (make an appointment) or psychologist (sign up).

If a woman suffers from headaches in the temples during periods of hormonal changes in the body (the beginning of menstruation, menopause, pregnancy, etc.), then she needs to contact gynecologist (make an appointment).

If pain in the temples appears when eating certain foods, then you should consult a therapist, although this is not caused by a disease.

What tests and examinations can a doctor prescribe for pain in the temples?

Pain in the temples is provoked by various pathologies, and therefore, when this symptom appears, the doctor can prescribe a variety of tests and examinations necessary to diagnose the existing disease. Accordingly, first, the doctor, based on all the symptoms a person has (in addition to pain in the temples), makes a presumptive diagnosis, and only after that prescribes certain tests and examinations necessary to identify and confirm the alleged pathology. This means that in each case, the list of tests and examinations that the doctor will prescribe for pain in the temples will be determined by the accompanying symptoms. Below we will indicate what examinations a doctor may prescribe for pain in the temples, depending on other symptoms a person has.

When attacks of dull, aching or aching pain appear in the temples, which are combined with pain in other parts of the head, with insomnia, numbness of the fingers, surges in blood pressure, dizziness, deterioration of memory and sense of smell (smell), tinnitus, weakness in the arms and legs and back pain - the doctor suspects cerebral angiodystonia, and to diagnose it prescribes rheoencephalography (sign up), electroencephalography (sign up), Dopplerography of blood vessels (make an appointment) And electrocardiogram (sign up). For a more detailed assessment of vascular tone and blood flow, magnetic resonance imaging may be prescribed angiography (sign up).

If a person with some frequency experiences crises (attacks) with headaches in the temple and other completely varied symptoms from any organs in any combination, such as rapid or rare heartbeat, low or high blood pressure, shortness of breath, a feeling of lack of air, pain or discomfort in the heart area, pale or marbled skin coloring, cold extremities, spastic pain in the muscles and abdomen, dizziness, alternating diarrhea and constipation, flatulence, fainting, sleep disturbances, tearfulness, anxiety, trembling of the limbs, tinnitus, sweating, weather dependence , joint pain, sexual dysfunction, then the doctor suspects vegetative-vascular dystonia, and to diagnose it prescribes the following examinations:

  • General blood test (sign up);
  • General urine analysis ;
  • Biochemical blood test (sign up);
  • Electroencephalography;
  • Rheoencephalography;
  • Dopplerography of the vessels of the head (sign up);
  • Electrocardiogram;
  • Functional tests (sign up) (orthostatic (sign up), with various medications).
The doctor must prescribe all of the above examinations to diagnose vegetative-vascular dystonia, since they are the ones that make it possible to identify imbalances in the sympathetic and parasympathetic parts of the autonomic nervous system. Functional tests, electroencephalography, Dopplerography and electrocardiography are especially important. In addition, to exclude diseases of the internal organs for which a person has symptoms, the doctor may prescribe appropriate examinations. For example, for abdominal pain it is prescribed Ultrasound of the abdominal organs (make an appointment), gastroscopy (make an appointment), colonoscopy (make an appointment) etc.

If there is pain simultaneously in the temples and other parts of the head, which is combined with nausea, vomiting, visual disturbances, sometimes fainting, convulsions, breathing problems, slow heartbeat, high blood pressure, then the doctor suspects increased intracranial pressure. Unfortunately, it is impossible to measure intracranial pressure in order to make an accurate diagnosis, so the doctor prescribes various studies that allow indirect signs to understand whether intracranial hypertension occurs. Thus, nowadays it is usually prescribed fundus examination (make an appointment), X-ray of the skull (sign up) And echoencephalography (sign up). To identify possible causes of increased intracranial pressure, your doctor may prescribe magnetic resonance imaging (sign up) or multispiral computed tomography of the brain (make an appointment), Dopplerography of the blood vessels of the neck (sign up) and head, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, biochemical blood analysis and determination of thyroid hormone levels in the blood (sign up) And adrenal glands (sign up). If the results of a tomography or x-ray reveal a neoplasm, then a biopsy (sign up) with histological examination.

When pain in the temple occurs periodically, combined with deterioration of memory, attention, intellectual abilities, mental disorders, heart problems, pale skin of the arms and legs, the doctor suspects atherosclerosis of the cerebral vessels, and in this case prescribes the following tests and examinations:

  • Biochemical blood test (cholesterol, high and low density lipoproteins, triglycerides, etc.);
  • Neurological tests and examination (a person cannot raise his eyes up, when moving his eyes to the right or left, the pupils tremble, reflexes are sluggish, outstretched fingers tremble, coordination of movements is impaired);
  • Fundus examination ( ophthalmoscopy (sign up));
  • Rheoencephalography;
  • Electroencephalography;
  • Dopplerography of head vessels;
  • Duplex scanning of head vessels;
  • Magnetic resonance angiography of head vessels;
  • Tomography (computer or magnetic resonance imaging) of the brain.
In the diagnosis of cerebral atherosclerosis, a decisive role is played by a neurological examination, biochemical blood test and ophthalmoscopy, as they reveal undoubted signs of damage to the cerebral vessels. The state of blood flow in the vessels of the brain is assessed using rheoencephalography, Dopplerography (sign up), duplex scanning or magnetic resonance angiography. Moreover, the doctor usually prescribes rheoencephalography in combination with some other study in order to obtain the most complete data on the state of blood flow in the structures of the brain. In order to assess the functional activity of the brain, electroencephalography is prescribed, and to determine in detail the state of brain tissue, the doctor conducts tomography.

If pressing or throbbing pains are felt simultaneously in the temples and the back of the head, combined with a feeling of heaviness in the head, pain or discomfort in the heart, tinnitus, sleep disturbance, shortness of breath, then high blood pressure is suspected, and in this case the doctor will prescribe the following tests and examinations:

  • General blood analysis;
  • Biochemical blood test (glucose, urea, creatinine, cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoproteins, high-density lipoproteins);
  • Blood ionogram (potassium, calcium, sodium and chlorine);
  • General urine analysis;
  • Urine sample according to Zimnitsky (sign up);
  • Urine sample according to Nechiporenko (sign up);
  • Blood pressure measurement (sign up);
  • Electrocardiography (ECG);
  • Echocardiography (Echo-CG);
  • Ultrasound Dopplerography of the vessels of the neck and kidneys.
If high blood pressure is suspected, all of the above tests and examinations are usually prescribed, since they are necessary not only to make a diagnosis, but also to exclude other pathologies that can also manifest themselves as periodic surges in blood pressure.

When a person is bothered by paroxysmal, strong, throbbing pain in the temples, which can intensify when chewing and talking, combined with general malaise, elevated body temperature, insomnia, sometimes with blurred vision, double vision, inflammation of the eyes, the doctor suspects temporal arteritis and prescribes the following tests and examinations:

  • General blood analysis;
  • Biochemical blood test (total protein, protein fractions, urea, creatinine, bilirubin (sign up), cholesterol, ALT, AST, LDH, alkaline phosphatase, amylase, etc.);
  • Determination of visual acuity (sign up);
  • Fundus examination;
  • Dopplerography of extracranial (located on the surface of the skull, and not in the brain) and ocular vessels;
  • Angiography of cerebral vessels (sign up);
  • Tomography (computer or magnetic resonance imaging) of the brain;
  • Biopsy of the temporal artery followed by histological examination.
If temporal arteritis is suspected, the doctor usually prescribes all of the above studies, since they are necessary not only to make a diagnosis, but also to distinguish the pathology from others that manifest similar symptoms. Research is also necessary to assess the condition of tissues and the functional activity of brain structures. The most important to confirm the presumptive diagnosis of temporal vasculitis are a biopsy of the temporal artery with histology, Dopplerography of extracranial and ophthalmic vessels, examination of the fundus, a general blood test and a biochemical blood test.

If a person has periodic attacks of varying duration of very strong unbearable headaches, which are felt only on one side of the head in the temples, and/or forehead, and/or eyes, and/or upper jaw, combined with intolerance to bright light, loud sound, strong odors, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, ear congestion, then the doctor suspects migraine or cluster pain. If these diseases are suspected, the doctor asks in detail about pain in the temples, its nature, duration, provoking factors, previous sensations, etc., since it is the features of the clinical picture that are the basis for making a diagnosis. Any instrumental examinations and laboratory tests for migraine and cluster pain are usually not prescribed or carried out, since they do not provide any accurate and specific information. However, even after a diagnosis of migraine or cluster pain is made, a doctor may order a magnetic resonance imaging scan of the brain to rule out tumors or any other severe brain pathologies. In order to select the best treatment, a doctor for migraine or cluster pain may prescribe Dopplerography of cerebral vessels (sign up) and neck, electroencephalography and rheoencephalography to determine existing disorders and include in complex therapy drugs that help eliminate the identified disorders.

If pain in the temples occurs in short attacks, has a shooting, burning character, can spread to the ear, lip, eye, nose, cheek or jaw and is combined with muscle twitching (tic) on the side of the pain, provoked by talking, chewing solid food, shaving, washing cold or hot water, then the doctor suspects trigeminal neuralgia, and in this case conducts a neurological examination. Such a neurological examination consists of checking sensitivity by lightly tingling various points, asking you to make this or that movement, tapping certain places, etc. Based on how a person reacts to tingling, how he performs the necessary movements, how the doctor reacts to tapping, he makes a diagnosis of trigeminal neuralgia. Additional instrumental methods and laboratory tests are not required to diagnose neuralgia, but to determine the cause of nerve irritation, the doctor may prescribe a computer or magnetic resonance imaging (sign up) brain. If tomography cannot be performed, then instead, to identify the cause of neuralgia, an examination of the fundus, electroencephalography and echoencephalography may be prescribed.

When pain is felt simultaneously in the temples and the back of the head, possibly radiating to the neck, forehead, shoulders and sometimes shoulder blades, combined with clenching of the jaws or grinding of teeth, the doctor suspects a disease of the temporomandibular joint (arthritis, arthrosis, dysfunction, etc.) and prescribes the following tests and examinations:

  • X-ray of the temporomandibular joint (make an appointment);
  • Computed tomography of the temporomandibular joint (sign up);
  • Cone beam computed tomography of the temporomandibular joint;
  • Diagnostic jaw model;
  • Arthrography of the temporomandibular joint;
  • Ultrasound of the temporomandibular joint (make an appointment);
  • Magnetic resonance imaging of the temporomandibular joint area;
  • Orthopantogram of the jaw (sign up);
  • Electromyography (sign up);
  • Rheography (sign up);
  • Arthrophonography;
  • Axiography;
  • Gnathography;
  • Dopplerography of jaw vessels;
  • Rheoarthrography of vessels;
  • Blood test for infectious agents (sign up) ELISA methods and PCR (sign up).
Naturally, all the main tests and examinations that can be prescribed by doctors to diagnose diseases of the temporomandibular joint are listed above. In practice, they are not prescribed all at once, but are performed in stages, as any signs are identified that make it possible to establish the nature of the pathology, and on the basis of this, select other most informative studies to confirm the disease.

First, in case of pathology of the temporomandibular joint, an x-ray is prescribed, which, if technically possible, is replaced by conventional or cone-beam computed tomography. X-rays and tomography are not prescribed together, since they provide the same data in nature and essence, but tomography allows one to obtain more information, so it is preferable, if, of course, there is a technical possibility.

As a result of an x-ray or tomography, arthritis is immediately confirmed, and if it is detected, then other instrumental studies are not prescribed. If the doctor suspects that the arthritis is infectious, he will prescribe a blood test for the presence of infectious agents using PCR or ELISA methods.

If arthritis is not detected based on x-ray (sign up) or tomography, then we are talking about a non-inflammatory disease of the temporomandibular joint. In this case, the doctor questions the person in detail about all the existing symptoms, examines the area of ​​pain and makes an assumption about which specific disease is most likely in a particular case. If the doctor suspects arthrosis, he will prescribe the production of a jaw model. If it is necessary to obtain detailed data on the condition and functional viability of the joint if arthrosis is suspected, arthrography and orthopantogram, electromyography, rheography, arthrophonography, axiography, and gnathography may additionally be prescribed. All of these additional methods are not always prescribed, but only when necessary.

If the doctor suspects dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint, he will prescribe an orthopantogram, making a model of the jaws and Ultrasound (sign up). When the soft tissue around the joint is damaged, magnetic resonance imaging is also prescribed. As additional methods, which are not always prescribed, but only when necessary, Dopplerography or rheoarthrography (to assess blood flow in the joint and surrounding tissues), as well as electromyography, arthrophonography, and gnathography (to assess the functions of the joint) are used.

When pain in the temples occurs against the background of fever, chills, cough, sneezing, sore throat and sore throat, runny nose, general weakness and malaise, aching muscles and joints, the doctor diagnoses influenza or acute respiratory infection. In this case, only a general blood and urine test is usually prescribed to assess the condition of the body as a whole and determine the risk of complications. Other examinations and tests are usually not performed as they are not necessary. However, during periods of epidemics or when the flu is particularly severe, a doctor may order a blood test to identify the type of influenza virus.

When the pain in the temples is dull, aching, combined with a disturbance in the mental background (irritability, tearfulness, tearfulness, fatigue, anxiety, inability to concentrate), the doctor suspects a psychogenic headache. In this case, the doctor carries out special psychological tests (sign up), talks with the patient, asking certain questions necessary to identify mental disorders. The doctor also presses on the frontal, chewing, sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles at certain points - if they are painful, this indicates a psychogenic headache. Thus, the diagnosis of psychogenic headache is made on the basis of a survey and examination by a doctor, and no instrumental or laboratory examination methods are prescribed, since they are not necessary, and today there are no methods that would give informative results for this pathology.

Pain and its causes in alphabetical order:

pain in left temple

Pain in the left temple is one of the most common complaints with which patients turn to a neurologist.

Epidemiological studies show that more than 70% of the population in developed countries complain of episodic or chronic headaches in the left temple. However, this figure does not reflect the true state of affairs, since many patients do not go to doctors, self-medicating or - in some cases - not wanting to be examined for fear of detecting a more serious pathology. Often such patients, periodically experiencing headaches in the left temple, do not visit doctors; more than half of them take over-the-counter analgesics, often abusing the medications. This leads to the development of dangerous side effects (gastrointestinal disorders, liver and kidney damage, allergies).

What diseases cause pain in the left temple:

The main causes of pain in the left temple:

1. Headaches in the left temple may be associated with impaired tone of the cerebral vessels of the arterial and venous beds.

2. In young people, they can be symptoms of autonomic dysfunction, migraine, and increased intracranial pressure.

3. In older age, these are the initial manifestations of arterial hypertension and cerebral atherosclerosis. Provoking moments can be changes in weather, mental, emotional and physical overload. In this case, heaviness in the head and pressing, throbbing pain in the back of the head or temples are characteristic;

4. Infectious diseases (various, including influenza, sore throat and many others);

5. Intoxication (that is, poisoning), the most familiar of which is alcohol;

6. Psychogenic headaches. As a rule, “nervous” headaches are an aching, dull sensation that occurs either in the temple, then in the back of the head, or somewhere inside. This increases irritability and fatigue. Patients complain of general “discomfort in the head,” which makes it difficult to gather thoughts and concentrate, plus a feeling of anxiety.

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If you have previously performed any research, Be sure to take their results to a doctor for consultation. If the studies have not been performed, we will do everything necessary in our clinic or with our colleagues in other clinics.

Does your left temple hurt? It is necessary to take a very careful approach to your overall health. People don't pay enough attention symptoms of diseases and do not realize that these diseases can be life-threatening. There are many diseases that at first do not manifest themselves in our body, but in the end it turns out that, unfortunately, it is too late to treat them. Each disease has its own specific signs, characteristic external manifestations - the so-called symptoms of the disease. Identifying symptoms is the first step in diagnosing diseases in general. To do this, you just need to do it several times a year. be examined by a doctor, in order not only to prevent a terrible disease, but also to maintain a healthy spirit in the body and the organism as a whole.

If you want to ask a doctor a question, use the online consultation section, perhaps you will find answers to your questions there and read self care tips. If you are interested in reviews about clinics and doctors, try to find the information you need on. Also register on the medical portal Eurolab to keep abreast of the latest news and information updates on the site, which will be automatically sent to you by email.

The symptom chart is for educational purposes only. Do not self-medicate; For all questions regarding the definition of the disease and methods of its treatment, consult your doctor. EUROLAB is not responsible for the consequences caused by the use of information posted on the portal.

If you are interested in any other symptoms of diseases and types of pain, or you have any other questions or suggestions, write to us, we will definitely try to help you.

For effective treatment, it is necessary to determine why the headache radiates to the eye. The location and nature of pain is also important.

Causes

The causes of pain in the temples and eyes are the following:

  • Atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels . In this case, the head hurts on one side - on the right or left, but never on both at once. The eyes suffer slightly.
  • Cerebrovascular accident . A pressing sensation on the temples and pulsation in them can be caused by a violation of the blood supply to the brain. This is caused by vascular diseases, poor lifestyle, stress and weather changes. With a sharp deterioration in cerebral circulation, the risk of stroke increases.
  • Migraine . Pain sensations are localized on one side, i.e. pain in the temple appears on the right or left. The attack lasts up to 4 hours and is preceded by photophobia, flashes of light before the eyes, and numbness of the limbs.
  • Hypertension . An increase in blood pressure is accompanied by pain closer to the temple. It is caused by vasospasm. Hypertension is often accompanied by dizziness and nausea. It occurs in patients with a hereditary predisposition if someone close to them had hypertension.
  • Nervous tension . Pain in the left temple and eye can be a result of stress or emotional exhaustion.
  • Increased intracranial pressure . The patient has severe pain in his temple, and also in his eyes. The pain is severe, prolonged, pressing and can spread to other parts of the body. Nausea and vomiting may occur at the same time.
  • Vegetovascular dystonia . The most common reason why the left temple and eye hurt. The attacks are characterized by periods of calm. The pain recurs with physical and emotional fatigue and lack of sleep.
  • Vascular aneurysm . The head and eye hurt on one side, and the pain intensifies when moving and rotating the head.
  • Diseases of the musculoskeletal system . Arthrosis, cervical osteochondrosis, arthritis and other disorders lead to pinching of blood vessels, and accordingly, pressure on the eyes and temples increases.
  • Arteritis . The head hurts, and the pain radiates to the eyes, and vision temporarily deteriorates.
  • Brain tumor . The most dangerous reason why temples and eyes hurt. Oncological formations are accompanied by nausea, weakness, dizziness, convulsions, and with serious lesions, epileptic seizures are possible.

Pain in the eyes and temples can be caused by a traumatic brain injury or be a consequence of an intracranial hematoma.

Cluster pain is rare, but causes the most discomfort. The reasons for it are not completely clear. Soreness appears in the eye area closer to the temple, which is accompanied by lacrimation and is localized on one side. It occurs at one time, for example, an attack can begin at night and last from 10 minutes to 1 hour.

The cause of headaches in the temples and eyes are infectious diseases, for example, ARVI, tonsillitis, otitis media, sinusitis, encephalitis and meningitis. Additionally, concomitant symptoms of an infectious-inflammatory process appear.

Headache in the temples and eyes may be associated with anemia. The patient’s health worsens, dizziness, pale skin, and decreased appetite appear. In women, the cause of pain in the corners of the eyes is hormonal disorders, especially during menopause.

Types of pain syndrome

By the nature of the pain, you can guess the reason that provokes it.

Throbbing pain

This pain in the temple on the left, radiating to the left eye, indicates a sharp increase in blood pressure or migraine. Ripple may indicate cluster pain, pathologies of the cervical spine, neuroses and neuritis.

Shooting pain

Shooting sensations are caused by neuralgia. The attacks are short-lived, but can be repeated several times during the day. Also, pain is caused by arteritis and neurosis of the ternary nerve.

It's a dull pain

It can be quite long, indicating cervical osteochondrosis. More often it occurs after sleep or prolonged exposure to an uncomfortable position.

Eye diseases can also cause pain in the temple area, often aching in nature.

Blunt pain

It does not pose a threat to human health and is easier to tolerate. The most common cause is overwork, stress, adenoiditis (inflammation of the tonsils), and traumatic brain injury.

Pressing pain

It acquires a pressing character in cases of impaired cerebral circulation, vegetative-vascular dystonia, increased intracranial pressure, and also in cases of brain tumors.

With cancer, pressure can be felt on the right side or radiate to the temple area on the left.

Localization of pain

Pain rarely occurs on both sides at once. Most often the right temple and eye hurt, and the pain is localized in the left corner.

Left

Pain on the left side occurs with the following pathologies:

  • vegetative-vascular dystonia;
  • sinusitis and other infectious diseases;
  • allergy;
  • unhealthy diet (abuse of sweets, fast food, foods high in preservatives, smoked foods);
  • migraine;
  • arteritis;
  • stroke;
  • hormonal disorders;
  • osteochondrosis.

On right

Usually the temple on the right side hurts due to decreased or increased tone of the cerebral vessels, with deterioration of cerebral circulation, increased arterial and intracranial pressure.

Which doctor should I consult for pain in my temples and eyes?

If you have pain in the right or left temple that radiates to the eye, you should consult a therapist or neurologist. You may need the help of an ENT specialist, oncologist, or neurosurgeon.

Diagnostics

If you have a headache and pain in the left or right temple and in the eye lasts more than 3 days, then you need to undergo an examination. Basic diagnostic methods:

  • general and biochemical blood test;
  • computed tomography or MRI of the brain;
  • radiography of the paranasal sinuses.

What to do?

Actions will depend on the cause of the headache. If the pain is caused by psychogenic factors (stress, lack of sleep, poor diet) or neurological diseases, then you can help yourself with these simple actions:

  • relax, retire to a quiet, calm environment, avoid harsh sounds;
  • change body position, but do not make sudden movements;
  • close your eyes and lie down;
  • massage the temples, eyes and neck;
  • take a walk in the fresh air;
  • drink warm chamomile or mint tea;
  • put a cold compress on the forehead;
  • take a warm bath.

If your temples still hurt and put pressure on your eyes, then you should take a painkiller. An acute migraine attack is difficult to control with medication, so rest and calm are important. Healthy sleep and proper nutrition will help alleviate the condition.

If your head hurts due to cancer, they can only be treated with surgery or chemotherapy. Problems with the musculoskeletal system are solved with the help of massage and physical therapy. For vascular diseases, in addition to the main treatment, homeopathic medicines can be prescribed.

Pain in the temples and eyes significantly reduces performance and is psychologically depressing. There is no need to endure it, because over time it will only get worse.

Useful video about headaches in the forehead and eyes

List of sources:

  • Headache. Neurology / D. Hayer, Ed. M. Samuels. M.: Praktika, 1997.
  • Bartleson J.D., Cutrer F.M. Migraine update. Diagnosis and treatment // MinnMed. 2010. No. 5. pp. 36–41.
  • J. Adler, A. Rogers From a sore head... // Results. 1999. pp. 51-54.