What causes temple headaches? Diagnosis, prevention, and treatment

Temple headaches cause pain, tenderness, or pressure on one or both sides of the head, between the ears and forehead. But a temple headache is not a medical diagnosis. Pain in the temples is a common symptom of several headache types, including migraine, cluster, and tension-type headaches. Anyone who has a migraine disorder or experiences tension in the head, neck, or shoulders has probably experienced a temple headache. Causes vary, but tension and jaw dysfunction are the most common causes.

Key takeaways:

• Temple headaches are a common health condition that can affect anyone regardless of age, sex, race, or ethnicity. 
• Temple headaches are caused by stress, muscle tension, migraine, cluster headaches, and temporal arteritis. 
• Risk factors for temple headaches include lifestyle factors such as high stress or poor sleeping habits, according to Lauren R. Natbony, MD, headache specialist and medical director of Integrative Headache Medicine of New York.
• Symptoms of temple headaches include pain, tenderness, and a feeling of pressure around the temples.
• Temple headaches are typically self-diagnosable, though pinpointing the underlying cause may require a medical diagnosis.
• Temple headaches do not always require treatment. If there is no underlying medical condition or headache disorder, they usually resolve without treatment within a day or two.
• Treatment of temple headaches may include stress management, over-the-counter pain relievers, or prescription drugs for migraine or cluster headaches.
• Temple headaches are sometimes preventable through stress management, good hydration, and enough sleep.
• Save on prescriptions for temple headaches with a SingleCare prescription discount card.

What causes temple headaches?

Several types of headaches cause temple pain. Some possible causes of temple headaches also cause pain along the entire side of the face or behind one or both eyes.

Tension 

“The most common type of headache, tension headaches, often includes a pressure or tightening sensation in the temple,” Dr. Natbony says. 

Tension headaches develop from prolonged muscle constriction in the neck, scalp, or face. The tension might come from stress, injury, or improper posture. Regardless of the trigger, tension headaches are painful. They typically feel like a band of pressure around the forehead, temples, and back of the head.

Migraine

Migraine headaches tend to develop on one side of the head. Symptoms of migraine include:

• Severe, throbbing pain at the temples
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Sensitivity to light and sound 

Cluster headache

“These are excruciating headaches that occur in clusters or cycles, with intense pain in or around one eye or temple,” Dr. Natbony explains.

Cluster headaches can be chronic or episodic. Chronic cluster headaches are unrelenting or remit for less than three months during the course of a year. Episodic cluster headaches are defined by episodic weeks or months of head pain separated by pain-free periods lasting at least three months.

Temporal arteritis

Temporal arteritis (TA), or giant cell arteritis, is inflammation of the blood vessels around the temple area. It can cause severe, persistent pain in the temple.

Other symptoms of TA include:

• Scalp pain or tenderness
• Jaw pain
• Vision problems
• Fatigue

Untreated TA can lead to vision loss, stroke, and other dangerous complications. Get urgent medical attention if you suspect you may have TA.

TMJ problems

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders can cause pain that spreads along the side of the face, affecting the temples. The TMJ connects the lower jaw to the skull. If you put your finger in front of your ear and open your mouth, you can feel the movement of this joint. 

TMJ-related temple headaches stem from muscle tension and jaw stiffness. Other TMJ symptoms include:

• Jaw pain
• Limited jaw mobility
• Clicking or popping sounds when opening the jaw
• Ear pain
• Toothaches

Because they both involve muscle tension, symptoms of TMJ headaches and tension headaches tend to overlap. 

Brain tumor

Brain tumors are an uncommon cause of temple headaches. There is less than a 1% chance of a person developing a brain tumor in their lifetime.

Brain tumor symptoms other than temple pain include:

• Seizures
• Trouble thinking or speaking clearly
• Personality changes
• Weakness or numbness in one or more body parts
• Dizziness or general unsteadiness
• Hearing or vision changes

Not every brain tumor that causes headaches is cancerous. About two-thirds of brain tumors are benign.

Risk factors for temple headaches

Some people have a heightened risk of getting the types of headaches that cause temple pain. The specific risk factors vary depending on what type of headache is to blame.

Nishant Reddy, MD, an ear, nose, and throat specialist at NJ ENT in Marlton, New Jersey, lists the following risk factors for tension and migraine headaches:

• Being female
• High stress
• Lack of sleep

A research review published in 2021 pinpointed factors that increase a person’s risk of cluster headaches:

• Being male
• Family history of cluster headaches
• Smoking
• Alcohol consumption
• Head trauma

Being older than 50 is the main risk factor for temporal arteritis, another common cause of temple pain, according to Dr. Natbony.

Are temple headaches serious? When to see a doctor

The seriousness of a temple headache depends on the underlying cause. For example, temple pain from a tension headache is common and typically goes away on its own.

“If your temple headaches have grown in frequency or severity, consult your primary care physician,” Dr. Reddy says. Your doctor can help pinpoint the underlying cause and appropriate treatment regimen.

If your temple headaches are severe or abrupt, a visit to the ER is appropriate. Sudden, severe temple headaches can indicate temporal arteritis, which requires immediate medical attention. 

How are temple headaches diagnosed?

When someone has frequent or severe headaches in the temple region, their healthcare provider must determine the headache type and underlying cause. Clinicians will typically do a physical examination and take a thorough medical history.

Dr. Natbony says to expect questions like:

• How long have you been experiencing temple headaches?
• Can you describe the pain (e.g., is it sharp, throbbing, or constant)?
• Are there any activities or situations that trigger these headaches?
• Have you noticed accompanying symptoms such as nausea, visual disturbances, or sensitivity to light and sound?

“Depending on the suspected cause, a healthcare provider may also order imaging studies such as a CT scan or MRI,” Dr. Reddy says.

Are temple headaches hereditary? 

Some types of temple headaches may be hereditary.

“Migraines and cluster headaches have been found to have a genetic component,” Dr. Natbony says. Genes may also play a role in temporal arteritis.

However, genes are only one factor. Even conditions that tend to run in families do not affect every family member. And some causes of temple pain, such as tension headaches, often have little to no hereditary component. 

Are temple headaches curable?

Temple headaches may be temporary or chronic, depending on the cause. Some temple headache causes require prescription drugs or medical treatment, while others can be resolved with lifestyle changes or over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). For example:

• Tension headaches may go away with stress management, better sleep habits, proper hydration, acetaminophen, and NSAIDs such as ibuprofen.
• Migraine does not have a cure yet, but the condition can be managed with migraine treatments and medications such as triptans.
• Cluster headache treatments may include oxygen therapy, sumatriptan nasal spray, or prescription medications such as verapamil or lithium carbonate.
• Temporal arteritis treatment typically involves corticosteroids.
• TMJ treatments include medications or nondrug remedies such as hot compresses, massage, and physical therapy.

How to prevent temple headaches

Not all temple headaches are preventable. Wearing a mouth guard while sleeping may help if you have TMJ. Here are some lifestyle changes that may help prevent tension headaches, one of the most common causes of temple pain:

• Practicing good posture
• Changing pillows or sleeping positions
• Gentle stretching
• Exercising regularly
• Getting your eyesight checked 
• Practicing stress management techniques such as deep breathing and meditation

Most importantly, see a doctor if you experience severe or frequent temple headaches

Temple headaches are most commonly caused by tension or migraine. You may be at risk for temple headaches if you have chronic high stress, poor sleep quality, or frequently get dehydrated. The cause is diagnosed through a consultation with a healthcare provider. 

Temple headaches may be curable or controllable, depending on the cause. They may resolve independently without treatment or require treatment with prescription medications, massage, or physical therapy. They may be preventable if the cause is tension or eye strain. Visit your healthcare provider to determine the best treatment for temple headaches.