{"id":62299,"date":"2023-12-26T18:38:14","date_gmt":"2023-12-26T23:38:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=62299"},"modified":"2024-10-25T10:20:11","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T14:20:11","slug":"right-temple-headache","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/right-temple-headache\/","title":{"rendered":"Right temple headache: Most likely causes and treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"

Getting relief from a headache requires figuring out what’s causing it in the first place. The location of your headache can help you determine its type, which in turn helps determine the underlying cause and how to find relief. Headaches on the right side of the head can be caused by muscle tension, migraine, sinus inflammation, and more. They can be remedied by over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers, prescription migraine medication, stretching, or hot or cold compresses. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Below, experts unpack possible causes of a headache on the side of the head, how to get rid of a right temple headache, and when to see a doctor for a headache on the right side. <\/span><\/p>\n

What does a headache on the right side mean?<\/span><\/h2>\n

“There are no headache types that are exclusive to the right or left side of the head,” explains <\/span>Lauren R. Natbony, MD<\/span><\/a>, headache specialist and medical director of Integrative Headache Medicine of New York. However, headaches <\/span>can occur <\/span><\/i>on just one side. <\/span><\/p>\n

There are several possible causes of pain on one side of the head. “Common causes of right temple headache include migraines, tension headaches, cluster headaches, and sometimes, sinus headaches,” says <\/span>Nishant Reddy, MD<\/span><\/a>, an ear, nose, and throat specialist at NJ ENT in Marlton, New Jersey.<\/span><\/p>\n

Migraine headaches<\/span><\/h3>\n

“<\/span>Migraines<\/span><\/a> are severe headaches that can affect one side of the head,” says Casey Kelley, MD, founder and medical director of <\/span>Case Integrative Health<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Typically, migraine causes throbbing pain on the left or right side of the head. But a migraine isn’t just a headache. Migraine headaches are often accompanied by nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and visual disturbances.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cleveland Clinic<\/span><\/a> refers to migraine as a “neurological disease,” and experts are still trying to pinpoint the exact cause of the condition. If you have a <\/span>migraine disorder<\/span><\/a>, your migraine headaches can be triggered by a variety of factors, including stress, diet, lack of sleep, hormonal shifts, and even some lifestyle changes. Keeping a headache diary can help you pinpoint the reason for severe pain from migraine attacks.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tension headaches<\/span><\/h3>\n

Tension headaches are the most common <\/span>type of headache<\/span><\/a>, according to the <\/span>National Institutes of Health<\/span><\/a>. Though tension headaches can cause pain on both sides of the head, you may also experience a tension headache as pressure or an aching pain on the left or right side.<\/span><\/p>\n

“They are often described as a constant band-like pressure around the head,” says Dr. Kelley about tension headaches. “Stress, poor posture, and muscle tension are common triggers.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Cluster headaches<\/span><\/h3>\n

A cluster headache causes “severe and excruciating pain that occurs on one side of the head, usually around the eye,” Dr. Natbony says. “The pain can be accompanied by a red or teary eye, swollen or drooping eyelid, nasal congestion, or a runny nose on one side.” <\/span><\/p>\n

Cluster headaches are uncommon, and the exact cause is unknown. Patients who get this <\/span>excruciating type of one-sided headache<\/span><\/a> experience them in clusters—multiple headaches over a period of time followed by a period of remission. <\/span><\/p>\n

“They can be seasonal in nature and may be present for weeks at a time before disappearing,” Dr. Natbony says.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sinus headaches<\/span><\/h3>\n

Sometimes, <\/span>sinus infections<\/span><\/a> or sinus congestion on one side of your face can cause a one-sided headache that feels like an uncomfortable pressure. However, sinus headaches are more likely to cause pain near your right cheekbone than your right temple.<\/span><\/p>\n

“When the sinuses become blocked and filled with fluid, it can lead to a sinus headache,” Dr. Kelley says. “Other symptoms of sinusitis may include nasal congestion, facial pain, and a feeling of pressure in the head.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Cervicogenic headache<\/span><\/h3>\n

A cervicogenic headache is a type of chronic headache caused by an underlying problem affecting the spinal nerves in the neck.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cervicogenic headaches feel like “dull, aching pain” that starts at the top of the neck and radiates to the head. “These headaches may be triggered by neck movements or certain neck positions. They often result from issues in the cervical spine, such as arthritis or muscle tension,” Dr. Natbony says.<\/span><\/p>\n

Temporal arteritis<\/span><\/h3>\n

Temporal arteritis, or <\/span>giant cell arteritis<\/span><\/a>, is an inflammation of the arteries on either or both sides of the head, where it can be felt in the temples.<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to a throbbing left or right temple headache, temporal arteritis symptoms may include:<\/span><\/p>\n