Q: Should I worry if I get a headache only one one side?
A: Headaches can come in many forms. Because the way you experience headaches can vary (and so do their underlying causes), you should make sure you’re paying close attention to how the headaches are affecting you.
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If you’re getting headaches only on one side of your head you shouldn’t worry, but you should make an appointment with your doctor. One-sided headaches can mean different things. But they often point to a group of disorders that will need a thorough exam to provide treatment.
According to headache specialist Emad Estemalik, MD, there are additional questions your doctor will focus on to identify what’s causing your one-sided headaches.
First, are the headaches continuous or do they come and go? And second, how long do the headaches last? Your answers help your doctor narrow down which category your headaches fall under.
Categories of one-sided headache disorders
When we talk about unilateral or one-sided headaches, there’s a distinct family of headache disorders trigeminal autonomic cephalgias (or TACs). There are four distinct types of headaches:
- Cluster headache — This type more often affects men. These headache attacks can occur around certain seasons. They last 15 to 180 minutes. They’re so severe and sharp that patients sometimes call them suicide headaches.
- Hemicrania continua headache — This headache causes continuous pain on one side of the head for 24 hours while also causing sharp attacks of pain. A person will get a runny nose and may also have teary eyes.
- Paroxysmal hemicrania headache — This one is similar to hemicrania continua, but people will get shorter attacks that last less than 24 hours, and they will be pain-free in between.
- SUNCT and SUNA — These stand for short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache with donjunctival injection and tearing, and short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache with cranial autonomic symptoms. They are short-lasting headaches that rarely affect people. They cause a few seconds of severe head pain on one side of the head with teary eyes and runny nose.
“If you have one-sided headaches, it really is important to seek an evaluation by a neurologist or a headache specialist,” Dr. Estemalik says. “A thorough exam is crucial for the proper treatment and brain imaging is often necessary to rule out any secondary causes.”
If you feel pain behind your eyes, there's a good chance it could be a specific type of headache. Migraines These headaches often begin with pain around your eye and temple. They can spread to the back of your head. You might also have an aura, which can include visual signs like a halo or flashing lights that sometimes come before the pain starts. You may also
have nausea, a runny nose, or congestion. You could be sensitive to light, sounds, or smells. Migraine headaches can last several hours to a few days. Tension headaches These are the most common types of headaches. They usually cause a dull pain on both sides of your head or
across the front of your head, behind your eyes. Your shoulders and neck may also hurt. Tension headaches might last 20 minutes to a few hours. Cluster headaches These cause severe pain around your eyes, often around just one eye. They usually come in groups. You may have several of them every day for weeks and then not have any for a year or more before they start again. Along with the pain, you may also have watery eyes, congestion, and a red, flushed face. The attacks last 30 to 60 minutes and are so strong that you may be restless and can't stand still while they happen. Cluster headaches aren't very common and
mostly happen in men. Sinus headaches A sinus infection (sinusitis) can cause a headache around your eyes, nose, forehead, cheeks, and upper teeth. This is where your sinuses are. You’ll often also have a fever, congestion, and a thick nasal discharge. The pain usually gets worse throughout the day. True sinus headaches are rare. Migraine and cluster headaches are often mistaken for sinus
headaches.What Is a Headache Behind the Eye?
Causes of Headache Behind the Eye
Eyestrain
This is when your eyes get tired from working too hard, doing things like staring at a computer screen or driving for a long time.
Other symptoms can include:
- Sore, itching, burning eyes
- Watery eyes
- Blurred vision
- Sore shoulders or back
Eyestrain isn't serious and usually goes away when you rest your eyes.
Different things may set off each type of headache. You might get migraines because of: Things that may give you a tension headache include: Cluster headaches are often triggered by alcohol,
smoking, or certain medications. Learning to avoid your triggers may prevent headaches or make them less painful. If you do get one, there are many kinds of treatments. Medication for headache behind the eyeHeadache Behind the Eye Triggers
Headache Behind the Eye Treatment
Over-the-counter pain medicine can ease occasional headaches. It may even help with migraines if you take it early enough. Doctors often recommend acetaminophen (Tylenol) or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve). But remember that taking them too often can trigger overuse headaches.
If you get frequent tension headaches, your doctor may prescribe medication. Antidepressants like amitriptyline (Elavil) help many people.
Sometimes, prescription drugs are the only things that will ease migraine pain. Some of the most common are triptans such as almotriptan (Axert), eletriptan (Relpax), rizatriptan (Maxalt), sumatriptan (Imitrex), and zolmitriptan (Zomig). They help most people within 2 hours if taken early enough. People who get chronic migraines often take medicine like beta-blockers or antidepressants every day to help cut back on how many they have.
Breathing pure oxygen may bring relief of cluster headaches. Injected triptans like sumatriptan and lidocaine nose drops might also help. Some people take medicines such as verapamil (Calan, Verelan) or prednisone to prevent attacks.
Treat a sinus headache by clearing up the infection. Your doctor might suggest antibiotics and decongestants.
Home remedies for headache behind the eye
Caffeine or ice packs may help with migraine pain.
For a tension headache, try a heating pad or a warm shower, or rest until the headache goes away. It can also help to find better ways to handle stress. Learn relaxation techniques like yoga or deep breathing. Try not to skip meals or get too tired.
When you have a sinus infection, breathe in warm, moist air from a vaporizer or a pot of boiling water to ease congestion. Warm compresses can also help.
If your eyes are often strained, take breaks and blink more. Artificial tears may also refresh your eyes. Check with your doctor to make sure your vision prescription is up to date, and ask about exercises to strengthen eye muscles.