But when throbbing turns into a constant headache, and it's accompanied by pain when you touch your temples, it may be a sign of temporal arteritis, according to the Harvard Special Health Report Headache Relief. Temporal arteritis is a condition caused by inflammation of the large temporal arteries located on either side of the head.
Also known as cranial or giant-cell arteritis, this painful condition is twice as common in women as in men and usually occurs in people ages 50 or older.
People with temporal arteritis describe the pain as severe, throbbing, and burning—most often at the temple on one side of the head. Other symptoms, such as a low-grade fever, fatigue, loss of weight or appetite, or a tender scalp or temple may also occur.
Chewing may cause aching in the jaw muscles. Doctors don't know what triggers the problem, but it involves a misguided immune response in which antibodies attack the blood vessel walls. The resulting swelling can progressively narrow the affected vessels, reducing blood flow.
In severe cases, arteries become totally blocked. If this happens in the artery supplying the retina, it threatens the vision in that eye. If an artery that serves the brain is impaired, a stroke could result. However, when caught and treated early, temporal arteritis responds well to medication. A doctor who suspects temporal arteritis will check your blood's so-called sedimentation rate.
This simple blood test determines the rate at which your red blood cells settle to the bottom of a test tube. A rate that's higher than normal suggests there's inflammation in your body.
The only sure way to diagnose the condition, however, is to remove part of the blood vessel and examine it under a microscope for changes in the artery wall.
Confirming temporal arteritis with a biopsy is crucial because the condition requires long-term treatment with drugs called steroids, which reduce inflammation. Your doctor will want to be sure the diagnosis is correct before prescribing steroids for an extended period. Your doctor may even begin steroid therapy as a precautionary measure before taking the blood vessel biopsy. If your doctor does prescribe a steroid, such as prednisone, you will probably need to take it until all symptoms have disappeared and the results of further laboratory tests are normal.
Middle ear problems can also cause dizziness. These conditions usually affect one side of your head, but can affect both. Meningitis is a swelling of the protective membranes that cover your brain and spinal cord. Though cancer, trauma, and certain drugs can cause meningitis, the most common causes are a bacterial or viral infection.
Symptoms of meningitis vary depending on the cause, but common ones of all types include:. Viral meningitis usually improves within 7 to 10 days without treatment. Bacterial meningitis can be fatal and needs to be treated with antibiotics right away. A traumatic brain injury TBI occurs when you hit your head or something causes a severe jolt or shaking of your head, such as fall, car accident, or contact with an object. These injuries can range from mild to serious and may or may not result in loss of consciousness.
A concussion, even a mild one, is considered a TBI. Approximately 85 percent of headaches caused by TBI are tension-type. The pain is usually a dull aching and pressure that can be felt in the temples, across the forehead, the back of the head and neck, or all over the head.
Other symptoms may include dizziness, sleepiness, and confusion. Rarely, pressure in temples is can be caused by a brain tumor. A brain tumor is a growth of abnormal cells in the brain. Brain tumors can be cancerous or noncancerous and several types exist. A feeling of pressure is a common symptom of a brain tumor that can worsen as the tumor grows.
Other symptoms depend on the location and size of the tumor and may include:. If pressure in your temples is your only symptom, chances are the muscles in your face, neck, or jaws are tense. This could be from stress or anxiety, fatigue, or even poor posture.
Temple pressure and dizziness can result from a problem with your middle ear, a concussion or other brain injury, or a problem with your cervical spine, such as a bulging disc. A buildup of earwax or an ear infection can cause you to feel pressure in your temples and ears.
Sinus inflammation from allergies or an upper respiratory infection can also cause these symptoms, along with a stuffy nose. TMJ is the most likely cause of pressure in your temples and jaw. Sinus and dental issues can also cause pain and pressure. Managing your stress, getting enough sleep, and a healthy lifestyle can help prevent tension headaches.
Over-the-counter OTC pain relievers, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen can also relieve pressure and pain. Purchase acetaminophen or ibuprofen online now. Tracking and avoiding migraine triggers can help prevent migraines or reduce the frequency and severity.
Medication to relieve the pain or prevent migraines is also available in OTC form or by prescription from your doctor. Treatment involves treating the source of the pain, such as surgery or medications for a bulging disc or osteoarthritis.
Physical therapy and proper posture can also help relieve symptoms. While self-pain-relieving behaviors are temporarily effective at best, it's okay if you use them, as they are harmless.
Perhaps doing something good for yourself adds a psychological benefit, which is hard to calculate from a study. Go with your gut on this one. And do not be afraid to try multiple strategies—it's usually a trial and error process to finding the right treatment regimen that works for you. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. GV E-L. The effect of manipulation plus massage therapy versus massage therapy alone in people with tension-type headache.
A randomized controlled clinical trial. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. Complementary and integrative medicine in the management of headache. Andrasik F. Biofeedback in headache: an overview of approaches and evidence.
Cleve Clin J Med. Martin PR, et al. Enhancing cognitive-behavioural therapy for recurrent headache: design of a randomized controlled trial. BMC Neurol. Myofascial trigger point-focused head and neck massage for recurrent tension-type headache: A randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
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