Right-sided headache origin: Explanations, implications, and fast relief strategies
Learning About One-Sided Headaches
Hey there! Let's dive into one of the most common ailments – headaches – and focus specifically on those that trouble just one side of your head. You might be wondering, "What's causing this one-sided headache?"
Well, several factors could be at play. Here are some likely offenders:
Single-sided conditions
- Temporal arteritis: Known for causing inflammation of the temporal artery, often on one side. Alongside the headache, you might experience fatigue, jaw pain, and tender temples.
- Trigeminal neuralgia: This condition causes intense pain in the face and head, and usually affects only one side at a time. The pain arises due to a disruption of the trigeminal nerve at the base of the brain.
- Sinus headaches: Common in individuals with a deviated septum, these headaches are often localized to one side due to their sinus-related origins.
Bilateral conditions
While some conditions cause headaches on both sides of the head, they can in certain instances be more localized.
- Occipital neuralgia: Typically affecting both sides of the head, it can cause one-sided symptoms. Occipital neuralgia occurs when occipital nerves, running from the top of the spinal cord to the scalp, become damaged or inflamed.
A number of other causes can lead to either one-sided or whole-head pain:
- Allergies
- Aneurysm, a weak or bulging artery wall
- Fatigue
- Head injury
- Infections, including sinus infections
- Fluctuations in blood sugar levels caused by missed meals
- Dehydration
- Muscle strains or knots in the neck
- Tumors
Medication use
Headaches can also be a side effect of regular or overuse of certain medications. Be aware that using over-the-counter painkillers like acetaminophen (Tylenol), aspirin, or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) excessively can result in a condition known as a medication overuse headache – a common and potentially global problem.
Medication-overuse headaches can present themselves on either one side or both and do not always affect the same location.
What types of headaches affect the right side?
There are various types of headaches out there, some occurring primarily on one side and others commonly bilateral. Some might wonder, "What type of headache is more likely to affect the right side?"
Migraines or cluster headaches are the suspects most likely to be the culprit for one-sided headaches. Tension headaches can cause pain on one side in some people as well.
Migraines
Genetics play a role in migraines, which cause severe symptoms such as pulsating or throbbing pain in the head. Don't be alarmed if the location of your migraines shifts occasionally between the right and left sides – this can be normal.
Those suffering from migraines may also experience blurred vision, nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and vomiting.
Cluster headaches
Closer in nature to migraines but much more severe, cluster headaches appear in cycle-like patterns. The pain is intense and mainly occurs around one eye and may spread to other areas of the head and face, as well as the neck and shoulders.
Cluster headaches often last for weeks or months, peppered with periods of remission. Other symptoms include facial sweating, pale or flushed skin, red or watery eyes, restlessness, stuffy or runny nose, swelling around the affected eye, and a droopy eyelid.
When to seek medical attention
While occasional headaches are generally not a cause for concern, regular ones may indicate an underlying issue. If you're experiencing headaches regularly, it's a good idea to consult with your doctor to identify the underlying cause.
If you experience the following symptoms along with your headache, seek immediate medical attention:
- Vision changes
- Confusion
- Fever
- Head injury
- Increased pain during movement
- Neck stiffness
- Numbness
- Personality or cognitive changes
- Rash
- Sleep disturbances
- Slurred speech
- Weakness
Persistent one-sided headaches should also raise red flags and warrant a medical evaluation.
FAQs
Understanding and identifying the location of your headache can help your doctor diagnose the type of headache you're dealing with and propose appropriate treatment.
For example, if the headache pain is at the front or on one side of your head, it may indicate a migraine or cluster headache.
Some headaches may disappear on their own. You can try over-the-counter pain relief medications or taking a nap at home to alleviate your symptoms, but if your headaches are severe, frequent, progressively worse, or come with other symptoms such as vision changes or slurred speech, consult a doctor.
Dehydration can cause or worsen headache symptoms, so make sure you stay properly hydrated to prevent dehydration headaches. Your doctor will most likely treat this type of headache by addressing your hydration issues.
Note: If you speak Spanish, you can find the original article translated at the end.
A persistent, one-sided headache can stem from various causes, some of which are relatively harmless and others more serious. Keep this list of common culprits in mind to better understand your symptoms and discuss them with your doctor.
- Migraines can affect one side of a person's head, causing pulsating or throbbing pain and symptoms such as blurred vision, nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and vomiting.
- Personas suffering from migraines might notice their migraines occasionally shift between the right and left sides.
- Cluster headaches, similar to migraines but much more severe, appear in cycle-like patterns and mainly occur around one eye, with symptoms including facial sweating, facial swelling, and a droopy eyelid.
- A persistent, one-sided headache can signal an underlying issue, and it's advisable to consult with a doctor for a diagnosis and treatment recommendations.
- Identifying the location of the headache – front or one side of the head – can help a doctor diagnose the type of headache, such as a migraine or cluster headache.
- Besides migraines, other causes of one-sided headaches include temporal arteritis, trigeminal neuralgia, sinus headaches, occipital neuralgia, allergies, aneurysm, fatigue, head injury, and medication overuse.
- Medication overuse headaches can be caused by the regular or excessive use of painkillers like acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen, which can affect either one side or both sides of the head.
- Qulipta, an FDA-approved oral medication, is used for preventing paroxysal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) attacks, a type of blood disorder that can cause sudden and severe anemia.
- It's crucial to consult with medical professionals, such as neurologists, when experiencing severe, frequent, or progressively worse headaches, vision changes, slurred speech, or other worrisome symptoms.
- In some cases, one-sided headaches might be predisposed by lifestyle factors, such as regular stress, poor mental health, lack of fitness and exercise, improper skin care, unhealthy nutrition, or an underlying medical condition, including neurological disorders.
- Workplace-wellness programs, health-and-wellness initiatives, and regular check-ups can help prevent and manage headaches by maintaining overall wellbeing, addressing mental health concerns, practicing good nutrition, and staying active.
- Therapies and treatments like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), psychotherapy, stress management techniques, relaxation therapy, and massage therapy can help alleviate migraines and cluster headaches, as well as promote overall mental health and wellbeing.
