Headaches aren’t that uncommon. This can be brought about by stress, anxiety, or even a common cold. Most people often shrug it off and assume that the problems go with away with just a painkiller. While some of them are correct, headaches can be a sign of a bigger health problem, especially if it occurs on the left side.
Hence, experiencing a headache that affects the left side can be considered alarming if the cause remains unknown. It is important to know and understand the different types of headaches that occur on the left side of the head. It is also critical to explain the type of pain you’re experiencing so you’ll be able to seek the proper treatment for it.
In reality, about 50 percent of adults all over the world experience headaches on a regular basis. Many of the conditions are called primary headaches. These happen without an underlying injury or condition within the person. You can also somewhat breathe a sigh of relief because only a small fraction of the cases are caused by something more dire.
It’s time that you know the difference between the symptoms of a primary headache and a more serious condition.
In here, you’ll learn more about symptoms, causes, and treatments for all types of headaches that occur on the left side of the head.
Facts You Need to be Aware of
- There are primary headaches where pain happens on the left side of the head.
- Most often, the causes aren’t serious and treatment is straightforward.
- It’s important to know and understand the causes, symptoms, and cure for primary headaches on the left side in order to differentiate this from a more serious one.
Types of Primary Headaches
There are headaches on the left side that are a result of a more serious underlying condition. Nonetheless, here are the types you need to know:
- Migraines
- Tension headaches
- Cluster headaches
The Different Underlying Conditions
These are some of the underlying conditions that may bring about headaches on the left side:
- Injuries
- Inflammatory disease
- Blood vessel related
- Medication overuse
- Sinusitis
Causes and Symptoms
Below are causes and symptoms of the different types of primary headaches.
1. Migraines
If a headache occurs on the left side, this could be a migraine. This condition affects 12 percent of people in the US. It is also more common in women.
Migraines are characterized by a severe headache. The throbbing sensation is oftentimes localized in one side of the head. The pain could start around the eye or temple before it slowly spreads across the head.
A migraine is characterized by any or a combination of the following:
- Changes to vision
- Nausea and vomiting
- Dizziness
- Extreme sensitivity to sound, light, touch, or smell
- Numbness or a tingling sensation in the face or in the extremities
A migraine could last anywhere from 4 to 72 hours. Sufferers will feel the need to rest and lie down as they wait for the pain to subside. The underlying causes have not been fully explained even to this day. However, doctors believe that this relates to brain function and nerves or blood vessels that have become sensitive.
Migraines are often triggered by the following:
- Stress
- Certain foods such as alcohol, cheese, or chocolate
- Lack of or too much sleep
- Bright or flickering lights
- Loud noises that are sustained for long periods of time
- Strong scents such as perfume or room sprays
2. Tension headaches
Tension headaches comprise of 42 percent Trusted Source of headaches all over the world. They may occur on either side of the head. Nonetheless, the pain is oftentimes felt on both sides of the head. Moreover, these are usually less severe and painful, but can be just as uncomfortable.
Symptoms include any or a combination of the following:
- Tight, pressing pain that often starts behind the eyes and spreads across the forehead or in the back
- Feeling like the head is gripped in a vice
- Tightness in the neck and shoulder muscles
- Pain often worsens by the end of the day
Tension headaches are, as the name indicates, caused by muscle tension. These are triggered by:
- Stress
- Tension in the neck or shoulder area
- Poor posture
- A previous injury in the neck
- Cluster headaches
Then, there are cluster headaches. Around half a million of the people in the US will experience this at least once in their lifetimes. These are also extremely painful. Cluster headaches characterized by pain on one side of the head.
The different symptoms include:
- Pain behind one eye, one temple, or one side of the forehead
- Pain becomes most severe after 5 to 10 minutes of onset
- Severe pain lasts anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour
- The pain eases but may continue for as long as 3 hours after
Other related symptoms also include:
- A blocked nostril
- Runny nose
- Drooping eyelid
- Watering and redness in one eye
- Flushing and sweating of the face
The exact cause is still very much unknown, but doctors have hypothesized that this could be linked to the hypothalamus region of the brain. Cluster headaches also occur at the same time every day and these come waves. The episode could last anywhere from 4 to 12 weeks. Sufferers often report a bout of cluster headaches during the spring or fall, which is many mistake them to be part of their allergy attacks.
The Underlying Conditions
It is important to note that a headache on the left side is not always a primary headache. This could also be a result of an underlying condition. Some cases are more serious than others such as:
- Previous injuries
- An inflammatory disease
- Issues with the blood vessels
A less serious underlying condition includes an over-reliance on pain killers. Some of the patients that have reported constant headaches suffer from sinusitis.
When You Need to See a Doctor
If you experience symptoms that may relate to the more serious underlying condition found in the list, then it’s important that you consult a doctor immediately. These more serious symptoms include blurred vision, fever, and sweats.
It is also important that you see an expert for the following:
- If the headaches first develop when you’re over 50 years old
- If you notice a significant change in the patterns of
- If the headaches grow steadily worse
- If severe headaches occur more often
- If you’ve seen changes in your mental capabilities and in your personality
- If you’ve had a recent blow to the head
- If the pain makes daily life difficult to manage
Treatment and Prevention
Most headaches can be treated with over-the-counter pain medications. Popular generic brands include ibuprofen and aspirin. However, your doctor may prescribe stronger pain killers or muscles relaxants when the pain becomes severe and troublesome.
Treatment of cluster headaches can sometimes be made with a course of pure oxygen inhalation treatment.
It also helps to make lifestyle changes that include:
- Relaxation techniques: Many may recommend yoga and meditation to help you relax you’re your mind and body. These will help ease muscle tension, and as a result, make tension headaches and migraines less likely to happen.
- Avoiding food triggers: Caffeine, alcohol, and cheese could be triggers and should this be avoided or lessened.
If there are underlying conditions, then see your doctor for the best course of action
Basic Outlook
As mentioned earlier, most headaches are managed with pain medication and lifestyle changes. However, there are those who experience recurring primary headaches that could affect daily life. If this happens to you, it is important to see a doctor for the best course of treatment to help you manage and ease the symptoms. If a doctor finds an underlying condition, get the right treatment as soon as possible to avoid further complications.
With better pain management and effective treatment, your quality of life will also improve.
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