Practically everyone on earth has experienced a headache at some point. And 70% of people who have applied to specialists with such symptoms complain of pain in the temple on the left. But it is safe to say that this statistics does not reflect the full picture, and does not reveal the seriousness of the problem, since not everyone goes to the hospital with severe pain in the temporal lobe. So why are these symptoms dangerous, what is the reason for their appearance, what are the consequences? What should be done to get rid of this ailment?
Types of pain in the temples
Pain in the temple on the left is divided into two types. The first is when its symptoms fully reflect the clinical picture of the disease. This type is called primary, it is not associated with structural changes in the brain, but signals the presence of a disease. These are usually manifestations of migraine, bundle pain and tension pain.
Secondary type refers to signs of another disease.
During the examination of the patient, carefully collected information about the degree of intensity, frequency of occurrence, dynamics of development, types of temporal cephalgia is of particular importance. Based on these data, it is possiblealmost immediately determine the degree of danger. For example, its sudden appearance is a signal that the he alth and life of the patient is in danger. If the pain appears periodically, then usually it is chronic.
Diseases with pain in the temple
Why does the left temple hurt, what causes it? Experts name more than 40 diseases in which pain is localized in the temporal region. Here are just a few:
1. Migraine is an independent disease characterized by a very noticeable pain in one part of the head, concentrated in the temporal region. The duration of such attacks is from half an hour to several days, and if the migraine is not treated, then everything can end with a migraine stroke. For some women, it goes away after the birth of a child, while others suffer from it until menopause.
2. Tension pain is a widespread disease. Hard working day, physical activity, uncomfortable static posture, stress, depression, spinal scoliosis are the causes of HDN. The tone of the muscles of the shoulders, neck, face increases and worsens the blood supply to the muscles, there is an accumulation of histamines that accompany inflammation. Muscles ache, and the pain is projected onto the head in the temporal part, presses in the temples, the head is as if compressed by a hoop.
3. Beam pains are characterized by unbearable pain attacks, concentrating in the temples. They can start unexpectedly and last from 15 minutes to several hours, dying down and returning again. Paroxysmal attacks tormentperson up to 8 times a day. Series of pains sometimes do not remind of themselves for a long time, but it happens that every month the patient is tormented by attacks. At such a moment, a person becomes covered with sweat, his nose is blocked, his face swells, his eyelid drops.
4. Severe pain in the temples can be a symptom of a rare arterial disease. With inflammation of the walls of the vessels of the temporal arteries, severe pain is felt, radiating to the eye, and even a light touch causes suffering to the patient. They are more common in older people over 50.
5. With intracranial lesions of an infectious nature (meningitis, encephalitis), there is an acute pain that radiates to the temple.
6. With inflammation of the trigeminal nerve and its compression, severe pain occurs in the temples and the back of the head when chewing, swallowing, talking, laughing.
Causes of pain
There are many reasons why the left temple hurts, and in order to get rid of the painful feeling, it is necessary to identify and eliminate its source:
- In young people, such pain may be an indicator of vegetovascular dystonia.
- Some infectious diseases are accompanied by quite severe headaches in the temples (SARS and flu).
- Upper and lower pressure manifests itself as an active pulsation in the temples.
- During the period of hormonal surges, young girls may experience severe pain.
- Also, with hormonal changes with the onset of menopause, women sometimes complain of regular temporal headaches.
- There are also nervous headaches that are psychogenic in nature. They are accompaniedirritability, fatigue.
- Violation of the activity of the nerves of the brain and spinal cord.
- In case of pathology of the temporomandibular joint, pain radiates not only to the temple, but also to the back of the head and shoulders. From convulsive clenching of the teeth, the muscles of the face become very tense, and they provoke a headache.
- Weather-dependent people also have left temple pain from weather changes.
- Some foods containing monosodium glutamate can cause headaches. These are canned food, dry soups, sausages, smoked meats, ready-made salads, chips, sauces, hot dogs. Chocolate is sometimes a headache provocateur, because it causes a sharp increase in blood sugar.
- Intoxication associated with food poisoning, drugs, alcohol, diseases of the organs responsible for the removal of toxic substances from the body (kidneys, liver).
- Sometimes pain radiates to the temple in perfectly he althy people and does not depend on the state of the vessels. Shootings in the temples appear from carbon monoxide poisoning. Its high concentration in the air is dangerous for human life, so the removal of its toxins from the body must be carried out in a medical facility. Sometimes if a person did not have breakfast, and did not have time to eat at lunch, he may experience pain in the temporal lobe. It also happens when some people go overboard with diets that are not balanced, or during a hard fast. The brain lacks nutrients, and it lets you know about it with vasospasm.
- The same symptoms can appear with developing anemia.
- Pain in the temples can tell andclimbers, because high in the mountains the air is rarefied, and there is not enough oxygen in it. The same feelings are experienced by people during regular flights and scuba divers, this is the reaction of blood vessels to pressure drop.
- Too active sex life can also cause pain in the temples.
- It happens that the origin of the pains can not be established, and this is not surprising, because even the presence of worms and a sharp cessation of coffee intake can cause their appearance.
Types of temporal pain
When the head hurts unbearably, it seems that the pain comes out through the temple from the brain, but in fact it is not. There are no pain receptors in it, but they are located in some parts of the membrane of the brain, tissues covering the skull, in the arteries of the base of the skull and located outside it. This complex is responsible for various types of temporal pain, depending on where the damaging effect is located. Therefore, the pain can be pulsating, lightning-fast or constant, sharp, dull, pressing, tingling, burning, of different depths and localizations.
Pain pulsates in the temples, as if small hammers are knocking in them, not allowing distraction. Most likely, these are the consequences of the transferred stress. However, this may also indicate that the upper and lower blood pressure has increased, about the onset of migraine, spasms of cerebral vessels. At times, with pulpitis (inflammation of the gum tissue), the pain is reflected in the temporal region.
Sharp pain in the temples, shooting, can speakabout inflammation of the trigeminal nerve, less often about changes in the walls of the temporal arteries (temporal arteritis). In this case, a person feels weakness throughout the body, impotence, he does not sleep well. Sometimes the pain goes to the back of the head, eyes, jaw and the whole face. Painful manifestations are bright, and even a light touch causes the strongest discomfort.
With increased irritability, anxiety, fatigue, pain of a psychogenic nature occurs. It is not pronounced, as if spilled over the temple, in this place it constantly whines, and this irritates even more. But sometimes such pain is also characteristic of problems with intracranial pressure, therefore, with such types of pain, it cannot be left to chance.
The consequences of a previous head injury or stress cause suffering from dull pain in the temples. If she haunts a person for several days, and almost every morning he wakes up with her, then she is classified as psychogenic or non-specific.
Presses in the temples quite often in the presence of cervical osteochondrosis of the spine. There is a violation of the normal blood supply to the vessels of the brain due to compression of one or both vertebral arteries. As a result, there are changes in the vessels, disorders in the nerve plexuses and, as a result, localized pain.
Pulsating pain in the temples may indicate the fact of atherosclerotic changes and the threat of a stroke.
Medication for pain
Temporal headaches are usually treated with analgesics and non-steroidalpainkillers. After taking them, the pain impulse is blocked, and the production of hormone-like biological regulators that stimulate the synthesis of prostaglandins decreases in the body. Well-known and affordable drugs that are in any first aid kit - Aspirin, Pentalgin, Codeine, Ibuprofen, Paracetamol.
What helps the last drug? It affects the brain and thermoregulatory centers. This medicine has analgesic properties and a slight anti-inflammatory effect. It will not cope with severe pain, but its moderate and weak manifestations are quite within its power. The result from the use of the drug in the form of tablets occurs 30 minutes after administration, and if you drink its syrup or suspension, then its effect will be noticeable after 15 minutes. But we must not forget that although this medicine is considered the least toxic, its uncontrolled intake is unacceptable. It tends to accumulate in the body, and in this case, its effect increases significantly. This is very dangerous for the body. Paracetamol is contraindicated for people with diseased kidneys, liver, blood diseases and alcohol addiction.
What helps "Acetylsalicylic acid" ("Aspirin")? It is used as a pain reliever by people all over the world. The tablet is drunk immediately after meals in 3 divided doses per day. A reasonable dose of 1 g per day, maximum 3 g. It is contraindicated to use "Aspirin" for people suffering from bronchial asthma, pregnant women, with a stomach ulcer, with a deficiencyvitamin K, children under 3 years old.
Citramon is often used for migraines. This affordable medicine helps after 20 minutes after swallowing the pill. The effect is achieved by the presence of caffeine, acetylsalicylic acid and paracetamol in its composition. The medicine tones the blood vessels of the brain. You can take no more than 6 tablets per day, dividing them into 3 doses, but this is only as a last resort. You should not get carried away with this medicine: it can harm the stomach, liver, and cause allergies.
With unbearable pain, it is better to use more serious medicines. The most powerful painkillers are Tempalgin, Solpadein, Nurofen.
"Tempalgin" is a combination drug. It contains analgin and tempidone. Also added antispasmodic properties. Maximum 3 tablets per day.
"Solpadenine" is based on paracetamol, caffeine and codeine. You can use it up to 4 times a day, 1 capsule.
"Pentalgin" in its composition contains 5 components: analgin, codeine, amidopyrine, caffeine, phenobarbital. People call it that - "pyaterochka".
In moments of unbearable pain, when there is a strong knock in the temples, it is recommended to drink drugs based on ibuprofen. They well stop severe pain, relieve nausea, vomiting, anxiety, photophobia. They do not have as pronounced side effects as those of "Analgin", and a single use is not harmful. But if there are diseases of the liver, stomach,duodenum, use this medicine with caution.
Analgesics per month are allowed to drink no more than 15 days, and if the drugs include a combination of several components, then 10 days for such drugs is the limit. They can be addictive and some of them are addictive. Accumulating in the body, they adversely affect the internal organs, the hematopoietic system.
Physiotherapy
With manifestations of cephalalgia in the temporal region, physiotherapy treatment has positively proven itself. With pain caused by overwork, stress, psycho-emotional overstrain, fatigue, mud wraps, water treatments and massage help well. For problematic vessels, ozone and magnetotherapy, ultrasound and pulsed currents are prescribed. With osteochondrosis of the neck, drugs are prescribed that penetrate the skin using electrophoresis.
When to see a doctor immediately
If your head hurts with constant regularity, then the first thing to do is to go to the doctor, and not make a diagnosis on your own and do not take medications recommended by friends. But there are special cases when delaying the visit to a specialist can significantly worsen the condition, and sometimes even cost the patient's life:
- unusual, uncharacteristic pains appear in the temple;
- if the pain continues continuously for more than 3 days, and the strongest painkillers do not help;
- it seems that a small grenade exploded in the temple andsudden pain accompanied by impaired vision, speech, coordination of movements, general weakness;
- from attack to attack, the throbbing pain in the temples manifests itself brighter, gradually intensifying;
- pain accompanied by vomiting;
- pain gets worse during physical work or sports;
- with fever and aching neck, inability to turn or tilt the head;
- high and low pressure rises excessively.
After asking the patient about the types and frequency of pain, the doctor may prescribe an additional examination:
- you will need a general and detailed blood test;
- MRI of the brain;
- electroencephalography of neck and head vessels;
- lipidogram;
- consultation of an ophthalmologist, therapist, psychiatrist, neurosurgeon, angiosurgeon.
Of course, such examinations are not cheap, but our he alth is priceless, so savings in this case are inappropriate.
Consequences of pain in the temples
Very often a person does not pay attention to recurrent pain in the temple area and tries to get rid of it on their own. Setting the dosage without taking into account side effects and contraindications, he uncontrollably drowns it out with analgesics. Of course, these drugs temporarily eliminate the symptoms, but do not eliminate the cause of their occurrence. Gradually, the disease progresses, and the result of such inattention to oneself can be deplorable.
The nerve endings of the temporal lobes are directly connected with the organs of hearing and vision, and if the cause of pain is in them, then,as a result, permanent ringing in the ears, deafness or blindness is possible.
And even if the origin of pain lies not in dangerous diseases, then frequent pains negatively affect the quality of life. From their manifestations, the mood deteriorates, irritability appears, and performance decreases. Flashes of aggression may appear, a person seeks to retire, withdraws into himself. Therefore, a trip to the clinic and the advice of a professional will help cure the disease and save the patient from a debilitating disease.
Folk remedies
If the pain in the temple on the left is mild, caused by stress or nervous excitement, then simple folk methods aimed at relaxing and achieving calmness also help eliminate painful sensations.
You can also relax in a warm bath prepared with essential oils of lemon, grapefruit, chamomile, juniper, lavender. A few drops of St. John's wort and rosemary oil can be diluted with a massage cream and massaged into the area of the seventh vertebra.
An effective remedy is a massage of the entire head. In circular motions, starting from the neck, massage the head, gradually reaching the temples. The duration of this procedure is about 15 minutes, which is enough to improve blood circulation and relieve tension. The same effect can be achieved by combing your hair slowly. You need to brush at least 100 times with a comb made of natural material.
Another type of massage also helps to reduce pain, but the points located in the depressions of the temporal region are massaged. The procedure is carried out with pads.index fingers, while gentle pressure is applied in a circular motion. Manipulations are best done in a quiet, semi-dark room. After their conduct, you need to lie down for at least half an hour and try to fall asleep. Rest well stops the attack, and, waking up, a person forgets about it.
Among herbs, infusions of lemon balm, oregano, peppermint are popular. The recipe for their preparation is the same and quite simple. You need to take a tablespoon of any of the named herbs, put it in a glass and pour boiling water over it. Leave closed for 30 minutes and strain. They drink oregano and mint 3 times a day for half a glass, and stretch the lemon balm for the whole day, drinking a sip.
Very good relaxing green tea with a slice of lemon and a spoonful of honey. You can brew it with a pinch of mint or lemon balm.
On the aching temple, you can put a napkin moistened with a solution of apple cider vinegar. It will be enough to dilute one tablespoon of vinegar in a liter of water. If there is no reaction to smells, then a compress with a towel soaked in cool water with essential oils will bring relief.
Prevention
In order for the pain in the temple on the left not to return again, it is necessary to adhere to the daily regimen, sleep at least 8 hours, do not overwork too much, be in the fresh air more often, move actively, taking into account age and physical condition, eat rationally.
It is necessary to have breakfast, he althy foods should be present in the diet: cereal cereals, boiled meat and fish, kefir, cottage cheese, bread with grain additives, natural fruitjuices. In favor of he alth, you need to give up spices, spicy and overcooked foods, reduce s alt and sugar intake.
Smoking and alcohol are provocateurs of various diseases, high blood pressure, spasm of cerebral vessels. They also affect the hormonal background, especially in women, so their presence in a person's life should be completely excluded.
Morning exercises, physical therapy, sports - all this contributes to he alth, raises the quality of life to a new level, improves mood. If you adhere to the basics of a he althy and proper lifestyle, you can minimize the possibility of headaches.
