Having a headache at the front of the head can be a sign of something serious. Different positions of headaches occur due to different types of headaches, which can sometimes be caused by other conditions that need immediate medical attention. Learn what causes headaches on the front of the head and signs you see a doctor for headaches in this article. Visit the best Pain Management Clinic in Brooklyn at Doral Health & Wellness or log on to www.doralhw.org.
Cause & symptoms
Usually, headaches that occur in the front of the head are often related to other types of headaches that affect other parts of the head or face. These types of headaches have various causes and symptoms as follows:
- Tension headache:
This type of headache is the most common with stress, anxiety, or depression, but sometimes it can happen with tiredness, improper posture, muscle strain, or neck muscle issues. This headache can range from mild to severe and typically lasts from 30 minutes to several hours but sometimes it can persist for days. You may experience any of the following symptoms:
- A dull, constant ache throughout the head
- Pain that starts from the forehead or temples, or behind the eyes
- Feeling tender around the head, scalp, face, neck, and shoulders
- Having a sensation of tightness or pressure around the head
- Eyestrain:
This type of headache occurs in the forehead and feels similar to a tension headache. It occurs when you have uncorrected vision or astigmatism in one or both eyes. But it also occurs due to prolonged work on a computer or phone screen, long periods of concentrated work, stress, and improper posture.
- Cluster headaches:
These headaches are rare but extremely painful. These headaches cause pain on one side of the head, often around the eye, temple, or forehead. These headaches occur suddenly and last for several hours. A person may experience more than one of these headaches in a day. You may experience symptoms such as:
- Feeling restless or agitated
- Blocked nose
- Nasal discharge
- Watering or swollen eye
People who experience cluster headaches may go on for weeks or months without any changes. It tends to occur at the same time each day, often when you wake up. The cause is not well understood, but it runs in families and is commonly triggered by alcohol, smoking, and exposure to strong-smelling chemicals. These headaches need medical attention from a doctor.
- Sinus headaches (sinusitis):
These headaches occur from an infection or allergic reaction, which makes your sinuses inflamed. Swelling of the sinuses causes a headache in the front and tenderness around the forehead, cheeks, and eyes. You may experience symptoms like:
- Dull, throbbing ache
- Pain when you move your head quickly
- Fever
- Nasal discharge
- A toothache
People develop this headache with a cold or the flu, which gets better once the infection is cured.
- Other causes:
Other causes of headaches in the front portion of your head are:
- Ice cream headache: It is also known as brain freeze, which occurs when you consume something cold like ice cream, because it constricts your blood vessels in the mouth, causing sharp, sudden pain at the front of your head, especially in the forehead, which lasts for a few minutes.
- Temporal Arteritis: This type of headache occurs when the arteries that supply blood to the head from the scalp, located around the temples, get inflamed.
Management strategies
To manage headaches and their possible triggers, the doctor examines the severity and type of headache you have. Typically, for most frontal lobe headaches, treatment is given with OTC pain medications such as aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen. Some medications are also given in combination, involving a painkiller with a sedative. However, sometimes the overuse of some headache remedies can make headaches worse. But most of the time, it helps you feel relaxed and lowers stress. You need to prevent any particular stress trigger you have. Additionally, follow a good lifestyle that helps to prevent headaches, such as eating on time, getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, etc. To manage stress, you can also have a massage or go for physical therapy.
If your headaches are severe or chronic, your doctor may refer you to a psychotherapist for counseling. This way, you can work with them to resolve stress and learn biofeedback and stress reduction techniques to manage your headaches. Besides this, the doctor also prescribes other drugs like muscle relaxants. If depression triggers your headaches, the doctor may prescribe an antidepressant. However, both these medications take time to get to work.
In some cases, if you have more than one type of headache, then several medications may be prescribed. If headaches persist after initial treatment, your doctor may order brain imaging tests to check if there is any other possibility of pain, such as a tumor or aneurysm.
When to go to a doctor?
While there are no direct conditions that cause headaches in certain parts of your head, you should go to a doctor if you feel a new kind of pain in your head. Most headaches are not harmful, but some are caused by medical conditions that need to be diagnosed. Some headaches are signs of an urgent problem that requires immediate treatment. You should seek medical care right away if you notice any of these headache signs:
- Sudden severe pain and a stiff neck
- Fever, nausea, or vomiting not related to another illness
- Confusion, double vision, weakness, or loss of consciousness
- Pain after a head injury
- Violent, uncontrollable movements, or shortness of breath
- Signs of stroke
A headache on the front of your head can occur due to different reasons, like stress, anxiety, depression, improper posture, stiff neck, etc. Even their frequency and duration are different. However, with the help of a doctor, you can learn different approaches to manage your headaches and improve your quality of life.
Do you need help with headaches? Visit our pain management clinic in Brooklyn to get proper medical help. Call us to book your appointment now!!!!! If you’re ready to take the next step in managing your pain, we recommend consulting with our healthcare provider to explore the right treatments or therapies for you. Always listen to your body and adjust your daily routine to prioritize your well-being. Visit Doral Health & Wellness Pain Relief Department in Brooklyn, to get professional help and guidance on how to manage your problem. Call us on + 1-718-367-2555 to get a consultation. If you need help learning coping methods, register your information and make direct contact with our doctors at https://yuz88hfiyh7.typeform.com/Doralintake. Log on to www.doralhw.org. Or visit us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11212.
