Forehead Headache: 7 Possible Causes and How to Relieve

There are several triggers that can trigger the headache in the forehead region. They are usually associated with episodes of stress, tiredness and anxiety — and can directly affect the performance of tasks.

“Patients with these pains can get worse over time because of the overuse of pain relievers and problems such as depression and anxiety. They represent the majority of those who seek medical help for a daily headache”, explains Caio Grava Simioni, neurologist at Fleury Medicina e Saúde.

In other cases, depending on how it manifests itself, headache can also be present in clinical conditions that require urgent treatment, such as high blood pressure and flu.

Therefore, although common, it is extremely important that pain is investigated — especially if it is constant and intense. In this context, MinhaVida listed seven causes of headaches in the forehead and how to alleviate the condition. Check out!

1. Tension headache

Known as tension headache, it is the most common type of headache and its intensity varies between mild and moderate, in the form of pressure, described as the sensation of a band squeezing the skull. In addition to forehead pain, the symptom causes excessive sensitivity in the shoulders, neck and scalp.

Learn more: 7 tips to fight stress naturally

This type of headache, classified as a headache of the primary type, is caused by involuntary and chronic contraction of the muscles at the back of the neck, which can be provoked by situations of stress, tiredness, lack of sleep and anxiety🇧🇷

2. Migraine

It is characterized by being a constant headache of strong intensity, which affects one side of the head and radiates to the forehead and back of the neck. In some cases, it can be accompanied by other symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, blurred vision and pain in front of lights and sounds – and can last from four to 72 hours.

Usually, migraine starts when nerve cells, in a state of hyperexcitability, react to some trigger and send impulses to blood vessels, causing them to constrict. Stress, strong smells, and drug abuse are some of the triggers that can trigger the problem.

3. Eye strain

People who spend a lot of time using the computer, cell phone or reading may experience constant headaches in the forehead region, in addition to symptoms such as dry eyes, blurry vision and itching.

Tired vision is a natural reaction of the eyes to the strain they are subjected to, as the patient has to constantly strain them to get focus and see the images on the computer. Other vision problems, such as glaucoma and astigmatism, can also trigger tiredness in vision and, consequently, headache.

4. Flu and cold

Both the flu and the cold are diseases that affect the respiratory system and have headache as one of the main symptoms. With nasal congestion, sinus inflammation, which causes forehead pain and other typical symptoms such as fever, cough, runny nose and weakness.

5. Sinusitis

Just like the flu and cold, sinusitis also causes inflammation in the lining of the sinuses – causing a constant headache in the forehead. It is also common for headache to be accompanied by other clinical signs, such as a sensation of heaviness around the eyes, runny nose, fever, stuffy nose and excessive tiredness.

6. Cluster headache

Cluster headache is a relatively rare disease that recurs over a long period of time. Attacks typically occur over a period of one to three months, followed by a pain-free period.

With greater intensity than migraine, it manifests as a intense and sudden pain on one side of the head or around the eye, which extends to the forehead. It can be accompanied by nasal congestion or runny nose and, in some cases, a flushed face and drooping eyelid.

7. High blood pressure

When the pressure is high, usually due to stress or tiredness, the patient may feel a pain in the forehead associated with the feeling of heaviness or pressure. In some cases, it is also possible for the pain to appear in the back of the neck.

“Increased vessel pressure, for some people, can sensitize the area, that is, make the local sensory innervation more perceptive of pain,” explained Leonardo Sousa Bernardes, a neurologist specializing in Neuro-Oncology at Hospital Albert Sabin, in an interview. prior to MinhaVida.

How to relieve forehead headache?

Headache treatment will depend on the cause of the symptom. Secondary headaches caused by respiratory illnesses such as flu and colds should be treated with the administration of analgesics, such as paracetamol, previously prescribed by a specialist. In most cases, resolution of the disease resolves the headache.

If high blood pressure is suspected, it is important to seek medical help as soon as possible. A cardiologist will be able to recommend the most appropriate treatment, which usually involves the use of medication to control blood pressure. Maintaining a balanced diet, with little salt, is essential to treat the problem.

As for tension headaches caused by stress and anxiety, it is possible to resort to home remedies that promote headache relief, such as massages, compresses and teas. If that doesn’t work, you may need pain relievers such as aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen.

Learn more: Headache remedy: check out 8 most suitable options

Migraines, on the other hand, can be controlled by administering common pain relievers. In some cases, the doctor may prescribe the use of triptansdrugs commonly used in the treatment of the disease.

Finally, cluster headache encompasses several treatment methods, although the disease has no cure, with the aim of decrease the frequency and intensity of pain. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and strong analgesics are the most used, in addition to the oxygen mask in crisis episodes.

In all cases, the adoption of healthy lifestyle habits, such as a balanced diet and physical exercise, contributes to prevention and treatment. Here are 6 ways to relieve headaches without medication