There can be no question that everyone has had a frontal headache at some point in their lives. This kind of condition is common, however, if they become frequent or chronic then you may be dealing with a more serious problem. It is also worth noting that there are several types of headaches that you can get in addition to this one.
This article will focus primarily on headaches in the frontal lobe. It provides readers with an overview of what sets this particular kind of a headache apart from the other types. It also includes some more information about what causes this type of pain, as well as what you can do to lessen their frequency.
Frontal Headache Symptoms
When one gets a headache, most people would usually assume that it is a migraine. However, more often than not, this is simply not the case. Migraines differ from headaches in the intensity of the pain as well as the associated symptoms, which can include nausea and photosensitivity.
Oftentimes, people do not realize that they are already experiencing the onset of a frontal headache. Of course, differentiating one type of headache from the other can be a bit of a challenge if you do not know its symptoms.
Therefore, to help you learn how to identify the symptoms, and give you a better idea about what this ailment involves, a frontal headache is characterized by the pressure focused on both sides of your head. As you can probably gather from the name of the condition, this is focused on a certain area of the head, in other words, the frontal lobe.
This ailment can create a mild to moderate pain. The discomfort that comes with this condition has often been described as having a vice or belt wrapped around one’s head, with reference to the constant pressure that is felt within the skull. Of course, in the worst case scenario, this type of pain may also reach severe levels.
It is also worth noting that a frontal headache has secondary symptoms. For instance, you may experience soreness and sensitivity in certain areas of your body. In particular, this tenderness becomes most apparent in the scalp as well as the in the shoulder muscles when experiencing these kinds of symptoms.
Common Causes
Like most medical conditions, a frontal headache can be caused by a myriad of different factors.
To help give you a broader outlook on the kinds of factors that can cause this kind of condition, listed below are some of the most common triggers, which can also apply to other kinds of head pain.
Common Triggers
- Nitrate-rich food
- Alcohol
- Sinus Infection
- Allergies
- Eye Strain (usually from excessive exposure to blue light)
- Lack of Sleep
- Insomnia
- Severe weather changes
- Dehydration
- Depression
- Anxiety
Of course, it should also be stated here that while there are a number of different things that can set off a frontal headache, numerous studies suggest that stress remains its most common trigger. This is because extreme levels of stress can also induce several mitigating factors at once such as depression, anxiety, and insomnia.
Frequency of Pain
To lessen the intensity of the pain itself, one option to stop the feeling of pressure inside your head is to start taking muscle relaxants. However, if it has been determined that the headaches are being caused by depression then the medications for that condition should be enough to help treat the condition. Just keep in mind that the effects of such drugs are cumulative and may not manifest instantaneously.
Needless to say, chronic headaches can pose a serious problem as they may serve as a precursor to deeper problems. Thankfully, most doctors would prefer to nip this problem in the bud and not leave anything to chance. This means that treatments should not only address the existing symptoms but also the underlying causes as well. This makes it important to see a qualified medical professional with experience in treating these kinds of conditions.
Conclusion
As stated earlier, stress is the number one contributing factor for a frontal headache. That is why it is common practice for patients to undergo counseling sessions with psychotherapists and psychologists. Hopefully, these sessions will be instrumental in terms of helping you better manage stress.
In addition to psychological help to assist in dealing with stress, a number of triggers have also been included above which could also be contributing to the pain you are experiencing.
A helpful way to keep track of what triggers your head pain is keeping a headache diary. In this notebook, you can note down all of the relevant details describing what you experienced and when, as well as what you did to treat the headache. This kind of information is very valuable when consulting with a medical professional, as it will lead to quicker diagnosis and treatment.
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