A headache on one side isn’t always a migraine. It can also come from muscle tension.
Migraine
- Pain on one side that can switch sides, throbbing in pulses, sometimes with nausea or vomiting, and often around your period
- Flashing lights, sensitivity to bright light, smells and loud noise
- May be caused by changes in brain chemistry that make blood vessels in the brain tighten and relax more than usual
- Treated with medication, rest and cold compresses
Tension headache
- Lasts hours or days, a dull, squeezing pain that often starts in the neck and shoulders and spreads to the temples, eyebrows and eye sockets, sometimes blurring vision
- Caused by staying in one position too long, poor posture and stress
- Treated with physiotherapy and acupuncture
Notice which pattern matches your symptoms so you can get the right treatment.
This page is general information, not a diagnosis or personal treatment advice. If you have symptoms, please see a doctor.
