Left-sided headache is a common condition that, by itself, should not be a cause for concern. The location gives some clues about the origin of the annoyance.
As in other areas, the headache on the left side can come on slowly or suddenly. Sometimes it is sharp, and other times it is throbbing or throbbing. It stays in a specific area or radiates to nearby areas, such as the neck and eyes.
If it is accompanied by other symptoms, such as vomiting, fever, or mental confusion, it is likely to be associated with a health problem that requires immediate attention.
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What are the types of headaches?
There are several ways to classify the types of headaches (headaches). From a medical point of view, the correct thing is to differentiate primary headaches from secondary ones.
In the first case, the origin of the problem is local (from the nervous system). In contrast, in the second case, various factors produce pain as another consequence (trauma or infections, for example).
Other standard classifications are based on intensity, frequency, time of onset, and location. Throughout this article, we will refer to those on the left side.
Five causes of a headache on the left side
Many factors can cause a left-sided headache. They range from an inappropriate lifestyle to a brain tumor. Most of the time, they obey a simple origin that can be corrected.
1. Lifestyle
An inappropriate lifestyle is the leading cause of a headache on the left side. It has to do with consuming food or substances and unhealthy habits. Factors such as the following fall into this category:
- Skipping meals: the brain needs the glucose from food to function properly. Pain may be one of its effects if food is not eaten for longer than is convenient.
- Stress: Stress causes muscles to tense. It also causes biochemical changes that put the brain on alert. According to recent studies, both factors can contribute to the development of headaches, although the association is very inconsistent in the general population.
- Poor sleep: not getting enough sleep or not having restful sleep are two common causes of a headache on the left side. The relationship is complex and can be bidirectional.
- Some foods: Certain products, especially preservatives, can cause a headache. Processed meats, aged cheese, red wine, and nuts are part of those meals.
- Alcohol consumption: Alcoholic beverages contain ethanol, which causes blood vessels to dilate. Excessive consumption of them can result in headaches. Particularly noteworthy is red wine, which has been listed as a migraine trigger for millennia. Scientists still debate the mechanisms behind the process and even the existence of such a relationship.
- Compression: According to experts, tight-fitting helmets or hats, as well as hairstyles that pull on the scalp, can also cause headaches.
2. Medications
Some medicines can cause the so-called rebound effect. Excessive consumption gives rise to the symptom you want to eliminate. If this happens, the pain almost always occurs after waking up, in the early hours of the day.
Some of the drugs that can cause a headache on the left side due to a rebound effect are the following:
- Ibuprofen.
- Aspirin.
- Paracetamol.
- Naproxen.
Many of these drugs are available over the counter, so their indiscriminate consumption can lead to this effect. Experts describe these episodes as medication overuse headache (MOH), and it is estimated that it has a prevalence between 1 and 2% in the world population.
3. Infection or allergy
Colds and flu often cause the sinus passages to become blocked, possibly triggering a headache. Other more severe infections, such as encephalitis and meningitis, cause pain. Still, it is intense and accompanied by other significant symptoms, such as seizures, fever, and a stiff neck.
Allergies also cause sinus congestion. This causes pressure on the cheeks and behind the forehead. On many occasions, they lead to a headache on the left side.
4. Neurological problems
Headaches on the left side can be a consequence of neurological problems. From this perspective, the primary origins are the following:
- Temporal arteritis: Also known as giant cell arteritis. It is the inflammation of the blood vessels on both sides of the head.
- Occipital neuralgia: Irritation of the nerves at the top of the neck and the base of the skull can cause a left-side and back headache. This is severe, intense, and sharp.
- Trigeminal neuralgia: the pain is felt in the face but can also extend to the head. According to the Mayo Clinic, it is characterized by multiple painful sensations similar to discharges that cover the territory of one of the branches of this nerve.
5. More severe causes
Headache on the left side can have a more severe origin, such as the following:
- High blood pressure: Usually, high blood pressure does not cause symptoms, but in some people, there is a headache.
- Concussion: it is a traumatic brain injury as a result of a blow.
- Glaucoma is an ocular pathology that usually causes intense headaches, eye pain, and blurred vision.
- Stroke: Occurs from bleeding inside the brain or from a clot that blocks blood flow to that area. One of the common symptoms is a moderately severe headache that comes on suddenly, which is especially common in subarachnoid bleeding, one of the most potent forms.
- Brain tumor: it does not always cause specific signs, but it could be expressed with a sudden and intense headache. Depending on the characteristics of the cancer, the pain could change, but when it is on the left side of the head, it does not correspond to any particular one.
When to see the doctor
In most cases, the headache on the left side improves spontaneously or with some basic measures (rest, sleep, eat, or take an over-the-counter pain reliever). However, it is essential to consider some warning signs that could mean a severe underlying condition.
Pain that is severe in intensity comes on suddenly, is associated with other symptoms, and requires medical evaluation as soon as possible. These latter manifestations include nausea, vomiting (especially if “projectile”), abnormal sensations such as vibrations (paresthesias), and vision disturbances.
The opposite can also happen: experiencing pain that appears insidiously but worsens over time and is not relieved by general measures. Finally, neck stiffness, seizures, and motor or speech problems require urgent evaluation for probable infectious or vascular involvement of the nervous system.
It is essential to have a specialized assessment in all these cases, which can be done directly in the emergency services if the clinical manifestations are striking.
How to relieve a headache on the left side?
It is natural to worry if this type of discomfort appears, but in many cases, simple measures can alleviate the problem. Promptly, what is indicated is to find a quiet place, take a deep breath and try to relax. A nap, as well as eating something light, can also help. Listening to soft music and taking an over-the-counter pain reliever are appropriate measures.
Applying a slightly cool or warm wet compress may also help. Remember to get away from loud noises, intense light sources, and everyday concerns like work as much as possible.
Once controlled, you can work a little on identifying and changing certain habits in your lifestyle that could be influencing this and other discomforts. Work stress, lack of sleep, family conflicts, and diet may play a role.
A common and manageable situation
Remember that dangerous situations that can lead to a left-sided headache are rare. If you manifest an alarm sign, see a doctor immediately to receive the appropriate diagnosis and treatment.
Otherwise, it is a common condition that can be alleviated with simple measures at home and lifestyle changes.