The temple region of the head is a common area to experience headache pain. Headaches can affect both temples concurrently or just one side depending on the cause. Temple pain from headaches ranges in quality and intensity from severe and stabbing to a mild pressure. Most temple headaches are benign and resolve without intervention, but some may be a sign of something more serious.
Temple Pain from Tension Headaches
Stress occurs among all mammals, but unfortunately, people are often unable to resolve the emotional component before it manifests physically as tight muscles. Chronic contraction of muscles in the upper back, shoulders, neck, back of the head and jaw commonly occur in people who suffer repeated unresolved stress. Chronic muscle tension often leads to inflammation, which can cause pain. When the upper neck and back of the head are affected, achy tension headaches can develop there and spread forward to both temples. According to Medline Plus, tension headaches are the most common type of headache and are distinguished by a vice-like band of dull pain around the head (Reference 1). Tension headache pain is worse in the scalp, temples or back of the neck. Aside from stress, poor posture, unbalanced hormones and dietary triggers are all factors.
Temple Pain from Migraine Headaches
The cause of migraine headaches is not completely understood, but it is thought that brain chemicals such as serotonin become unbalanced, which triggers the trigeminal nerves to release neuropeptides. According to Mayo Clinic, it is these neuropeptides that travel to the brain's outer covering-meninges-and generate headache pain (Reference 2). The resulting migraine pain is often throbbing in quality and frequently strikes one temple, but it can spread to both with time. Migraines can be distinguished from tension headaches in the following ways: more intense pain, throbbing or dull pain and additional symptoms such as light sensitivity, visual auras and nausea. Migraines are considered the second most common type of headache. A 2002 article in "Neurology" estimates that 17 percent of American females and 6 percent of males suffer from them (Reference 3). Certain foods and beverages can trigger migraines, including aged cheese, sandwich meats, hot dogs, pickled foods, nuts, dark chocolate, red wine and beer.
Temple Pain from TMJ Dysfunction
As noted above, jaw muscles are frequently clenched during periods of stress and become tight and sore. Increased jaw muscle tension can irritate the TMJ, or temperomandibular joint, which can become inflamed and dysfunctional. Since the TMJ is the main hinge joint between the lower jaw and skull, the act of chewing may become painful and produce popping sounds. According to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, dysfunctional temperomandibular joints can refer pain into the ears and temple regions and cause dull headaches (Reference 4). Excessive chewing, jaw trauma and teeth grinding are all contributing factors with TMJ dysfunction.
Temporal Arteritis
Temporal arteritis is a fairly rare disease that includes inflammation and damage to the temporal artery, which courses through the temple regions to supply blood to the head. MedScape notes that a severe throbbing headache is the most common complaint with temporal arteritis and the headache tends to be localized to one of the temples (Reference 5). It occurs usually in Caucasian females older than 50, and its cause is thought to be a deficient immune system through excessive antibiotic usage. Scalp sensitivity, excessive sweating, fever and reduced vision can all occur with temporal arteritis.
References
- MedlinePlus: Tension Headaches
- MayoClinic: Migraine Causes
- "Neurology"; Migraine in the United States: epidemiology and patterns of health care use; RB Lipton et al; 2002
- American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons: TMJ Problems
- MedScape: Temporal Arteritis
