Have you ever felt pain in your forehead that made you want to pinch the bridge of your nose or hold your head in your hands? A headache between eyebrows can be incredibly uncomfortable and negatively impact your ability to go about your daily routines. While you feel the pain around your eyebrows, it is actually occurring underneath. If you start to have an eyebrow headache more frequently, then you may want to see a doctor for headache and migraine treatment. There are several reasons why you might be experiencing eyebrow headaches, and treatment options depend on the specific root cause. Here’s what you need to know about a headache in the eyebrow area and how to experience lasting pain relief.
What Causes a Headache Between the Eyebrows?
There are several possible causes for a headache between your eyebrows. Here are four examples of what could be causing your pain.
Head Cold
A head cold can cause you to experience a runny nose, congestion, cough, and headaches. You might find a head cold little more than a nuisance until the pain starts to ruin your day. A head cold may result in a headache that occurs behind your eyes and eyebrows. The nasal congestion and pressure buildup in your sinus cavities can create pain behind your eyes and around your eyebrows. The swelling and inflammation can lead to a throbbing headache that intensifies as your cold symptoms worsen.
Sinusitis
A sinus infection, also known as sinusitis, can also cause pain behind your eyebrows due to swelling in the sinus cavities. When mucus builds up in your sinuses, it can cause pressure on the surrounding areas, including behind your eyes and forehead. This pressure can trigger a headache that radiates to the bridge of the nose and between the eyebrows. Sinus headaches are often accompanied by symptoms like facial tenderness, a stuffy nose, and a reduced sense of smell. Sinus pain associated with sinusitis can cause a headache behind the eyebrow.
Allergies
Allergies can also aggravate your sinus cavities and lead to swelling. If you experience seasonal allergies, then you might get more frequent headaches in your eyebrows during the pollen season in spring or fall. When you experience a lot of congestion due to allergies, it can put pressure on your sinus cavities located behind your eyes and nose. The pressure from blocked nasal passages can cause a dull, aching headache. Treating the allergic response with antihistamines or nasal sprays can often alleviate these symptoms and reduce the frequency of allergy-related headaches.
Health Conditions
Certain health conditions may also have brow pain and headache as possible symptoms. Glaucoma is one example of a health condition that affects your eyes and can cause painful headaches behind your eyebrows. Temporal arteritis is another health condition that refers to inflammation of the arteries in your head. This can cause headache pain around your eyes and temples.
Types of Headaches with Pain Between the Eyebrows
There are three main types of headaches that are associated with pain behind the eyebrows: migraines, tension headaches, and cluster headaches.
Migraines
Migraines are a severe type of headache that can cause incredibly painful and uncomfortable symptoms. Some of the first signs of a migraine may include increased sensitivity to loud noises and bright lights. You may also experience pain that gets worse and becomes increasingly debilitating over time. A migraine can cause pain on one or both sides of your head, including behind your eyebrows. People who have migraines may also have symptoms, including nausea, irritability, dizziness, and pain that gets worse with certain movements.
Tension Headaches
Tension headaches can feel like you have a band wrapped around your head. Stress in your life can cause you to tense your muscles, and a buildup of that tension can result in painful headaches. Tension headaches can also be accompanied by pain in your neck and shoulders, along with stiff and sore muscles. Tension headaches are one of the most common types of headaches, and their frequent occurrence can significantly impact a person’s quality of life.
Cluster Headaches
Cluster headaches refer to a type of migraine where you experience a burst of multiple headache attacks in a row. A typical experience of cluster headaches may include the exact same or similar symptoms of a migraine but with short periods of relief in between attacks. The pain is often described as burning or piercing and can be accompanied by other symptoms like tearing of the eyes or a runny nose on the affected side. Cluster headaches can last over the course of one day or even a week at a time.
Diagnosing a Headache Between the Eyebrows
In order to find out what headache treatment will work best for you, you will first need to know the cause of an eyebrow headache. Talk to your doctor about what symptoms you have been experiencing. It can help to keep a journal or record of your headache symptoms for more detailed information. Include what you were doing and eating when you first noticed a headache under your eyebrows. Your doctor will also want to know if your symptoms got worse over time and if certain movements or activities made the pain worse. In some cases, your doctor may want to run diagnostic imaging tests like an X-ray or CT scan to rule out any injury or a spinal condition.
Eyebrow Headache and Migraine Treatment Options
Effective treatment for a headache in between eyebrows or migraines starts with a thorough understanding of the underlying cause. Once identified, appropriate treatments can be used to alleviate your pain and help prevent future occurrences. Here’s a detailed approach to treating an eyebrow headache, divided into types of treatment:
Treating Nasal Symptoms of an Eyebrow Headache
If sinus issues are the root cause of a painful headache behind eyebrows, treating nasal symptoms should be the priority. Over-the-counter decongestants and antihistamines can help reduce sinus congestion and alleviate pressure. Nasal corticosteroids might also be prescribed to decrease inflammation in the sinus cavities. For chronic sinusitis, a doctor might recommend more advanced treatments, including nasal irrigation, antibiotics for bacterial infections, or even surgery to improve sinus drainage. Allergy shots for immunotherapy treatments may be recommended for people with persistent allergy-related sinus issues.
Home Remedies and Lifestyle Adjustments
Many home remedies can help alleviate eyebrow headaches. Using a humidifier can prevent the nasal passages from drying out, reducing irritation and inflammation. Drinking plenty of fluids helps thin mucus, making it easier to drain from the sinus cavities. Applying a warm compress to your forehead can also help open up the sinuses and ease pressure around the eyebrows. Additionally, practicing relaxation techniques like deep breathing or gentle stretches can reduce muscle tension that contributes to headaches.
Acute Migraine Treatments
For immediate relief from migraines, medications like triptans, ergotamines, and anti-nausea drugs can be effective. These can be taken at the first sign of a migraine to reduce severity and duration. Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen might also provide relief for less severe migraines. If migraines are frequent and significantly affect your quality of life, a healthcare provider may prescribe medications to reduce their frequency and intensity.
Tension Headache Relief
Managing tension headaches often involves a combination of lifestyle changes and over-the-counter pain relief. Stress management techniques, regular physical activity, and practicing proper posture can help prevent tension headaches. Over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or aspirin may also provide relief during an episode.
Preventive Medications
If you experience frequent migraines and brow pain headaches, your doctor may prescribe preventive medications. These types of medications can include beta-blockers, anti-seizure drugs, antidepressants, and more, which may reduce the frequency and intensity of migraines over time.
Lifestyle Modifications
Identifying and avoiding what might trigger your eyebrow headache is crucial. Simple lifestyle modifications like maintaining a regular sleep schedule, eating well-balanced meals, and managing stress through techniques such as yoga or meditation can help reduce the incidence of headaches between eyebrows. Sleep also plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health, and its impact on headaches is significant. Poor sleep quality or insufficient sleep can be a common trigger for headaches, including a headache behind 1 eyebrow. When you don’t get enough rest, your body and brain don’t have the time they need to recover and repair, which can make you more susceptible to pain and tension the next day.
When to See a Doctor for Eyebrow Headaches
Most headaches between the eyebrows can be managed with at-home remedies and over-the-counter medications. However, some situations may require a visit to your local Marietta doctor. It’s important to recognize when your headache could be a sign of a more serious underlying issue. Here are some red flags that indicate it’s time to see a doctor:
- Severe or Sudden-Onset Headaches: If you experience a headache that comes on suddenly and with severe pain, often described as a “thunderclap headache,” you should seek medical attention immediately. This could indicate a serious condition, such as a brain aneurysm or hemorrhage.
- Frequent Headaches: Experiencing headaches that leave you with aching eyebrows multiple times a week or daily may indicate a chronic condition that needs to be addressed with prescription medications or specialized care.
- Vision Changes or Eye Pain: If your headache pain around the eyebrow area is accompanied by blurred vision, sensitivity to light, or eye pain, it could be a sign of an eye-related issue like glaucoma. Seeing an ophthalmologist or neurologist can help identify the underlying cause.
- Neurological Symptoms: Numbness, weakness, difficulty speaking, or coordination issues, along with a headache, could be symptoms of a more serious neurological condition, such as a stroke or a brain tumor.
- Headaches That Worsen Over Time: If your brow headache becomes progressively more painful or persists despite using over-the-counter pain relievers, it’s time to consult a doctor. This could indicate a more complex condition, such as chronic migraines or sinus issues that require further evaluation.
Seeing a specialist can help you get a proper diagnosis and a personalized treatment plan, which can provide long-term relief from recurring headaches. Your doctor may recommend further testing, like a CT scan or MRI, to rule out any structural issues or sinus problems that might also be causing your pain.
Chiropractic Care for Headaches
Chiropractic adjustments can be an effective and drug-free way to address underlying musculoskeletal issues that may be causing your headaches behind the eyebrows. Misalignments in the spine, especially in the neck, can put pressure on nerves and end up causing headaches. Chiropractors use gentle adjustments to realign the spine, which can help relieve pressure and improve overall function.
These adjustments may also help improve posture, which reduces strain on the muscles in your neck and shoulders. By addressing the root cause of your headaches, chiropractic care can offer long-term relief and improve your overall well-being. Plus, chiropractic care can complement other treatments, such as medication or physical therapy, to encourage lasting treatment and recovery. Many people find that regular chiropractic sessions help prevent future headaches by keeping their bodies in better alignment.
Physical Therapy for Headaches
Physical therapy can also play a key role in managing headaches between the eyebrows, especially when tension and muscle tightness are contributing factors. Physical therapists use techniques that help you improve your posture, strengthen muscles, and relieve tension in the neck and shoulders. This approach may include targeted exercises, stretching routines, and therapeutic massage, all of which help to alleviate muscle tightness and improve healthy circulation.
A physical therapist will develop a personalized treatment plan based on your specific symptoms and health needs. This customized approach ensures you receive the most effective care, leading to more lasting relief from eyebrow headaches. With consistent therapy, many people experience significant reductions in headache frequency and intensity over time. The skills and exercises learned in physical therapy can also empower you to manage symptoms at home and help you keep up the progress between sessions.
Rely on AICA Marietta for Eyebrow Headaches
No matter what is causing your eyebrow headaches, our team at AICA Orthopedics in Marietta is here to help. We have a staff of orthopedic doctors, neurologists, chiropractors, and physical therapists who specialize in the treatment of headaches and migraines. Visit us to learn more about how we can help you find relief from eyebrow headaches.