Pressure in temples: 20 Causes and 6 Home remedies

Pressure in temples can disturb our daily routine and keep us worried constantly. So, let’s explore what causes it and how to get rid of it.

A headache is one ailment that ruins almost everyone’s day. However, tightness in the temple area is even worse, especially when you do not know what to do when it happens.

Temples are located on the side of the head and are aligned with the eyes. The pressure in temples is quite common, but it ruins the day-to-day activities of a person.

The pressure in temple area can occur on either the left side, the right side or both sides. The tightness in temple area can be sharp or dull and can last for a few minutes, seconds or even hours.

The intensity of the pressure in temples is a subdued pain compared to a temple headache. Other times the pressure in temples can last for the entire day while some isolated cases have the tightness in temple area persist throughout the entire night.

It is vital to note that the intensity of pressure in temples differs from one individual to another. Some other features often accompany tightness in temples. These features include Blurry vision, Watery eyes, and a Running nose.

When the pressure in temple area increases or the symptoms changes, it is important to visit the doctor. The doctor will help you decipher and evaluate the reasons triggering pressure in temples.

Table of Contents

Causes of Pressure in Temples:

There are several causes of pressure in the temple area. The causes leading to heaviness and an unpleasant tightness in the temple area. The primary cause for tightness in temples is trigger points.

Trigger points for pressure in temples are located in the Jaw, Neck, Face, Upper Back, and Scalp muscles. The nerves that run through these muscles have a connection to the temple areas of the head.

The connection of these nerves to the temple areas of the head result to the triggering of pressure in temples. These nerves trigger pain on either one side of the temple or both sides.

The tightness and compression tense nerves around the trigger points cause a band like feeling on one side or both side of the temple area.

Other causes of pressure in temples include:

Patients undergoing anxiety, stress, and depression have a high likelihood of experiencing pressure on either one side or both sides of the temples. The pressure in temples arises from the sustained contraction of the muscles located in the skeletal area like the neck, face, and scalp regions.
Overstraining the eyes while working or overstraining them while out in the bright light causes muscles to contract around the temple area. The result of overstraining the eyes is a feeling of soreness and pressure in the temples.
A viral infection can also cause tightness in the temple area.
An alcohol hangover after excessive consumption of alcohol also leads to such pressure and tension in the temple areas.
Not getting enough sleep and insomnia may be influential in triggering the pressure in temples either on one side or both sides.
Dental problems and dysfunctional jaw joints also cause tightness in the temple area. The strain dysfunctional jaw joints cause puts pressure on the temple area muscles causing pressure and tightness around the temple.
Common cold and infections such as sinusitis also result in the production of heavy sensations in the temple region.
Clenching of teeth frequently causes the production of pressure on the forehead and tightness in temples.
High blood pressure patients also experience tightness in the temple area, and this makes it quite uncomfortable for them since they experience throbbing pain when their blood pressure rises and is not controlled in time.
The pressure in temples can also come from the activation of chemicals in the temple region or trigger points
The presence of excess sugar in the body can also lead to tightness in the temple area.
Strokes can also result in the tightness around the temple region. Strokes do not only result to pressure in temples but muscle numbness and weakness especially around the arm area. It also results in slurred speech.
Migraine pain is also a cause of tightness in the temple area. Migraine pain makes people lose their footing as the physical movement becomes quite difficult since the pain becomes worse when a person is exposed to the light and sound.
Symptoms of migraine pain include vomiting, vision issues, and nausea.

Causes of severe pressure in the temple:

Brain Tumors:

When the pressure in temples become severe, brain tumour could be one of the reasons. While there are other reasons for the pressure in temples becoming severe, a brain tumour is accompanied by other symptoms apart from temple tightness.

Some of the symptoms include a change in behaviour pattern, difficulty in hearing, nausea, vomiting, blurry vision, and speech problems.

Cluster headaches:

These headaches cause severe pressure in the temple. This condition affects men more than it does to women. The condition continues the same time daily for a specific period. Few symptoms of cluster headaches include watery eyes and a running nose.

Cluster headaches are a rare condition that is treated using prescription medication, oxygen, and pain relievers

Nummular headaches:

They are also another cause for severe pressure in temple especially the left temple. Nummular headaches are head pains that cover a circumference of approximately one to six centimetres.

The pain these headaches cause ranges from mild to severe. The stabbing, sharp pain from nummular headaches presents itself as tightness in the temple area accompanied by symptoms like numbness and a tingling sensation.

Food-induced headaches:

Sometimes pressure in temple arises from headaches that are linked to certain food ingredients like wine, seasonings, spices, chocolate, processed meat, canned food among others.

Food-induced headaches come mainly from food types that have the following ingredients in them glutamate, sulfates, nitrates, and monosodium. The symptoms of food-induced headaches include excessive sweating, muscle tension, and difficulty in breathing.

Ice-pick headaches:

This type of a headache does not last long, but they cause overwhelming tightness in the temple area and the eye region. Due to the short nature of the Ice-pick headaches, there is no treatment available. However, if you experience constant pressure in the temple area, it is important to visit the doctor.

Giant cell arteritis:

It is also referred to as the Horton Disease, temporal arthritis, and cranial arteritis. The blood vessels within a specific region in the head restrict the flow of blood and become inflamed. This results in the buildup of pressure in temples.

Giant Cell Arteritis is a rare condition with symptoms like the rigidity of the neck and shoulders and difficulty in chewing. The cause for this condition is unknown.

Home remedies to help relieve pressure in the temple area:

The pain experienced from pressure in temples is milder in comparison to the pain from a normal headache. However, the tightness in temple area can cause distress and discomfort to the patient. The discomfort interferes with the normal day-to-day activities and their concentration when it comes to performing certain tasks at work.

To help relieve the pain, there are several home remedy therapies. Home remedy therapies are a better option compared to the use of medication because they have no side effects. The home remedy therapies include:

Massaging the temple:

Massaging the temple area located close to the forehead helps to release the tension the tightness in the temple area causes. Use a kneading massage method with the thumbs or your two forefingers. You should massage the area 6 to 12 times. It will help offer relief from pressure in temples.

Massage trigger points:

Apart from massaging the temple area, you can also massage the trigger points. The trigger points as mentioned earlier include the neck, jaw, upper back, face, and scalp muscles.

All you require to do is knead these muscles with your fingers in a circular manner. Approximately five to ten strokes on every trigger point every day is enough to help relieve the tightness in temples.

Warm compress:

Placing hot packs on the temple region helps in relieving the pressure and causing the tense muscles to relax. You can also replace the hot packs with a warm bath to help relax and calm the tense muscles. However, it is important to note that this remedy only relieves pain temporarily.

Avoid Eye strain:

Since the pressure in temples arises from the strain, avoid putting the strain on your eyes especially when working on a computer. You can take a break occasionally from activities that cause you to strain your eyes like watching the TV, Reading for long periods, and using the computer for a long time.

Adequate Sleep:

Sleeping for 7 to 8 hours a day helps to ensure that you do not experience pressure in temples. Fewer hours of sleep results in fatigue. Fatigue then results in tension to your nerves and muscles.

Coffee or Tea:

Taking a cup of coffee helps reduce the tension in the temples. However, ensure you avoid constant consumption as coffee may act as a trigger for headaches.

You can also opt to take Green tea or Chamomile tea as they are beneficial when it comes soothing the nerves and reducing tension in the temple region.