Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTension HeadacheMigraineGlaucomaSinusitisShinglesGiant Cell Arteritis
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Tension Headache
Migraine
Glaucoma
Sinusitis
Shingles
Giant Cell Arteritis
These features, along with the exact nature and location of the pain, can provide clues as to the underlying cause. This could be a simple tension headache or a potentially serious condition like shingles or giant cell arteritis.
Tension headachescause transient mild to moderate pain that wraps around the head. Many people describe the pain as a tightness or pressure across the forehead or on the sides and back of the head. The pain may also be experienced on the neck and scalp.
Tension headaches are the most common type of headache closely linked tostress. Muscle contractions in the head and neck are thought to play a major role.
If the scalp is involved, it might be experienced as eyebrow pain, stretching across both eyebrows with tightness, tenderness, and a dull, aching pain. The pain will also be steady rather than throbbing and often develops when you are stressed, tired, dehydrated, or experiencing eye strain.
The mainstay of treatment for tension headaches isnonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)like Advil (ibuprofen) and Aleve (naproxen). Ice packs andstress managementare also helpful.
Migraine pain is thought to involve thetrigeminal nerves, a pair of nerves that run along each side of the face from the temple to the jaw. It is unclear what triggersmigraine attacks, which may occur frequently or infrequently and last anywhere from two to 72 hours.
Themanagement of chronic migraine headachesmay involve medications like NSAIDs, triptans, dihydroergotamine nasal spray, and newer oral drugs like Reyvow (lasmiditan), Ubrelvy (ubrogepant), and Nurtec (rimegepant).
Cluster Headaches
Cluster headachesare often described as the most painful type of headache. This uncommon type of headache causes unilateral head pain lasting for 15 minutes to three hours, occurring daily or almost daily for weeks or months.
Eyebrow and eye socket pain are characteristic of cluster headaches. You might also experience tearing of the eyes, a droopy eyelid, and a stuffy nose.
Along with migraines, cluster headaches are thought to involve the trigeminal nerves and/or a part of the brain called thehypothalamus.Seasonal allergiesare also thought to play a role as cluster headaches are most common during the spring or fall.
Cluster headaches differ from migraines in that the pain is described as “explosive” enough to wake a person from sleep. Cluster headaches are also cyclical, occurring a regular intervals daily or multiple times daily for weeks or months before spontaneously ceasing for weeks, months, or even years.
Cluster headaches may be treated with triptans and dihydroergotamine nasal spray (the same medication used for migraines) but may also benefit from oxygen therapy and local anesthetics.
A Word From Verywell
—SMITA PATEL, DO, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide, manifesting with symptoms such as:
The pain from glaucoma can be intense and localized around the eye socket and brow bone. If diagnosed and treated early, vision loss can be prevented.
The mainstays of treatment are oralbeta-blockerslike Timoptic (timolol) or Betoptic (betaxolol) which help relieve ocular pressure.Glaucoma surgerymay be needed for severe cases.
Sinusitis, also referred to as a sinus infection, occurs when the lining of the sinuses near the nose becomes infected. Typically, sinus infections develop when there is a blockage in the opening of the nasal passages because of acold,allergy, tooth infection, or nose injury.
Sinusitis can cause extreme facial pressure which can be felt in both eyebrows (especially around the bridge of the nose).
Other symptoms include:
Sinusitis is typically treated with cold compresses, NSAIDs,nasal saline irrigation, nasal steroids, and oral or nasaldecongestants.
Herpes Zoster Opthalmicus
Shingles(also known as herpes zoster) is a painful, blistering rash that occurs when the virus that causeschickenpoxsuddenly reactivates. Most people who get shingles do so in their 40s and 50s, with the risk increasing as a person ages
If the virus reactivates on the root nerve servicing the optic nerve, it can causeherpes zoster ophthalmicus, a form of shingles that can cause vision loss. In such cases, you may experience tingling, itching, or pain in and around the eye just before the blistering rash erupts. The outbreak is almost always unilateral.
If treated soon after symptoms appear (withantiviral drugsandcorticosteroids), vision loss can be prevented.
Giant cell arteritis (GCA)is a form ofvasculitis(blood vessel inflammation) affecting large- and medium-sized blood vessels. GCA mostly affects the externalcarotid artery, a large artery in the neck that runs along the jaw and ends at the temple. For this reason, GCA is sometimes called temporal arteritis.
The cause of GCA is unknown but is thought to involve genetics orautoimmunity. The most common symptoms are severe unilateral head pain and tenderness, staring at the temple and radiating to the scalp and eyebrows. The pain may be intermittent or persistent.
Other signs and symptoms of GCA include:
GCA can cause diminished blood flow to the eyes, leading to permanent, unilateral vision loss. The mainstay of treatment is the corticosteroid drugprednisone, which some people may need to take for one to two years or longer.
When to See a Healthcare ProviderNot all eyebrow pain warrants a trip to your healthcare provider. However, if you experience any of the following, see a provider immediately:Severe and unrelenting headache painVision problems, including double vision, tunnel vision, and vision lossAn outbreak of blistering rash around the eyes
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Not all eyebrow pain warrants a trip to your healthcare provider. However, if you experience any of the following, see a provider immediately:Severe and unrelenting headache painVision problems, including double vision, tunnel vision, and vision lossAn outbreak of blistering rash around the eyes
Not all eyebrow pain warrants a trip to your healthcare provider. However, if you experience any of the following, see a provider immediately:
Summary
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Scripter C.Headache: tension-type headache.FP Essent. 2018;473:17-20.Ghadiri-Sani M, Silver N.Headache (Chronic tension-type).BMJ Clin Evid. 2016;2016:1205.Buture A, Gooriah R, Nimeri R, Ahmed F.Current understanding on pain mechanism in migraine and cluster headache.Anesth Pain Med.2016;6(3):e35190. doi:10.5812/aapm.35190American Academy of Neurology.Update: pharmacologic treatment for episodic migraine prevention in adults.Mo H, Chung SJ, Rozen TD, Cho SJ.Oxygen therapy in cluster headache, migraine, and other headache disorders. JClin Neurol. 2022;18(3):271-279. doi:10.3988/jcn.2022.18.3.271Weinreb RN, Aung T, Medeiros FA.The pathophysiology and treatment of glaucoma: a review.JAMA.2014;311(18):1901-1911. doi:10.1001/jama.2014.3192Johns Hopkins Medicine.Glaucoma: what every patient should know.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Sinusitis.Pynnonen MA, Lynn S, Kern HE, et al.Diagnosis and treatment of acute sinusitis in the primary care setting: a retrospective cohort.Laryngoscope. 2015;125(10):2266–2272. doi:10.1002/lary.25363Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles (herpes zoster).American Academy of Ophthalmology.Herpes zoster ophthalmicus.American College of Rheumatology.Giant cell arteritis.
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Scripter C.Headache: tension-type headache.FP Essent. 2018;473:17-20.Ghadiri-Sani M, Silver N.Headache (Chronic tension-type).BMJ Clin Evid. 2016;2016:1205.Buture A, Gooriah R, Nimeri R, Ahmed F.Current understanding on pain mechanism in migraine and cluster headache.Anesth Pain Med.2016;6(3):e35190. doi:10.5812/aapm.35190American Academy of Neurology.Update: pharmacologic treatment for episodic migraine prevention in adults.Mo H, Chung SJ, Rozen TD, Cho SJ.Oxygen therapy in cluster headache, migraine, and other headache disorders. JClin Neurol. 2022;18(3):271-279. doi:10.3988/jcn.2022.18.3.271Weinreb RN, Aung T, Medeiros FA.The pathophysiology and treatment of glaucoma: a review.JAMA.2014;311(18):1901-1911. doi:10.1001/jama.2014.3192Johns Hopkins Medicine.Glaucoma: what every patient should know.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Sinusitis.Pynnonen MA, Lynn S, Kern HE, et al.Diagnosis and treatment of acute sinusitis in the primary care setting: a retrospective cohort.Laryngoscope. 2015;125(10):2266–2272. doi:10.1002/lary.25363Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles (herpes zoster).American Academy of Ophthalmology.Herpes zoster ophthalmicus.American College of Rheumatology.Giant cell arteritis.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Scripter C.Headache: tension-type headache.FP Essent. 2018;473:17-20.Ghadiri-Sani M, Silver N.Headache (Chronic tension-type).BMJ Clin Evid. 2016;2016:1205.Buture A, Gooriah R, Nimeri R, Ahmed F.Current understanding on pain mechanism in migraine and cluster headache.Anesth Pain Med.2016;6(3):e35190. doi:10.5812/aapm.35190American Academy of Neurology.Update: pharmacologic treatment for episodic migraine prevention in adults.Mo H, Chung SJ, Rozen TD, Cho SJ.Oxygen therapy in cluster headache, migraine, and other headache disorders. JClin Neurol. 2022;18(3):271-279. doi:10.3988/jcn.2022.18.3.271Weinreb RN, Aung T, Medeiros FA.The pathophysiology and treatment of glaucoma: a review.JAMA.2014;311(18):1901-1911. doi:10.1001/jama.2014.3192Johns Hopkins Medicine.Glaucoma: what every patient should know.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Sinusitis.Pynnonen MA, Lynn S, Kern HE, et al.Diagnosis and treatment of acute sinusitis in the primary care setting: a retrospective cohort.Laryngoscope. 2015;125(10):2266–2272. doi:10.1002/lary.25363Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles (herpes zoster).American Academy of Ophthalmology.Herpes zoster ophthalmicus.American College of Rheumatology.Giant cell arteritis.
Scripter C.Headache: tension-type headache.FP Essent. 2018;473:17-20.
Ghadiri-Sani M, Silver N.Headache (Chronic tension-type).BMJ Clin Evid. 2016;2016:1205.
Buture A, Gooriah R, Nimeri R, Ahmed F.Current understanding on pain mechanism in migraine and cluster headache.Anesth Pain Med.2016;6(3):e35190. doi:10.5812/aapm.35190
American Academy of Neurology.Update: pharmacologic treatment for episodic migraine prevention in adults.
Mo H, Chung SJ, Rozen TD, Cho SJ.Oxygen therapy in cluster headache, migraine, and other headache disorders. JClin Neurol. 2022;18(3):271-279. doi:10.3988/jcn.2022.18.3.271
Weinreb RN, Aung T, Medeiros FA.The pathophysiology and treatment of glaucoma: a review.JAMA.2014;311(18):1901-1911. doi:10.1001/jama.2014.3192
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Glaucoma: what every patient should know.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Sinusitis.
Pynnonen MA, Lynn S, Kern HE, et al.Diagnosis and treatment of acute sinusitis in the primary care setting: a retrospective cohort.Laryngoscope. 2015;125(10):2266–2272. doi:10.1002/lary.25363
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles (herpes zoster).
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Herpes zoster ophthalmicus.
American College of Rheumatology.Giant cell arteritis.
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