What causes a headache on the right side?
Some conditions typically cause headaches on a singular side while other normally affect both, but can, in instances, be more localized.
Single-sided conditions
A headache on the right side of the head may be caused by:
Temporal arteritis: Temporal arteritis is an inflammation of the temporal artety, usually just on one side. Other symptoms include fatigue, jaw pain, and tender temples.
Trigeminal neuralgia: This causes intense pain in the face and head. The pain usually affects only one side at a time. It occurs due to a disruption to the trigeminal nerve at the base of the brain.
Sinus headaches: Sinus headaches are common in people with a deviated septum. This predisposes them to headaches occurring only on the one side.
Bilateral conditions
Occipital neuralgia typically affects both sides of the head, but can cause one-sided symptoms. Occipital neuralgia occurs when occipital nerves, which run from the top of the spinal cord to the scalp, become damaged or inflamed. Symptoms include sharp pain in the back of the head and neck, and sensitivity to light.
Other causes of headaches can lead to pain across the entire head or just one side.
These include:
allergies
an aneurysm, a weak or bulging artery wall
fatigue
head injury
infections, including sinus infections
fluctuations in blood sugar levels caused by missing meals
dehydration
muscle strains or knots in the neck
tumors
Medication use
Headaches can be a side effect of prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medications. They can also occur due to someone overusing medication, including OTC painkillers such as:
acetaminophen (Tylenol)
aspirin
ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil)
This type of headache is called a medication overuse headache. It is a common type of headache, which may affect 0.5 to 2.6%Trusted Source of the global population.
Medication-overuse headaches can be migraines or tension headaches. They may affect both sides of the head or only one, and they do not always affect the same location.
What types of headaches affect the right side?
There are over 200 typesTrusted Source of headaches. Some are primary headaches, where headache is the main symptom. Some are secondary, where headache occurs as a symptom of another condition.
However, a migraine or a cluster headache are the most likely causes of a headache on one side of the head. Tension headaches may also cause pain on one side in some people.
Migraine
Researchers believeTrusted Source genetics play a role in migraine. Migraine headaches cause severe symptoms, including a pulsating sensation or throbbing pain in the head.
These headaches should not always be on the same side with every episode. Always having a headache on the same side – and not the other side – may indicate a serious complication, such as a tumor.
The severe pulsating sensations or throbbing are usually accompanied by:
blurred vision
nausea
sensitivity to light
sensitivity to sound
vomiting
»Learn more:Migrain triggers
Cluster headaches
Cluster headaches are rareTrusted Source but severe headaches that occur in cyclical patterns. The pain is intense and usually around one eye. It may also radiate to other areas of the head and face, as well as the neck and shoulders.
People typically experience frequent headache attacks for weeks or months before a period of remission. Other symptoms of cluster headaches include:
facial sweating
pale or flushed skin
red or watery eyes
restlessness
stuffy or runny nose
swelling around the affected eye
Tension headaches
Tension headaches are the most commonTrusted Source type of headache, affecting around 1 in 5 people. Some people may experience chronic tension-type headaches, where people have headaches on more than 15 days every month that last several hours or may come and go.
They usually affect both sides of the head, but some people may have symptoms on one side only.
Signs include:
dull, aching pain
scalp tenderness
tender or tight shoulder and neck muscles
tightness or pressure across the forehead, sides, or back of the head
When to see a doctor
Many headaches resolve themselves without intervention. However, people who experience headaches regularly should make an appointment with their doctor to identify the underlying cause.
Anyone who experiences the following symptoms alongside a headache must seek medical attention urgently:
vision changes
confusion
fever
head injury
increased pain during movement
neck stiffness
numbness
personality or cognitive changes
rash
sleep disturbances
slurred speech
weakness
Some types of headaches can affect just one side of the head, but when headaches occur only on the same side every time, this is a cause for concern and requires a medical evaluation.
Summary
Headaches are a widespread health complaint, affecting most people at least occasionally.
Most headaches are not a cause for concern. Usually, symptoms will resolve within minutes to hours. Alternatively, people can ease symptoms with OTC medications, lifestyle changes, and home remedies.
People should see a doctor if headaches are severe, persistent, or get progressively worse. Even if a migraine or a cluster headache is responsible for the pain, a doctor can prescribe treatments to manage symptoms and reduce the frequency of the headaches.