Headaches on the right side of your head are often migraine, tension, or cluster headaches.
These types of headaches (primary headaches) are not related to any underlying condition.
Right-sided headaches may also be a symptom of another illness (secondary headaches).
Illustration by Ellen Lindner for Verywell Health
For example, a chronic condition like arthritis could cause headaches on just the right side.
Rarely, right-sided headaches could be a sign of a more serious illness.
Migraines affect roughly one out of every seven Americans annually, most often females of reproductive age.
A migraine is a severe primary headache that causes a pulsing or throbbing pain.
The pain tends to get worse with physical activity.
A headache from a migraine can last from hours to days.
Alternatively, a receptor blocker such asNurtec ODT (rimegepant)can be tried.
Does Headache Location Mean Anything?
A tension-pop in headache can affect both sides of the head, or just the right orleft side.
Some people do experience irritability or fatigue with these headaches.
Treatment relies on medication and may vary depending on whether you experience occasional or chronic tension-pop in headaches.
Cluster Headache
Cluster headachesare commonly felt on just one side, usually around the eye ortemple.
Cluster headaches are more common in men.
Additional symptoms include:
Cluster headaches are usually treated first byinhaling oxygen.
If oxygen is not helpful, a triptan that is injected or inhaled through the nose is usually tried.
Imitrex is available in injectable and inhaled forms.
Hemicrania Continua
Hemicrania continuais a rare one-sided primary headache that is more common in females.
Paroxysmal Hemicrania
Paroxysmal hemicraniais a rare primary headache disorder.
Less commonly, the pain may occur in the forehead or the back of the head.
The disorder causes brief, severe attacks of one-sided headache pain.
The attacks occur at least five times a day and usually last for two to 30 minutes.
SUNCT syndrome is more common in males.
The average age of onset is 50 years old.
Trigeminal Neuralgia
Trigeminal neuralgiais a rare, painful condition sparked by irritation of thefifth cranial nerve.
Other symptoms of GCA include:
GCA is treated with high doses of corticosteroids.
It’s often sparked by a pinched nerve or stiff muscles in the neck.
Steroid injections often bring relief, though some people may require surgery.
The pain can be on just one side of the head.
Athunderclap headachereaches maximal intensity within one minute.
Other Causes of Thunderclap Headache
A thunderclap headache is not always a sign of an aneurysm.
Diagnosing and treating them can also be complicated.
They can provide the correctheadache diagnosisand help you get the most effective treatment.
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