The following are some possible causes of pressure in your temples.
Tension headacheA tension headache can cause mild to moderate pain and feel like you he a tight band around your head. The dull aching head pain may feel like it spreads to or from your neck and shoulders. Though the cause isn’t well understood, stress is a common trigger.
Episodic tension-type headaches usually only last a few hours, but can persist for a few days. They’re considered chronic if they occur for more than 15 days per month.
MigraineMigraine headaches range from moderate to severe and cause throbbing or pulsing pain on one or both sides of the head. Common symptoms are:
nauseomitingsensitivity to light, sound, and smellsThere are several known triggers for migraines, including:
lack of sleepstresschanges in the weatherred winephysical exertion, which may also worsen symptomsCervicogenic headacheA cervicogenic headache is head pain that comes from a problem in your cervical spine, which includes your neck and the base of your skull. This can include injuries or degenerative conditions, such as osteoarthritis. A bulging disc is the most common cause.
This type of headache is often mistaken for a migraine because the symptoms are similar. Along with migraine symptoms such as nausea and sensitivity to light, you may also experience:
dizzinesslimited range of motion in your neckpain in your neck, shoulders, or armTemporomandibular joint and muscle disorders (TMJ)Temporomandibular joint disorders, commonly known as TMJ, are conditions that cause pain and dysfunction in the joint and muscles responsible for jaw movement. TMJ affects more than 10 million Americans. Occasional jaw pain isn’t serious and is usually temporary, but some people develop long-term problems.
Symptoms of TMJ include:
pain and pressure in your templesradiating pain in any of the muscles involved in chewing, including your face, jaw, or neckjaw stiffness or painful clicking or poppingchange in the way your teeth fit togetherSinus problemsA sinus infection, allergies, and other problems affecting your sinuses can cause pressure in your temples. You may also feel pressure around your forehead, eyes, and cheeks, and pain in your upper teeth.
A sinus infection usually also causes you to feel unwell and is often accompanied by fever, fatigue, and a runny nose. Leaning forward can worsen pain and pressure.
Ear conditionsProblems with your ears, such as earwax buildup or ear infections, can cause pressure in temples and other parts of your head. Your ears may also feel blocked. Middle ear problems can also cause dizziness. These conditions usually affect one side of your head, but can affect both.
MeningitisMeningitis is a swelling of the protective membranes that cover your brain and spinal cord. Though cancer, trauma, and certain drugs can cause meningitis, the most common causes are a bacterial or viral infection. Symptoms of meningitis vary depending on the cause, but common ones of all types include:
headachestiff necksudden feverfatiguenauseairritabilityconfusionViral meningitis usually improves within 7 to 10 days without treatment. Bacterial meningitis can be fatal and needs to be treated with antibiotics right away.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI)A traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when you hit your head or something causes a severe jolt or shaking of your head, such as fall, car accident, or contact with an object. These injuries can range from mild to serious and may or may not result in loss of consciousness. A concussion, even a mild one, is considered a TBI.
Approximately 85 percent of headaches caused by TBI are tension-type. The pain is usually a dull aching and pressure that can be felt in the temples, across the forehead, the back of the head and neck, or all over the head. Other symptoms may include dizziness, sleepiness, and confusion.
TumorRarely, pressure in temples is can be caused by a brain tumor. A brain tumor is a growth of abnormal cells in the brain. Brain tumors can be cancerous or noncancerous and several types exist.
A feeling of pressure is a common symptom of a brain tumor that can worsen as the tumor grows. Other symptoms depend on the location and size of the tumor and may include:
headaches that become more frequent and severevision problemsunexplained nausea or vomitingbalance or coordination problemsspeech difficultiespersonality changes or unusual behiorseizures