Lip Twitching And Home Remedies For It

Lip twitching can cause annoying tics or slight muscle spasms around your mouth that can be difficult to control. Although most causes of a twitching lip are harmless, the twitching on the left side or right side of your lip, or your upper or lower lip can be a source of embarrassment.

Very often, lip twitching resolves itself on its own within a few minutes or days. Treating occasional or recurring lip twitching is usually a case of addressing the underlying causes. This usually involves relieving stress, getting proper rest, and eating a healthy diet. In some cases, chronic twitching of the lips or an incessant tremors require medical attention to check for other symptoms.

What are Lip Twitches?

Lip twitching is caused by small muscle contractions around the mouth and lips. According to MedlinePlus, most muscle twitches are minor and even normal.1

Dr. Neil Lava on WebMD says that twitches are symptoms of spasm-like movements of certain muscles. Muscle twitches are also called tics or tremors. Dr. Lava says that most twitching of the muscles, including facial muscles, are harmless and temporary. Usually, lifestyle changes help to manage and treat twitching disorders.2

Sometimes, lip twitching may be accompanied by other symptoms. For example, twitching of the left eye or right eye can also accompany lip trembling on one side of your mouth if the condition is caused by a hemifacial spasm.

Causes of Lip Twitching

First, let’s look at the common causes of upper or lower lip twitching and what can be to blame for occasional muscle spasms around your lips. You will also find out about the more serious causes of why lips can twitch constantly or develop a facial tic that you can’t get rid of.

*Stress

Stress can cause facial muscles and nerves to tighten and cause twitching around your upper or lower lips. It is known that stress can cause a wide range of health issues and facial tics and twitching is just one effect.

The journal Movement Disorders found a link between levels of stress and conditions that cause facial muscle spasms. Researchers found that stress and anxiety aggravate facial spasms and lowering levels of anxiety can help to reduce twitching in the facial muscles.

A study published in Australia found that facial twitching was worse in people who were under high levels of emotional or psychological stress. Stress was directly related to a worsening of facial twitching conditions.

*Fatigue

Feeling extremely tired can also be another factor that is connected with causing your lips to quiver momentarily. Fatigue interferes with how the muscles and nerves in the face and other areas of your body interact and can result in spasms, tics, and minor tremors.

Research published by the UW Medicine Clinic showed that twitching was more common in patients when they were fatigued. In some cases, this muscle twitching resulted in an aching sensation around the affected area.

*Excessive caffeine intake

Involuntary facial movements around your mouth can sometimes be due to consuming too many caffeinated products. Drinking too much coffee or energy drinks can affect your central nervous system and cause your muscles to twitch.

According to Dr. Weil, large amounts of caffeine in the body can cause twitching and other unpleasant side effects. Usually, twitching will go away when you reduce your caffeine intake or cut it out altogether.6

According to doctors from the Mayo Clinic, you shouldn't consume more than 4 cups of regular coffee a day (or the equivalent in other caffeinated drinks)

*Alcohol or drug withdrawal

Facial tics involving your mouth and lip muscles are sometimes experienced by people when they give up alcohol or addictive drugs.

READ ALSO: Must Read For All Ladies: What Spotting Is and What It Look Like?

The National Institutes of Health reports that muscle tremors are frequently experienced with alcohol withdrawal. This is called enhanced physiological tremor and can affect any muscle in the body. Usually, once the cause is corrected, the tremors and twitching go away.

*Hemifacial spasm

Sudden muscle contractions in your face that you can’t control and which can affect your lips, mouth, and eye could be caused by a hemifacial spasm. Repetitive twitching and tics can occur on your face, around your lips, or in your eyelids if your facial nerve is damaged or pressed in any way.

According to Patient.info, hemifacial spasms can result in involuntary twitching in both top and bottom lips like you are pouting your lips. Also, you may experience involuntary right eye twitching or left eye twitching. In some cases, the twitching can spread to other parts of your face; however, hemifacial twitching usually only affects one side of the face at a time.

*Potassium deficiency

Sometimes lip twitching is due to a potassium deficiency that causes muscles and nerves to contract involuntarily. Potassium is an important mineral to keep blood healthy and control proper heart function.

Having a lack of potassium in the body has been linked to muscle twitches and spasms. According to researchers from the University of Maryland, potassium plays a role in smooth muscle contraction and muscle function. A lack of potassium can cause muscle cramps in various parts of the body.

*Side effect of certain medications

Twitching of the lips can be a side effect of taking certain medications. Mouth tremors, tics, and involuntary jerking movements of your lips can happen especially when taking medication for neurological conditions.

According to researchers from Stanford Medicine, some antipsychotic drugs can cause spontaneous, uncontrollable movements of the lips, tongue, and mouth. Usually, any kind of occasional or chronic twitching that is associated with medication resolves itself when the treatment is changed or stopped.

If you have any concerns about the medication you are taking and the possibility that it could be linked with lip twitching, you should talk to your doctor about it.

Causes of Chronic Lip Twitching

The most common reasons why your lip can twitch from time to time are usually harmless and resolve themselves by getting enough rest and making other lifestyle changes. However, there are some more serious conditions that can manifest themselves as small jerking spasms around your lips.

*Hypoparathyroidism

Lip twitching might be one of the symptoms of hypoparathyroidism. This is a condition in which your body secretes abnormally low levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH) that regulates and maintains a balance of your body’s calcium and phosphorus.

Doctors from the Mayo Clinic report that not having enough parathyroid hormone can cause annoying twitching and muscle spasms around your mouth, arms, hands, and throat.11 There can be several factors that cause hypoparathyroidism and your doctor will take some blood tests to find out the cause.

*Bell’s palsy

A chronic and recurrent tremor of the upper lip may happen when a viral infection has damaged your facial nerve. This is a condition called Bell’s palsy and it may also cause a visible droop on one side of your face.

According to doctors from the Mayfield Clinic, Bell’s palsy is sometimes to blame for a hemifacial spasm that causes nerves and muscles in your face to contract in jerking motions.

If your lips regularly twitch and you notice that one side of your face droops slightly, you should visit your doctor for a checkup. Paralysis in your face can also be one of the signs of a mild stroke.

*Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s disease is commonly associated with muscle tremors that affect the hands. However, Parkinson’s disease can also affect the facial muscles and cause slight, noticeable tremors in the face. This happens as levels of dopamine drop in the brain and affect muscle function, control, and movement.

According to the University of Maryland, some of the early symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are tremors in the face, arms, legs, difficulty walking and keeping balance, as well as difficulty eating as the disease progresses.

Of course, occasional lip twitching doesn’t mean that you have a degenerative condition. Usually, Parkinson’s disease is diagnosed by the gradual appearance of many symptoms together.

*Tourette’s syndrome

Tourette’s syndrome can cause various tics and twitches in the body and can also be a cause of constant and frequent lip twitching. Tourette’s disorder or syndrome shows up as involuntary muscular jerks or abrupt tics.

Doctors from Johns Hopkins Medicine say that usually mild tics that affect the face and arms appear in children between the ages of 5 and 10 years old. Over time, the tics and twitching can become more pronounced and affect other areas of the body and speech.

Essential tremors

Some people’s lips and mouth are affected by essential tremor which causes uncontrollable jerking movements. It is thought that essential tremor is a nerve disorder and may be passed on genetically.

READ ALSO: Causes, Treatments, Prevention For Headache Above or Behind Left Eye (Full Details)

Dr. Deborah Burke from Medscape explains that essential tremor can affect arms or legs and can happen when a person expresses emotion or becomes fatigued. Dr. Burke says that tremors may also affect the lips, face, and jaw. Usually, mild symptoms of essential tremor don’t require any treatment and learning how to reduce anxiety can help prevent mild muscle spasms.13

DiGeorge Syndrome

A chromosomal disorder called DiGeorge syndrome could be to blame for some lip twitching or tremors in some people. It is thought that a missing chromosome causes various symptoms, including muscle spasms. Usually, a blood test can confirm if a person has DiGeorge syndrome.

According to Dr. Lori Smith on Medical News Today, DiGeorge syndrome has many and varied symptoms that may not appear in all cases. However, one of the symptoms of DeGeorge syndrome is arm, throat, hand, or mouth spasms.14

Multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) can be difficult to detect in its early stages because the symptoms are very mild and varied and can be associated with more common conditions.

However, according to Dr. Charles Patrick Davis on MedicineNet, facial muscle twitching is one of the symptoms that MS suffers complain of in its early stages. Other symptoms are vision problems, memory loss, problems with balance and movement, and speech problems.17

Naturally Treatment For Lip Twitching

In most cases, you can treat lip twitching naturally by making some positive lifestyle changes. These changes to your habits and diet will not only reduce instances of your lips or mouth having small spasms, but they will make you feel better and healthier.

*Adopt a healthy lifestyle

Taking care of your body is one of the best ways to prevent and treat lip twitching. Making sure that you enjoy a well-balanced diet will help nourish your body with enough vitamins and minerals to keep your nerves, muscles, and arteries healthy and functioning correctly.

For example, getting enough sleep is one way to cure lip twitching that is caused by stress, tiredness, and a lack of energy. To help you get a good night’s rest and sleep well, you can try one of the best 12 herbs for insomnia or these essential oils for better sleep. Even having a glass of warm milk and honey before retiring at night has been shown to help improve sleep patterns.

It’s also important to make sure that you eat a varied diet with plenty of vitamins and minerals. For example, some common vitamin deficiencies in Western diets are vitamin B12, iron, omega-3, magnesium, and vitamin D.

Magnesium is essential to allow the body to absorb enough potassium. This can help to treat lip twitching that happens occasionally due to a potassium deficiency. Including plenty of leafy green vegetables as well as beans and lentils in your diet is a great way to address a potassium deficiency naturally.

*Reduce stimulants

If you find that lip twitching has become an annoying condition that causes embarrassment, you should cut out or limit the amount of coffee or caffeinated drinks that you consume. You may find that after a few days your lip twitching has gone away and you are no longer bothered by these irritating muscle spasms in your mouth.

However, you may not need to completely stop drinking coffee. There is some research that 2 cups of coffee can have a positive effect on the liver.

*Limit alcohol intake

Alcohol can have both stimulating effect and depressing effect on your mind, and alcohol can stay in your body for longer than you think. If you are a heavy drinker and you decide to quit alcohol, you may find that hand or facial tremors occur in the first few days. However, these will pass and limiting alcohol intake to safe levels has many health benefits.

*Reduce stress

There are many natural ways to cope with stress naturally which will reduce stress-induced lip twitching. For example, consuming more ginger daily in your diet can help calm your body as well as boost your digestive system. Also, herbs like chamomile, St. Johns’ Wort, lavender, and various essential oils all have stress-relieving properties.

Also, meditation and yoga exercises have been found to help reduce anxiety and stress.

Therapy to Reduce Chronic Lip Twitching

If you have chronic lip twitching, and trying to relax and reduce your intake of stimulants haven’t helped, your doctor may recommend therapy to reduce lip spasms and tics.

According to doctors from the National Health Service, behavioral therapy can help treat tics and facial twitching. With the help of a therapists, you can learn to manage the uncontrollable jerking movements in your lips, facial muscles, and other places where twitching happens.18

When to See a Doctor

Most cases of lip twitching are harmless and the involuntary twitching resolves on its own. Some people are more prone to stress and other factors that could mean that they suffer twitching around the mouth more frequently.

READ ALSO: Power Of Mango Leafs In The Body System Over Kidney Treatment

However, in some cases, lip and facial twitching that doesn't go away or becomes chronic may need to be referred to a doctor. If lip twitching is accompanied by other symptoms like general muscle weakness, one side of your face droops, or you have vision or other neurological problems, then you should visit your doctor for a checkup.

Read More »

Must Read For All Ladies: What Spotting Is and What It Look Like?

NOTE: This post is for adult, go back if you are under +18.

Spotting is light bleeding that can look like the start of your regular menstrual period but happens before or after your period. Although you may be worried about light vaginal bleeding between your monthly periods, there usually isn't anything to worry about.

Spotting looks like small dark brown spots or light pink marks on your underwear which makes it possible to tell apart from regular menstrual bleeding.

Spotting between your periods may sometimes be viewed as normal and can be caused by stress, using birth control, or even a sign that ovulation has occurred. In fact, implantation spotting before your period is due could be a sign that you are pregnant. However, there are some conditions where vaginal spotting when you don’t have your period can be a cause for concern. Uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, infections, and cancer can cause light to heavy vaginal bleeding and may be associated with abdominal pain, fever, and pain during bowel movements. Some spotting can occur during pregnancy and you should always speak to your doctor or obstetrician about the bleeding.

What is Spotting?

Spotting is referred to by doctors as abnormal vaginal bleeding. According to staff from the Mayo Clinic, spotting is when you notice small amounts of blood when you are not expecting your period. The spots of blood are often seen after wiping when you have used the bathroom or you may notice them on your underwear.1

According to Dr. William Blahd on WebMD, light spotting has many causes and doesn’t necessarily mean that you have a serious condition. For example, Dr. Blahd says that some light bleeding can happen with ovulation and even in pregnancy, and some minimal spotting can be considered normal.2

How To Differentiate Between Spotting And Period

Knowing what spotting looks like and when it happens can help you tell the difference between regular menstrual flow and spotting. For some women, spotting can be the first sign that their menstrual period has started. So, telling spotting apart from regular menstrual bleeding requires that you observe and know what is normal with your monthly cycle.

What is considered a light period?

Having your period marks the start of your regular menstrual cycle. According to Dr. Traci Johnson on WebMD, what is considered “normal” depends on each woman and their menstrual cycle. In general, a light period is one where bleeding lasts a short time and the blood flow is relatively light. For example, some women have very light periods that only last 2-3 days with light blood flow.3 Light blood flow might be as little as 10 ml, or 2 teaspoons, of blood lost during the period.

However, even a longer period where bleeding occurs for around 5 days and is heavy, is also “normal” for some women.

What Does Spotting Look Like?

Before we look at the conditions that can cause spotting, there are some ways to identify spotting and recognize any accompanying symptoms.

*Blood flow associated with spotting

Blood flow associated with spotting will generally be very minimal. For example, the American Pregnancy Association says that spotting that is associated with implantation bleeding may last from a few hours up to 2 days.5 Other conditions may cause regular spotting between your periods such as using birth control or ovulation.

*Color of spotting

One way to know what spotting looks like is to look at the color of spotting. Blood that isn’t a result of menstruation is usually a different color from regular menstrual bleeding. Because blood from spotting is generally older than menstrual blood, spotting may be a darker, brown color that looks like rust marks or spots on underwear. Other causes of spotting may cause a lighter, pinkish color and may or may not be accompanied with discharge.

*Spotting during menstrual cycle

Spotting in the middle of your menstrual cycle may be a normal occurrence for many women. According to the American Journal of Epidemiology, mid-cycle spotting can happen at the same time as ovulation and may cause light bleeding for 1 or 2 days.

*Other symptoms of spotting

Along with light pink or dark brown spots occurring occasionally between periods, some conditions can cause other symptoms. For example, Dr. Jacqueline Payne on Patient.info says that you may experience some abdominal pain or cramping and suffer from general pelvic discomfort. Or, infections can cause itching or vaginal discharge along with the abnormal vaginal bleeding.

Signs of Period Bleeding

In order to know what spotting is and what it looks like, you should get to know your own monthly cycle. This will help you recognize any abnormal or unusual bleeding that could require a visit to your doctor.

READ ALSO: Surprising Effective Ways To Stay Fit And Healthy

Although some women have spotting at the onset or end of their period, menstrual bleeding is not the same as spotting.

*The frequency of period bleeding.

Even if you have irregular periods, menstrual bleeding follows a cycle. Doctors from the Mayo Clinic say that the menstrual cycle can last from 21 to 35 days in length, with 28 days being the average.8

*Menstrual bleeding pattern.

Bleeding that happens in time with your period usually starts as very light bleeding or spotting and gradually gets heavier. The American Journal of Epidemiology reported that during the first 3 days women experience regular heavier bleeding. This gradually becomes lighter and the bleeding last on an average of 5 days.

Premenstrual symptoms.

About a week before your period is due, hormonal changes in your body can cause certain premenstrual symptoms. Doctors from the Cleveland Clinic say that some of the more common symptoms of menstruation are cramping in the abdomen and lower back, moodiness, food craving, tender breasts, and outbreaks of acne.

Spotting During Pregnancy – Is It Normal?

One of the first visible signs of pregnancy in many women is implantation bleeding. Spotting in early pregnancy happens when the fertilized egg attaches itself to the uterus lining. According to Dr. Trina Pagano on WebMD, implantation bleeding usually occurs from 6 to 12 days after conception.10

Not all women who are pregnant experience implantation bleeding and for some who do, the spotting could be so light that it is hardly noticeable. Dr. Traci Johnson on WebMD says that some women mistake implantation spotting with a light period that lasts a few days.

Around about this time you may notice that your breasts start getting bigger and you get tired easily. In time, you may start experiencing nausea and vomiting (morning sickness) and an increased urge to pee as the first signs that you are pregnant.

Many women are, of course, concerned if they notice spotting during their pregnancy. According to the journal Annals Epidemiology, many causes of vaginal bleeding during pregnancy are not serious. Researchers found that about two-thirds of pregnant women experience some spotting and light bleeding during pregnancy. Usually, the pregnancy spotting lasted between 1 and 3 days.

However, because bleeding during pregnancy can also be a sign of miscarriage, you should talk to your obstetrician about any bleeding, especially if it is heavy.

*What pregnancy spotting looks like

Pregnancy spotting looks like light spotting that has a pinkish or dark brown look to it. According to Dr. Nivin Todd on WebMD, spotting associated with pregnancy is lighter in color than regular menstrual blood that happens at the start of the menstrual period. Usually, implantation spotting is noticed before you start suffering from nausea and other pregnancy symptoms.

Causes of Spotting

Now that you know what spotting is and how spotting looks like, let’s look briefly at some of the main causes of mid-cycle spotting. As you will see, some light bleeding before your period or after your period can be classed as normal and nothing to worry about.

*Ovulation

A common cause of spotting that is harmless between your monthly periods is ovulation. This type of spotting looks like very light pink discharge or blood. According to Professor Dr. Andrew Kaunitz at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Florida, fluctuation in hormone levels can cause light vaginal spotting at the time of ovulation. Spotting is also common in women who have irregular ovulation patterns.

*Birth control

Certain birth control methods can also be a reason for spotting with no period. Doctors from the National Health Service report that oral contraceptives can be to blame for irregular bleeding when you don’t have your period. This is especially noticeable in the first 3 months of using oral contraceptives. Also, intrauterine devices can cause spotting in the weeks after insertion. However, in time the spotting due to birth control should normalize.

*Stress

Stress can play havoc with your hormones and cause spotting and light bleeding when you don’t expect your period. The Journal of Family Practice found that psychological stress can be connected with irregular vaginal bleeding. Researchers were able to identify that personal stress was to blame for some cases of abnormal uterine bleeding.17

*Implantation bleeding

Another common reason for noticing evidence of spotting before your periods is implantation bleeding. Although not all women who become pregnant show signs of spotting, the National Institutes of Health report that about one-quarter of pregnant women have some form of light spotting that resembles rusty-colored marks on their underwear.18

*Sexual intercourse

Sometimes you may notice spotting marks on bed-sheets after sexual intercourse. According to Dr. Traci Johnson on WebMD, there can be many reasons for light spotting after being intimate with your partner. Some of these reasons for spotting after sex are inflammation of the cervix, cervical polyps, friction during intercourse, or genital sores. If you frequently notice spotting after sex, you should visit your doctor for a checkup.

READ ALSO: Power Of Mango Leafs In The Body System Over Kidney Treatment

*Ovarian cysts

Ovarian cysts can cause abnormal vaginal bleeding and are one of the reasons not to ignore spotting after your period. Dr. Irina Burd from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine says that ovarian cysts can cause spotting as well as pelvic cramping, bloating, and painful bowel movements.

*Uterine fibroids

Small growths on your uterus called uterine fibroids can cause light vaginal bleeding when you don’t have your period. Dr. Melissa Conrad Stöppler on MedicineNet says that fibroids in your reproductive system can cause bleeding, pain in the abdominal area, and possibly the need to empty your bladder frequently.

A similar condition is uterine polyps that can also be a reason for frequent spotting between your periods. You may also notice that your periods become heavier if you have uterine polyps.

*Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)

Hypothyroidism describes a condition where the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone. Usually, an underactive thyroid gland causes fatigue, hair loss, and a slower metabolism. However, a study published in the International Journal of Recent Trends in Science and Technology found that hypothyroidism is connected with irregular vaginal bleeding and can cause heavier periods than normal.

*Perimenopause

If you are approaching the menopause you may notice more irregularities with your menstrual cycle and increased episodes of vaginal spotting. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, fluctuations in hormone levels in the months leading up to the menopause can cause spotting and abnormal bleeding.

Any vaginal bleeding after you have gone through the menopause should be reported to your doctor as this can be a sign of more serious conditions.

*Pelvic inflammatory disease

An infection in your vagina can cause spotting without having your period. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is often transmitted through sexual contact, however, other infections can also cause PID. The common symptoms of PID include bleeding between your periods, experiencing spotting after sexual activity, and a painful burning sensation when you urinate.

*Cancer

Vaginal bleeding is one sign of uterine cancer. Doctors from the National Health Service say that the signs may start off as light spotting and get heavier over time. However, in most cases, abnormal bleeding isn’t a sign of cancer but any vaginal bleeding after the menopause is considered abnormal and you should speak to your doctor about it.

*When to See a Doctor For Spotting

Most cases of spotting that you notice on your underwear or toilet tissue after wiping are nothing to worry about. According to doctors from the Mayo Clinic, the best way to know if your spotting is normal or not is to keep track of your menstrual cycle. This helps you know how to recognize spotting and tell it apart from regular menstrual bleeding. You should record the heaviness of your flow and any pain or abnormal bleeding you experience.26

Doctors generally recommend making an appointment with your doctor for irregular or abnormal spotting in the following circumstances:27

• You are postmenopausal and notice any kind of vaginal bleeding.
• You are pregnant and have unusual bleeding that is light to heavy.
• You have signs of a vaginal infection like swelling around the labia, itching, smelly discharge, or a fever.
• You have concerns about what your spotting looks like or irregular vaginal bleeding.

Read More »

Causes, Treatments, Prevention For Headache Above or Behind Left Eye (Full Details)

Experiencing a headache above or behind the left eye can have a debilitating effect on your daily activities. Pain that occurs around your left eye can start off as a dull throb and gradually becomes more intense and turn into sharp stabbing pain. Along with the headache on your forehead above the left eye, you may feel pressure in your head that can make concentrating and focusing difficult.

Firstly You Need To Know What Are Headaches Behind or Above the Left Eye?

The term headache is used to describe any kind of pain in your head. The pain can affect just one side of your head or it can affect both sides at the same time.

According to Dr. Benjamin Wedro on MedicineNet, the pain on your left side of your head or right side originates from irritation or inflammation in the tissues and nerves in your head. Also, muscles around your right or left eye, sinuses and ears can also be a reason for headaches if they become strained or tired.

There are 3 types of headaches and they are listed below:

• Primary headaches include migraines and cluster headaches that are commonly felt behind the left eye or right eye only.
• Secondary headaches are those that are caused by an infection or injury. For example, a blocked sinus on the left side of your head will cause pain above or below your left eye.
• Cranial neuralgia headaches are often caused by irritated or inflamed nerves and can cause facial pain and headaches on one side of your head.

Symptoms of Headaches Above Left Eye or Behind the Left Eye

Apart from a dull throbbing pain behind your left eye, one-sided headaches can also cause other symptoms. Dr. Wedro says that headaches can also cause squeezing, incessant, or intermittent stabbing pains on one part of the face or the whole head. If the headache around your left forehead is caused by a migraine, you may also have nausea and vomiting.

READ ALSO: 5 Ways To Stay Free From Back Pains

Some people find that they experience pain above the left eye after exercising, when they are more tired, or an excruciating headache may come on without any warning. Headaches can also be chronic, meaning that you may suffer from frequent headaches ranging from mild pain to unrelenting throbbing pain on the affected side of your head.

Main Causes of Headache Above or Behind the Left Eye

Many people experience a headache above or behind their left eye at some point in their lives. In fact, headaches are one of the most common types of body pain that we have. Here are some of the possible reasons why you can experience headaches above your left eye and they are listed below.

*Tension headaches above or behind the eye

From all the headaches that can affect one side of your head, tension headaches are the most common. The pain with a tension headache usually starts at the back of your head and can then spreads to other areas of your head.

Dr. Wedro on MedicineNet made it clare tension headaches often end up causing intense pressure at one of your temples just above your eye. The headache over your left eye may not have a debilitating effect, but it can interfere with your daily activities.1

It is thought that stress causes inflammation and pain in the muscles that cover the skull. The stress can be physical or emotional and it causes spasms in the muscles that can cause dull to severe pain.

*Migraine

Migraines are among the most common types of headaches that you can get behind your left eye. Of course, migraines can also affect your right eye, however, they usually just affect one side of your head at a time.

According to Dr. Anne Poinier on WebMD, migraines are more than just severe headaches that affect one side of your head. Migraines cause throbbing pain behind your left eye or right eye. Migraines are often preceded by seeing spots or flashing lights and you may have a numb feeling on the affected side of your face.

READ ALSO: Surprising Effective Ways To Stay Fit And Healthy

Some triggers of migraines include feeling hungry, stress, poor sleeping habits, red wine, or strong odors.

Another type of migraine that can also cause vision problems in the affected eye is an ocular migraine. Dr. Brian Wachler on WebMD says that ocular migraines can cause temporary vision loss in your left eye or right eye along with severe throbbing pain.

*Cluster headaches

Cluster headaches can cause pain over your left eye and can happen in groups. So, a cluster headache could cause constant sharp pains behind your left eye 2 or 3 times a day for a few weeks or months and then disappear for many months.

According to Dr. Neil Lava from the Emory University in Atlanta, cluster headaches can also affect your facial muscles. You may find that as well as pain around your left eye, your eyelid droops and becomes watery and red. You may also have a runny nose on the left side nostril.

*Exertion headaches

Physical activity can also be to blame for a headache above your left eye. Usually, bouts of strenuous physical exercise will bring on a headache in different areas of the head.

Dr. Mary Lowth on Patient.info says that even something as simple as coughing or straining with a bowel movement can be enough to bring on an exertional headache. Dr. Lowth says that these kinds of headaches tend to be felt behind the eyes and at the back of the head and last about 20 minutes.

*Sinus infection

A blocked left sinus can cause a buildup of pressure in the area under your eye on that side of your face and cause a headache behind your left eye. Usually, you can tell the difference between a sinus headache and other types of headaches because you will have a stuffy nose, cough, and sore throat.

According to physician Dr. Carol DerSarkissian, clogged sinuses will cause head pain that is severe around the forehead and behind the eyes. You may also find that the affected areas are tender to touch and may get worse when you move or bend over.

*Eye Strain

Eye strain is another common cause of suffering from recurrent headaches behind the left eye. Eyestrain can happen for a number of reasons and is common among workers who have to concentrate on computer screens or drive for long periods of time. Strong sunlight, being overly tired, or having an eye problem can also lead to eye strain.

Doctors from the Mayo Clinic say that having to strain your eyes for long periods of time can lead to headaches and problems with your eyes. For example, along with a headache, your eyes may become sore and irritated and you may have difficulty keeping your eyes open.

To prevent headaches behind one or both of your eyes caused by eyestrain, you should take breaks when doing close work or concentrating at a computer screen. If you still have eye strain, you should get your eyes checked to make sure that vision problems aren’t to blame for eyestrain.

*Trigeminal neuralgia

Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic condition that can cause pain on only one side of your face. The pain happens when one or more of the cranial nerves in your face get trapped or damaged. If nerves around your left eye are affected, then you may have sharp shooting pains behind the left eye.

Dr. Mary Lowth on Patient.info says that the pain trigeminal neuralgia causes can feel like short electric shocks around the eyes, nose, forehead, or scalp. This usually just affects one side of your face.5Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine Dr. David Kiefer says that the brief shooting pains on the left side of your face or right side may be brief and be triggered by something touching or pressing that side of your face.

*Tumors

In rare cases, a brain tumor can cause a chronic headache that won’t go away. Depending on where the tumor is and if it is pressing on nerves or tissue, you may have a constant headache behind one of your eyes. However, Dr. Charles Davis on MedicineNet says that frequent headaches will be accompanied with serious symptoms like seizures, mood changes, problems keeping balance, or changes in speech, hearing or vision.

*Brain infection

Another uncommon condition that can cause a headache behind one eye is a brain infection like meningitis or encephalitis. These conditions cause inflammation in the tissue surrounding the brain and can cause severe headaches and a stiff neck along with vomiting and confusion. Dr. Igor Boyarsky on eMedicineHealth says that doctors will usually carry out an eye exam to see if there is any swelling on the main nerve behind the eye.

READ ALSO: Reasons You Should Never Receive Phone Calls With Your Right Ear But Only With Your Left Ear

*Aneurysm

A rare cause of pain behind one eye is an aneurysm. An aneurysm is when a blood vessel in the brain breaks open and pushes on part of the brain. Although an aneurysm can cause right or left eye pain, Dr. Amit Shelat on MedlinePlus says that other symptoms include double vision or complete loss of vision, neck pain, a stiff neck, and ringing in the ears. There may also be more serious symptoms, like muscle weakness or seizures.

*Trauma

Although trauma to your left eye will result in pain around the eye area, trauma to your head can cause other types of headaches after the initial trauma has healed.

The journal Current Pain and Headache Reports states that post-traumatic headaches are common after head injuries. This can cause cluster headaches even weeks after the injury. These cluster headaches can affect just one side of the head and are often a reason for headaches above the left eye.

*Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a degenerative condition of the eye and can cause eye pain in the affected eye. The symptoms of glaucoma can come on gradually, and if not treated properly, can lead to eventual blindness.

The type of glaucoma that can cause headaches behind one or both eyes is acute angle-closure glaucoma. Doctors from the Mayo Clinic say that the symptoms of this kind of glaucoma are severe headaches with pain in the eye, blurred vision, and halos around lights.

If you experience a sharp headache behind one of your eyes along with nausea, vomiting, and vision problems, you should see your doctor immediately.

*Giant cell arteritis

Inflammation in the arteries in your head and neck can cause aching pains around one or both of your temples. Very often, the pain around one or both eyes can come on suddenly and the area can also feel tender to touch.

Doctors from the National Health Service say that the type of headache pain associated with giant cell arteritis can be excruciating. It is estimated that about two-thirds of people experience sudden pain at the front or side of their head and painkillers usually are ineffective at easing the pain.

Remedy/Treatments For Headaches Behind and Above the Left Eye

Usually, you can get quick relief from a headache behind or above the left eye using some simple home remedies. These remedies help to reduce any inflammation and irritation in the head and help reduce the pain of a headache behind one or both of your eyes.

*Cold pack

A cold pack placed on the affected temple or forehead can help to relieve most headaches. The cold helps to reduce blood flow to the affected part of your head and also help to calm the nerves that may be irritated.

According to the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, studies have shown that cold therapy is very effective at relieving head pain caused by migraines. It was found that cold packs placed on the eyes or forehead helped to relieve migraine symptoms. With other people, cold therapy helped to boost the effectiveness of analgesics.

How to use:

For quick and easy relief from any kind of headache behind or above your left eye, this is how to use a cold pack:

1. Dip a washcloth in cold water and squeeze out the excess.
2. Place the cold compress on your left eye and leave for 15-20 minutes to help relieve the pain around the eye.
3. Every so often, dip the washcloth in cold water to keep the compress cool and to help speed up pain relief.

*Use Essential Oils

Many essential oils have pain relieving properties and can help get rid of a headache quickly. Certain essential oils also help calm the nerves which can promote pain relief if you suffer from tension headaches, migraines, or stress-related sore head.

The journal European Neurology reported that lavender oil has proved to be effective in relieving headache pain quickly from migraine sufferers.16 Also, the journal Phytomedicine published information on research showing that peppermint oil and eucalyptus oil help to induce a cooling effect on the temples and relieve headache pain.

How to use:

You can easily make your own headache remedy to relieve migraines, trigeminal neuralgia, sinus headaches and other types of headaches. This is what you should do:

1. Add 10 to 12 drops of essential oil to 1 oz. of carrier oil such as jojoba oil, olive oil, sweet almond oil or avocado oil.
2. Gently massage the natural headache remedy to both of your temples and the back of your neck.
3. Repeat 2-3 times a day when you suffer from a headache to help relieve tension and ease headache pain above or behind the eye.

There are many other essential oils with properties that relieve headaches. These include chamomile, basil, clove oil, ginger essential oil, and frankincense.

READ ALSO: Check Out How A Father Saves Baby's Life By Taking Her To Hospital Only Because The Baby Was ‘Crying’

*Reduce stress to relieve headaches from behind left eye

Relieving stress is an important way to prevent various types of headaches. Stress is known to cause tension and exertional headaches in people and can also aggravate headaches if you are prone to migraines and trigeminal neuralgia.

*Get enough sleep

Making sure you get enough sleep every night may be just what you need to get rid of a recurring headache behind your left eye. Sleep is an important way to help your body relax and look after your physical health in general. However, for people who suffer from cluster headaches, frequent migraines or other types of headaches, sleep is even more important.

According to the journal Headaches, good sleep patterns have been shown to help reduce the frequency of migraines and also lessen their intensity if they do happen. Other research has shown that a reason for waking up with a migraine is because of bad sleep patterns.18

*Massage therapy to treat headaches above left eye

Another way to relieve dull throbbing pains behind your left eye caused by migraines or headaches is to massage your temples and neck. This can help to relieve tension under your scalp and give instant relief from headache pain.

According to the American Journal of Public Health, massage therapy can effectively relieve chronic tension headaches and prevent them from recurring. It was found that during the therapy, the duration and intensity of tension headaches decreased significantly.

*Prevention Headaches Above or Behind Left Eye

There are some ways to help prevent headaches and reduce the frequency that migraines occur. You can try some of these ways to see if they can help prevent headaches behind your eyes:

• Avoid excessive coffee intake as this is known to trigger migraines in some people.
• Keep to a regular sleeping schedule and try to wake up at the same time every day.
• Keep yourself fit with regular exercise – try to exercise at least 30 minutes 3 times a week.
• Take regular breaks and flex your shoulders and neck if you have to sit for long periods of time.

*When to See a Doctor

The majority of headaches are not symptoms of serious conditions. Usually, the only serious side effect of an intense headache behind your left eye is the pain, discomfort, and irritation that it causes.

However, chronic headaches or acute headaches that come on suddenly and are accompanied by other symptoms can be a cause for concern. According to researchers from Harvard Medical School, you should see a doctor for your headache symptoms if you experience any of the following:20

• You notice a major change in the type or pattern of headache you experience.
• You have a very severe headache.
• The headache pain gets steadily worse or causes sharp stabbing when you cough or move.
• You or other person notice changes in your speech or cognitive abilities.
• A throbbing headache is accompanied with a stiff neck, slurred speech, weakness, or seizures.
• A severe headache interferes with your daily activities.
• You get headaches after a severe blow to your head.

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