I'm Having A Mild Sensation, Not Severe Enough To Call

Posted on Sun, 20 Jan 2019

Question: I'm having a mild sensation, not severe enough to call pain, intermittently, a brief pulse, in my left temple area. First experienced it yesterday, 2 or 3 occasions; more today, maybe 7 or 8 occasions.

Answered by Dr. Vaishalee Punj (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
I will check your blood pressure

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to Ask A Doctor service.

I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.

This could be due to high blood pressure. So first thing would be to check it.

Otherwise it could be tension headache, temporal arteritis or trigeminal neuralgia. Do you have any problem with vision, does it get worse on touching or with any triggers? Any relevant past medical history? Any medicine intake?

Let me know if I can assist you further.
Dr Vaishalee

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Vaishalee Punj (1 hour later)

These are brief (1-2 seconds) pulses. Blood pressure is generally in acceptable range; will check it next time I experience another pulse. I suffered a mild stroke in 2009; have been on simvistatin, niaspan, and one full strength aspirin daily.

Follow up: Dr. Vaishalee Punj (2 minutes later)

No obvious triggers; no vision problems.

Answered by Dr. Vaishalee Punj (51 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
It seems harmless

Detailed Answer:
Hi again

It seems harmless. Migraine, temporal arteritis or trigeminal neuralgia seem less likely. Yes regularly check your blood pressure especially during the episode.
Sometimes the cranial blood vessels may constrict due to cholesterol deposition. Other cause could be sinus or teeth problem. If there are any neurological symptoms of stroke, then an emergency visit would be needed.
A scan of the temporal vessels, carotid vessels and the brain can happen at your convenience. Doesn't seem like an emergency.

Dr Vaishalee

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar