Suggest Treatment For Left Sided Headache

Posted on Tue, 14 Jul 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 14 Jul 2015 Answered on

Mon, 3 Aug 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : I have a painful headache on the left hand side of my head that has been there for over 12 hours. My temperature is 36.5 (normal, I think) and I feel ok apart from tired from the headache. I am drinking water regularly. I am on day 3 of my menstrual cycle although I do not usually suffer headaches often with my period. I have an appointment to have a tooth extracted in a few days on the left side of my mouth but it is not painful at all. Should I be concerned about my headache at all?

Answered by Dr. Olsi Taka (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
No reason to panic for now

Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.

Headache is a very common complaint, affecting almost all of us at one time or the other during our lifetime. The causes can be so many, from common flu, stress and anxiety, ear or sinus infection to more threatening ones like stroke, tumor etc. So only from the complaint of headache it is difficult to judge on the origin. If no other symptoms, since it's been only 12 hours, over the counter painkillers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen and watching its evolution is the recommended initial approach.

Elements which would warrant more prompt attention would a very acute onset of headache (we call it thunderclap headache), very intense, increasing headache, visual disturbances, behavior changes, confusion, weakness of the limbs on one side (esp if on the right), fever.

I remain at your disposal for further questions.

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