Facial pain can be really disturbing and in certain intensity, symptoms of severe health issues. There several health issues related to the occurrence of pain on the left side of either you face or head. This type of pain commonly occur suddenly and might stay temporarily or more permanently. By paying attention to specific symptoms of the pain, one may determine the main cause, which includes:
1. Sinusitis
Sinusitis is also known as sinus infection, which affects more than 30 million people in the United States. Sinusitis occurs when the opening of your sinuses—small air pockets behind your forehead, nose, eyes, and cheekbones—is blocked by produced mucus. Facial pain caused by this trigger usually occur during allergic reactions or cold. The pain is not severe, occur temporarily, and disappear as soon as your conditions improved.
2. Salivary Gland Infection
This is a viral or bacterial infection affecting your salivary gland or duct. This condition is commonly triggered by aging, inadequate oral hygiene, or other diseases. Pain on the left side of your face might be a response to this issue. In addition to the facial pain, this infection also causes a constant foul taste in the mouth, inability to open your mouth properly, discomfort while eating, and bumps on the side of the neck.
3. Trigeminal Neuralgia
Facial pain occurring on either left or right side of face that often intensify to the head might also be triggered by the case of trigeminal neuralgia. These are the nerves carrying the sensation of pain from the face to the brain. Facial pain caused by trigeminal neuralgia is commonly experienced as an electrical shock or stabbing sensation occurring across the side of your face to the head. In more severe cases, the pain is more intense and instead of comes and goes, this pain is always present and getting progressive. Trigeminal neuralgia—induced pain is commonly triggered by routine acts, such as shaving, tooth brushing, face touching, speaking, and even breeze on the face. Since there is no single health test that can be used to specifically diagnose trigeminal neuralgia, doctors will need your medical history to define your susceptibility to this issue.
4. Temporal Arteritis
When pain occurs on the left side of face and head on people aged above 50, temporal arteritis might be one of the possible causes. This is a condition in which the temporal arteries that supply blood to the head and brain becomes inflamed or in more severe cases, damaged. This condition is also referred as giant cell arteritis. People older than 50 are more susceptible to this condition. According to several studies by American College of Rheumatology, women are more likely to have this issue compared to men. Facial pain caused by this giant cell arteritis is often accompanied by some other symptoms, such as double vision, a throbbing headache across the temple and the left side of the head, fatigue, weakness, nausea, fever, and weight loss.
5. Brain Tumor
Painful sensation on the left side of the face and head may also be triggered by a brain tumor. This is possible as the tumor usually increases the pressure within the skull and damage the nerves and brain tissues. Persistent, sharp pain in the left side of the face and head, vision problems, severe dizziness, speaking difficulties, and behavior changes are the most common symptoms associated with this health issue.
The above possible causes might be related to your occurring facial pain. However, seeking for professional healthcare is highly recommended in order to get relevant diagnose and thus, early treatment. Preparing your health history is important to help the doctors define the main cause of your facial pain. Try to recall your experienced symptoms, intensity of the pain, and medications you might have been taking to ease the pain. This is important as facial pain on the left side of the face and head might be associated to common health issues such as migraines and vertigo, but can also be a sign of more serious diseases that include arteries damage and brain tumor. Early diagnose and treatment are therefore, very crucial.
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