London - Most will be familiar with the dull throb of a headache. But for many of us, a pain in the head can be a pain in the face, too.
Researchers found that one in 10 who suffer headaches will also battle pain in their jaw, teeth, cheeks and eye sockets.
The study of nearly 3 000 sufferers found 291 reported symptoms of facial pain when they had a headache.
Around 15 percent of those with cluster headaches – which occur repeatedly and affect only one side of the head – also had facial pain, including stabbing around the eyes. And two percent of the 1 935 migraine sufferers had facial pain, often in their jaw and teeth.
The German researchers, from Hamburg University, said "facial migraine" should be classified as a new illness.
Professor Arne May, who led the study published in the journal Neurology, said: "It’s crucial we understand more about facial pain and whether it is the same disease as the headache, showing up in a different place, or whether they are two different syndromes."
Ways to ease your headache:
- resting in a dark, quiet place
- placing an ice pack or a cold cloth on the forehead
- drinking water
People with chronic migraine should see a doctor about preventive treatment. A doctor may diagnose a person with chronic migraine if they have experienced headaches:
- on more than 15 days per month
- over a period of 3 months
- of which at least eight show symptoms of migraine