Pain in one side of the head

Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience of varying intensity associated with actual or potential tissue damage. Special receptors are irritated at the site of tissue damage, giving rise to a nerve impulse, which is transmitted through sensory fibers to the brain where it is perceived as pain. Pain is followed by a negative emotional response, accompanied by fear, agitation, or depression – suffering. If pain persists for a long time, a person’s behavior changes: they talk about pain, worry, constantly visit doctors or pharmacists, seek relief, their posture and facial expression change. Pain can be caused by any tissue damage – mechanical, thermal, chemical, inflammatory. Pain that starts suddenly and lasts no longer than 1 month is called acute. Chronic pain is called when it lasts longer than 6 months. If pain lasts longer than 1 month but does not exceed half a year, it is considered subacute.

Source | Author Doctor Nikas Samuolis, reviewed by Prof. Virginijus Šapoka | Vilnius University | Faculty of Medicine | Head of the Department of Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, and Oncology