Britannica AI Icon

Quick Summary

Referred headaches occur when pain is felt in the head, but the actual source of the pain is located elsewhere in the body. This phenomenon is a medical term describing pain that is subjectively localized in one region but originates in another.12

Common causes of referred headaches include:
* Eye disorders, such as glaucoma.1
* Infections or tumors in the nasal sinuses.1
* Dental infections.1
* Arthritis in the neck.1

The pain experienced is real, but its origin is not where it is felt.21

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.