- 1. Migraine
- 2. Stress and anxiety
- 3. Sinusitis
- 4. Hypertension
- 5. Labyrinthitis
- 6. Dental problems
- 7. Meningitis
- 8. Bad posture
- When to go to the doctor
The sensation of pressure in the head is a very common type of pain and can be caused by stressful situations, poor posture, dental problems and can also be a sign of a disease such as migraine, sinusitis, labyrinthitis and even meningitis.
Generally, creating the habit of performing relaxation activities, meditation, as in yoga exercises, doing acupuncture and using painkillers are measures that relieve pressure on the head. However, if the pain is constant and lasts for more than 48 hours in a row, it is recommended to seek assistance from a general practitioner or neurologist to assess the causes of this sensation and indicate the most appropriate treatment.
1. Migraine
Migraine is a type of headache, more common in women, which is caused by changes in the blood flow of the brain and in the activity of cells of the nervous system, and can be hereditary, that is, people who have close family members with this condition. they can also develop migraine.
Migraine symptoms are triggered by some situations such as stress, climate changes, caffeine-based food intake and can vary from person to person, but are usually head pressure, with an average duration of 3 hours and can reach 72 hours, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound and difficulty concentrating. See more other migraine symptoms.
What to do: if the feeling of pressure in the head, present in migraine, is constant or worsens after 3 days it is necessary to consult a neurologist to indicate the most appropriate treatment, which is usually based on the use of medications to relieve pain as analgesics, muscle relaxants and triptans, known as sumatriptan and zolmitriptan.
2. Stress and anxiety
Emotional stress and anxiety can cause physical changes, such as the feeling of pressure in the head, and this is because these feelings make the body's muscles more stretched and lead to an increase in the hormone cortisol.
In addition to the pressure on the head, these feelings can cause discomfort, cold sweat, shortness of breath and increased heart rate, so it is important to take measures that contribute to reducing stress and anxiety such as doing activities that involve meditation, such as yoga , and perform some type of aromatherapy. Learn some more steps to overcome anxiety.
What to do: if stress and anxiety do not improve with changing habits and relaxation activities, it is important to consult a psychiatrist, as these feelings often affect personal life, hinder relationships between people and influence work, being necessary the use of specific medications, such as anxiolytics.
3. Sinusitis
Sinusitis occurs due to inflammation caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi, in the sinuses, which are bony cavities that are around the nose, cheeks and around the eyes. This inflammation causes an accumulation of secretions, causing an increase in pressure in these areas, so it is possible to feel the sensation of pressure in the head.
Symptoms other than pressure on the head may appear, such as nasal obstruction, greenish or yellowish phlegm, cough, excessive tiredness, burning eyes and fever.
What to do: if these symptoms appear, the ideal is to seek an otorhinolaryngologist to indicate the correct treatment that consists of the use of anti-inflammatory drugs and, in cases where sinusitis is caused by bacteria, the use of antibiotics may be recommended. To improve the symptoms of this disease it is also necessary to drink plenty of water during the day and wash your nose with saline, to drain the accumulated secretions. See more about how to do nasal wash to unclog your nose.
4. Hypertension
Arterial hypertension, better known as high blood pressure, is a chronic disease that is characterized by keeping blood pressure in the arteries very high and usually happens when the values exceed 140 x 90 mmHg, or 14 by 9. If the person measures the pressure and the values are high does not necessarily mean that it is high blood pressure, so to be sure of the diagnosis, it is necessary to carry out a continuous pressure check.
The symptoms of high blood pressure can be pressure on the head, pain in the neck, nausea, blurred vision and malaise and the appearance of these signs are associated with the use of cigarettes, consumption of alcoholic beverages in excess, ingestion of fatty and high-salt foods, lack of physical exercise and obesity.
What to do: high blood pressure has no cure, but there are drugs to control the values and should be recommended by a general practitioner or cardiologist. In addition to medication, a change in lifestyle needs to be made, such as eating a balanced, low-salt diet. Check out more about how treatment for high blood pressure is done.
5. Labyrinthitis
Labyrinthitis occurs when the labyrinth nerve, located inside the ear, becomes inflamed because of a virus or bacteria causing pressure on the head, tinnitus, nausea, dizziness, lack of balance and vertigo, which is a sensation that the objects around are spinning.
This change can also arise due to an injury in the ear region and can be triggered by the consumption of certain foods or by travel by boat or plane. See more how to identify labyrinthitis.
What to do: When these symptoms appear it is important to consult an otorhinolaryngologist who can order tests to confirm the diagnosis of labyrinthitis. After making sure it is labyrinthitis, the doctor may recommend medications to reduce inflammation of the labyrinth nerve and to relieve symptoms, which may be dramin or meclin.
6. Dental problems
Some dental or dental problems can lead to pressure on the head, tinnitus and ear pain, such as changes in the way of chewing food, bruxism, dental infiltration due to cavities. In some cases, these changes also cause swelling in the mouth and noises when moving the jaw, such as popping. See more about how to identify tooth decay.
What to do: as soon as the symptoms appear, it is necessary to seek assistance from a dentist to perform examinations, check the condition of the teeth and analyze the chewing movements. The treatment for these dental problems depends on the causes, however, it may be necessary to do root canal treatment, for example.
7. Meningitis
Meningitis is an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord and is most often caused by a bacterial or viral infection. Infectious meningitis can be acquired by spreading microorganisms through sneezing, coughing and sharing utensils such as cutlery and a toothbrush. Find out more how to get meningitis.
Meningitis can also be caused by other illnesses, such as lupus or cancer, very strong blows to the head and even by the excessive use of certain drugs. The main symptoms of meningitis can be pain in the head, pressure type, stiff neck, having difficulty resting the chin on the chest, fever, red spots scattered on the body and excessive sleepiness.
What to do: when meningitis is suspected, medical attention must be sought immediately so that examinations, such as MRI and CSF evaluation, are carried out, in order to confirm the diagnosis and start treatment earlier, which is usually carried out in a hospital through administration of drugs directly into the vein.
8. Bad posture
Poor posture or improper posture, during the period of work or study, makes the body very tight and can cause an overload of the joints and muscles of the spine, causing changes and leading to the sensation of pressure in the head and back pain. Lack of movement and even sitting or sitting for long periods are harmful to the body and also cause these symptoms.
What to do: for the symptoms to be relieved it is necessary to maintain the practice of physical exercises, such as swimming and walking, and it is possible to feel improvements in head pressure and back pain through stretching activities.
Watch the video that teaches ways to improve posture:
When to go to the doctor
Medical attention should be sought quickly if, in addition to the feeling of pressure in the head, symptoms such as:
- Asymmetrical face; Loss of consciousness; Numbness or tingling in the arms; Lack of sensitivity on one side of the body; Convulsions.
These signs may indicate a stroke or increased intracranial pressure and these situations require urgent medical attention, so when they appear, it is necessary to call the SAMU ambulance at 192 immediately.
