Pressure in the head - symptoms, causes and treatment

Head Presses - Causes, Symptoms and Therapy

Every human knows this: it pounds in the temples, it squeezes under the skull. Most of the pain goes by. But sometimes he stops for weeks or returns again and again.

contents

• Head Presses - Causes, Symptoms and Therapy
• The most important facts
• What is "pressure in the head"?
• causes
• When should you go to the doctor?
• symptoms
• diagnosis
• distress
• treatment
• prevention
• Printhead pain in summer
• What helps against headaches in the summer?
• What helps against pressure headaches during stress?

The most important facts

• Pressure in the head is a dull pain on one or both sides of the head.
• He may have a variety of triggers: heat, lack of fluids, drug abuse, stress, fatigue, muscle tension, migraine, tumors or nerve diseases.
• Pressure pain in the head is usually harmless, but very unpleasant. That's why you should go to the doctor quickly.
• The treatment varies depending on the trigger. For many causes already walks and fresh air relieve the symptoms. Even painkillers can contribute to symptom relief.

When it pounds in the temples - each of us knows the pressure in the head. (Image: lassedesignen / fotolia.com)

What is "pressure in the head"?

In general, pressure is a form of headache, often called tension-type headache. This is usually harmless and passes quickly, but can also become chronic. Then it lasts for weeks, returns at intervals, and does not diminish when you take medication.

causes

The causes of head-pressing are usually not serious. Where exactly they come from, remains unclear. Muscle tension can play a role, especially on the neck, neck and shoulders. Also trigger points that trigger pain when pressure is on them. In chronic pressure, it is often proven that the processing of pain in the brain is disturbed. Also fever infections and stress could be detected as triggers. In addition, genetic factors are a factor in the development of this pain, because they occur frequently in certain families.

When should you go to the doctor?

Aimed over the thumb, a visit to a doctor is recommended if the pain persists for at least two days. There may be a bacterial infection here and the need for medication. Depending on the type of bacteria, such an infection can be dangerous if left untreated. In most cases, the pressure is getting worse. There are also nausea, fever, vomiting, body aches and general malaise.

If you are permanently suffering from pressure pain in the head and / or are returning this pain at intervals, you should definitely consult a doctor. He will then determine what the underlying disease is, or if they pass on a gross suspicion to the appropriate specialist. Do not go to the doctor, you can expect that her condition continues to worsen.

In a migraine pain occurs in contrast to tension pain only unilaterally. (Image: TANABOON / fotolia.com)

symptoms

The main symptom is a dull pain in the head, in severe cases, as if a screw clamp the skull together. In the case of tension-type headache, this pressure always occurs on both sides, but only on one side in the case of a migraine. With tension pains the perception of light and noises is not restricted, with a migraine however clearly.

Otherwise, the symptoms are individually different. In some cases, the pressure occurs for several hours, in others at certain times of the day, in others over days and weeks. If the feeling of pressure is more than four times a month, doctors speak of a chronic course.

Another symptom only occurs when the cause is muscle tension. Here are the muscles on shoulders and neck hard braced.

diagnosis

Diagnosing where the pain originates is often not easy. Very important is a comprehensive conversation with those affected. This is about the type of pain (pressing, dull, boring, pulling, etc.), then their intensity and length, and then possible triggers such as drug addiction, sleep disorders or stress.

Because the pain is different for each patient, the diagnosis is not easy. For example, people who are intensely responsive to environmental stimuli can feel the pressure very intensively, even though the cause is harmless. On the other hand, people with a low sensation of pain feel only slight pressure, even though there is a serious cause. Often a quick diagnosis is not possible because the pain can be triggered by various causes.

Physical examinations are accompanied by blood sampling and possible laboratory tests, in doubt even imaging procedures. If you suspect a nervous disorder, your GP will refer you to a neurologist. It examines the reflexes as well as the brain and spinal cord. In the case of a chronic course, for example, multiple sclerosis could also be present.

distress

Pressing headaches affect those affected, distracting them from their concentration and reducing their quality of life. If these pain persists, they can lead to sleep problems, and those affected become increasingly irritable. With the dull pressure, many jobs are difficult or impossible to do. Those affected will find it difficult to think clearly in the long term.

If the pressure in the head develops due to muscle tension, then massages and the correction of incorrect postures often help. (Image: bmf-foto.de/fotolia.com)

treatment

If the cause is not clear, the symptoms are treated, for example with painkillers. When it comes to pain in the wake of muscle tension, then massages help and patients should also change the wrong body postures that caused the tensions. For stress and tension as a trigger, the cure prognosis for pressure pain is good when the triggers are removed.

For chronic pressure pain in the head to recommend more extensive therapies, such as an infusion therapy with muscle relaxers or physiotherapy, possibly even a cure.

If abused drugs play the main role, those affected need to get along without headache medicine.

Pressure pain in the head can usually be treated conservatively, unless the cause is a brain tumor or other pathological change in the cerebral vessels.

prevention

With pressure pain in the head the prevention plays a large role. Especially here are outdoor walks, best in the forest and in every season. This will give us a decent amount of oxygen and vitamin D. Even mild remedies for depression have been proven, as well as muscle relaxations in the workplace and the renunciation of excessive alcohol consumption and smoking.

Printhead pain in summer

In hot summers like 2018, many people suffer from pressure in their heads. Heat causes headaches as well as bright light. Temperature differences can cause headaches as well as increased ozone levels. But the main cause of summer headaches is a lack of fluids. Many people drink too little in the heat.

In the case of headaches in summer, for example, a damp, cold towel on the forehead, temples and neck helps. (Image: JackF / fotolia.com)

What helps against headaches in the summer?

• Often stay in the shade. If the headache already strikes, place ice packs, wet-cold towels, or cool compresses on the forehead, temples, and neck.
• Swim and dip your head under the water.
• Drink a lot, at least two liters a day. When it's hot and you may be doing some exercise, you need three times the amount of fluid.
• For acute pain, it helps to apply peppermint oil on temples and neck.

What helps against pressure headaches during stress?

Relieves negative stress, the headache, then you find out the cause first. Do you stress because you are suffering from anxiety? Then a fear therapy is recommended. In general, if you are overly stressed, you should plan simple exercises into everyday life, for example methods such as autogenic training, yoga or meditation. Also help regular breaks at work. Nature walks are one of the best ways to combat stress (Dr. Utz Anhalt).