Heaviness in the head is a sign of lack of sleep and mental fatigue, neurasthenia, arterial hypertension. The symptom also occurs with tension headaches, ENT pathologies (sinusitis, eustachitis, Meniere's disease), degenerative-dystrophic processes in the cervical spine. For diagnosis, instrumental methods for examining the brain (EchoEG, REG, MRI), spine (radiography, CT), ENT organs (otoscopy, vestibulometry, audiometry) are prescribed. To relieve heaviness in the head, psychotropic drugs (antidepressants, sedatives), neuroprotectors and vitamins, antihypertensive drugs are used.
The most common causes of heaviness in the head are fatigue and lack of sleep. Eyes stick together, you want to quickly put your head on the pillow and fall asleep - this situation is typical for overwork. Symptoms that develop periodically after exertion usually do not pose a threat to a person. After a good sleep, the discomfort disappears. When such violations are disturbing too often, it is worth paying attention to the state of health.
Heaviness in the head occurs in many people under the influence of sea rolling. Seasickness is diagnosed in every third adult, manifested by dizziness, a feeling of "fog in the head", nausea. In most cases, the symptoms are mild and can be managed without medication. Heaviness with pressing pain in the head also occurs when motion sickness in land transport.
This type of cephalalgia is sometimes manifested not by classic pressing or squeezing pains, but by heaviness in the head. The symptom occurs some time after waking up, may disappear after a few hours or last all day. Unpleasant signs are of moderate intensity and are not combined with acute pain or dizziness. In strength and character, heaviness is similar to the sensation of a hoop squeezing the head.
With increased blood pressure, there is heaviness in the occipital region of the head, which is aggravated in the prone position, with torso tilts, and straining. Discomfort becomes more noticeable during physical exertion, stress. If the patient does not follow the recommendations for taking medications, does not control blood pressure, heaviness in the head worries daily. The spread of discomfort to the frontal zone and the appearance of sharp pains are a sign of an incipient hypertensive crisis.
Heaviness in the head
Most bacterial or viral infections in the prodromal period are manifested by subfebrile body temperature, which provokes heaviness in the head. Symptoms are supplemented by moderate pain in the joints and muscles, drowsiness. Patients describe their condition as malaise or weakness. After 1-2 days, when the full picture of the disease unfolds, the severity is often replaced by classic cephalalgia.
The appearance of heaviness in the head with inflammatory otolaryngological pathologies is caused by general intoxication and malaise, accompanied by fever. The symptom can occur with more serious damage to the organ of hearing, which is due to the spread of the process to the vestibular analyzer. Gravity, as a rule, is accompanied by dizziness, nausea, incoordination. The main ENT causes of discomfort:
Damage to the vertebrae or neurovascular structures located in this zone is a typical cause of heaviness in the head in middle and older age. Symptoms are manifested against the background of osteochondrosis and cervical spondylarthrosis. Patients complain of heaviness and dull pain in the head, which are accompanied by pain in the back of the neck. With sharp turns or a long stay in an uncomfortable position, the pain becomes shooting, burning.
Paroxysmal heaviness in the back of the head, headaches and impaired coordination of movements develop with vertebral artery syndrome, which proceeds according to the type of basilar migraine. Occasionally, heaviness in the head is caused by congenital structural anomalies - Klippel-Feil syndrome, platybasia, basilar impression. In this case, the symptoms mainly manifest in childhood.
An excruciating heaviness in the head, which begins at the end of the day, is a characteristic manifestation of asthenic neurosis. Patients experience an unpleasant feeling of pressure on the head from all sides, as if they were wearing a heavy and tight helmet. The clinical picture is complemented by dizziness. Its peculiarity lies in the fact that the surrounding objects seem to be motionless to a person, and the rotation occurs "inside the head".
In addition to physical symptoms, there are emotional disturbances. Patients are characterized by increased nervousness, irritability and excitability. They react negatively to extraneous noise, loud speech, large crowds of people. It seems to the patient that the heaviness in the head increases from being around strangers. Difficulty falling asleep, frequent nocturnal awakenings and disturbing dreams are characteristic.
Patients who experience heaviness in the head require a consultation with a neurologist. The specialist receives valuable information during the initial examination, determining the neurological status and performing simple tests to assess autonomic innervation. During a conversation with a patient, it is possible to reveal the fact of dependence on alcohol or psychoactive substances. Diagnosis of the causes of heaviness in the head involves the appointment of instrumental and laboratory methods, of which the most commonly used:
Neck massage
To eliminate heaviness in the head, a positive emotional attitude is of great importance. It is necessary to protect yourself from stress and external stimuli as much as possible, to normalize the daily routine, and not to overwork at work. Doctors advise to establish a drinking regimen, limit coffee consumption to 1 cup per day. Reduce the signs of neurasthenia help regular walking before bedtime, fortified food, change of scenery.
Self-administration of painkillers to get rid of heaviness and pain in the head is the wrong approach, since dozens of different diseases manifest themselves as a symptom. Trying to eliminate discomfort, the patient does not solve the problem, so there is a risk of progression of the disease and the development of complications. If heaviness in the head is accompanied by nausea and vomiting, visual and hearing impairments, this is an indication for an emergency visit to a doctor.
To eliminate heaviness in the head associated with tension cephalgia or neurasthenia, psychotropic drugs are recommended. Antidepressants, selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, have a good effect. Additionally, muscle relaxants, sedatives are prescribed. To remove the symptoms, a general strengthening treatment is carried out with calcium glycerophosphate, hopantenic acid.
When the cervical spine is affected, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are taken in tablets, chondroprotectors and B vitamins are injected. To quickly stop discomfort, ointments with an analgesic and warming effect are shown. If the pathology is accompanied by vertebral artery syndrome, therapy is enhanced with neuroprotective drugs and drugs that improve cerebral circulation.
With neurasthenic cephalgia and heaviness in the head, physiotherapy is effective. To normalize the functioning of the nervous system, reflexology, aromatherapy, and electrosleep are effective. To get rid of the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis, electrophoresis with drugs, magnetotherapy and electroanalgesia are used. Strictly according to the doctor's prescription, SHVZ massage and manual therapy are performed.
Surgery is performed for severe cervical spondylarthrosis. Stabilizing operations on the spine or surgical decompression of the spinal canal are performed. Damage to the intervertebral disc in osteochondrosis is an indication for microdiscectomy or puncture vaporization. In Meniere's disease, drainage operations are prescribed to improve the outflow of endolymph.