Upper headaches, causes and how to overcome them

Headaches can affect any part of the head, including the top. Generally a headache or dizziness at the top creates a feeling of pressure as if you are carrying a heavy weight on top of your head. The following is information on the causes and ways to deal with upper headaches.

What causes upper headaches?

There are various causes that can trigger this condition, which needs to be known to discuss how to overcome it. Some conditions that can cause upper headaches include:

1.Tension headaches (

Tension headaches are one of the most common causes of developing overhead headaches.

This headache pain is usually uncomfortable, although not too severe. Generally, the pain is as if the head is being squeezed and there is a very heavy burden on the top of the head. Some people even feel a headache on the crown radiating to the shoulders and neck.

The trigger may be the stretching of the muscles in the neck and back of the head, emotional stress, fatigue, slouching posture, not drinking enough water, sinus infections (sinusitis), tired eyes from long hours at the computer, and not getting enough sleep.

The pressure you feel around your neck makes the muscles in your neck, face, jaw, and scalp tense too.

2. Migraine

Another cause of upper headaches is migraines. When you experience a migraine, you will feel a throbbing head that slowly hurts more and more. This pain can start on the side of your head and move upwards or vice versa. In fact, this pain can be felt to the back of the neck.

Other symptoms you may experience with a migraine include nausea, cold hands, and you become more sensitive to light and sound.

Causes of migraines include hormonal changes, sleep disturbances, smells that are too strong, smoking, and skipping meals.

If you are experiencing migraines, avoid activities and try to rest at home. Simple movements such as walking or cleaning the house can exacerbate the condition, especially if you have to do activities outside.

3.Cluster headaches (

Cluster headaches can also trigger a headache at the top. Generally this one headache is more pronounced in the back of the head. However, pain can radiate and move up to the area of ​​the head.

The pain from cluster headaches usually occurs repeatedly. Some may even feel the pain eight times a day. The pain you experience may peak after 5-10 minutes. After that, this pain can last up to three hours.

When experiencing it, your eyes and nose may become red and swollen on the side of the head that hurts. Not only that, you may be more sensitive to light, sound, and smells.

4. Lack of sleep

The less sleep, you will feel pain on the top of the head. The pain can be accompanied by fatigue and lethargy during activities.

Not only that, the headaches you experience at the top can also come from bad posture while sleeping.

Pain or problems in your spine may be more pronounced when you are sleeping, causing headaches, especially when you wake up. The pain is usually like pressure on the top of the head and the head feels heavier than usual. These headaches are also known as hypnic headaches.

5. Occipital neuralgia

Occipital neuralgia is a pain that occurs when the nerves traveling from the spine to the scalp are damaged, irritated, or pinched. This condition can cause back pain that may radiate upward.

Usually, this condition is followed by symptoms such as pain such as electric shocks, and usually the symptoms get worse when you move.

6.

Exposure to temperatures that are too cold can cause the brain to feel like it is freezing. This can happen when you eat large quantities of ice cream or drink very cold drinks.

When it happened brain freeze, there is a chance that you will feel pain in the top of your head even if it only lasts for a few seconds. This pain will disappear immediately if the cold temperature in the head also disappears.

9. Exercise is too heavy

For some people, headaches may be triggered by doing intense exercise or types of exercise. Yes, intense exercise that is exercised in excess has the potential to cause pain in the top of your head.

For example, when you run a sprint or do a repetitive exercise movement. Therefore, before doing the exercises it is better to warm up first.

10.Reversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction (RCVS)

This condition is classified as rare and occurs when the blood vessels in the area of ​​the brain constrict. This also triggers a severe headache near the top of the head.

If not treated immediately, the cause of this headache can cause a stroke or bleeding in the brain. Some of the symptoms that can occur are severe weakness, seizures, and blurred vision.

Most patients with RCVS recover completely, but some have permanent brain damage. Usually, this headache condition is most common in women aged 20 to 50 years.

11. Hypertension

Hypertension or high blood pressure can also cause headaches in the upper area. This happens because the pressure is classified as severe to the skull area.

Headaches that are felt due to hypertension are like you knitting the hair tightly on the top of your head. Other symptoms that can be felt are shortness of breath, confusion, and blurred vision.

12. Take too much medicine

When you have a headache, you may tend to take medication to relieve the pain. However, overuse of headache medications can also cause headaches.

So, if you feel a headache, avoid using the medicine regularly. Moreover, if the drug is not obtained from a doctor's prescription. The reason is, there are headache drugs that can be purchased freely at pharmacies. For that, be wise in the use of these drugs.

13. Tired eyes, bad posture and other factors

Looking back, it turns out that there are also other factors that cause headaches at the top, such as fatigue in the eyes, bad posture, grinding teeth, and tension in the muscles above the head.

Especially if you have a physical injury in that area and the pain spreads to become a headache.

Signs and symptoms of headaches based on the cause

If you already know the signs and symptoms, you can do things that can solve them. The following are symptoms of pain in the area above the head based on their cause.

Symptoms of tension headaches

Headaches caused by tension are common. Headache symptoms that you will usually feel include:

• Pressure and pain around the head.
• Pain in the neck, above the eyebrows, and back of the head but not like a migraine.
• Often the pain is constant and there is a feeling of pressure.
• The pain that comes gradually reaches its maximum intensity.

Symptoms of headaches caused by migraines

• The upper head feels heavy and throbbing too.
• Dizziness and nausea.
• Sufficiently strong sensitivity to light and sound.
• The temperature on the hands was cooler than usual.

Symptoms of headaches caused by cluster headaches

• Pain that comes suddenly on one side. Often on the back of your eye.
• Severe pain or aches.
• Colds accompanied by nasal congestion.
• The eyes become watery and they also hurt.

Symptoms of headaches caused by occipital neuralgia

• Pain in the back or top of the head like a tight rope tied.
• Maybe you will experience tingling.
• It will feel like a shocking jolt and pain.
• Dull pain.
• Symptoms increase with movement.

Symptoms of pain on the head caused

• A sharp pain.
• Severe pain in the top of the head and lasts only a few seconds.

Symptoms of pain on the head due to excessive use of the drug

According to the Mayo Clinic, here are some of the symptoms that may appear:

• Appears almost every day, especially when you just wake up from sleep in the morning.
• After taking the pain reliever the condition improved but the pain returned.

Not only that, this condition is also accompanied by various other symptoms, for example:

• Nausea.
• Trouble concentrating.
• Memory problems.
• Easy to get angry.

How to deal with upper headaches

You can deal with headaches that feel at the top by taking certain drugs or doing alternative medicine.

Generally, the ways you can treat the pain depend on the cause of the headache you are experiencing. The following is a complete explanation that needs to be known.

1. Taking headache medication

One possible way you can use to relieve upper headaches is taking medications such as paracetamol, ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen to relieve pain.

However, when using any of these medicines, make sure that you follow the instructions for use on the packaging. That is, to avoid headaches that arise from overuse of drugs, use headache medicines wisely and not violate the rules.

In addition, make sure that you consult your doctor first about which drug is most suitable for the headache condition you are experiencing. The reason is, certain types of drugs cannot be taken at the same time.

2. Changing diet

Apart from using headache medication, you can also change your diet. Try to adopt a healthy diet, including avoiding foods and drinks that contain caffeine.

Even if some headache medications also contain caffeine, you should still reduce your caffeine intake because it can make your condition or pain worse.

Also, try to lose weight if you are obese. In fact, increasing body weight can also increase the incidence of upper headaches and migraines.

Not only that, obesity can also increase a person's risk of experiencing episodic headaches which can turn into chronic headaches.

3. Changing lifestyles

You can also try to reduce pain in the area above your head by minimizing activities or activities that trigger stress.

In fact, increase activities that can make you more relaxed, for example by doing yoga or exercising regularly. The sports you can do are swimming, cycling and walking.

In addition, make sure you need enough sleep. This means that you sleep according to the ideal bedtime for adults. Because, lack of sleep can cause headaches.

How to prevent headaches at the top

For adults, the onset of headaches is indeed a common thing. This condition cannot be denied that it can occur every month. Even though there are several effective ways to deal with it, don't forget that you can also prevent headaches, such as:

• Maintain and record diet, what drugs are consumed, and what sports are done.
• Maintain posture and don't forget to stretch your muscles so that your body doesn't stiffen. Also make sure that you always practice the correct posture, whether you are standing, sitting or lying down. With poor posture, you can increase your risk of experiencing pain in the area above your head or other types of headaches.
• Eat healthy foods and do regular exercise. Another thing to remember is to pay attention to your eating schedule to keep it regular.
• Also, keep your water intake so you don't get dehydrated.