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Pain at the top of the head is an uncommon situation, but it is usually not related to serious situations, but is usually related to excessive tiredness and tension in the neck muscles that can happen due to improper posture, for example.
On the other hand, when the headache is accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea, nausea or changes in vision, it is important that the person consult the doctor so that the headache is investigated and appropriate treatment is started.
1. Tension headache
Tension headache is an alteration that can happen due to the contraction and tightening of the neck muscles due to excessive stress, anxiety, depression or as a result of poor posture. Thus, as a consequence of these factors, there is the appearance of a throbbing or pulsating headache, mainly on the forehead, but which can also appear on the top of the head.
What to do: To relieve the headache characteristic of tension headache it is recommended to relax and have a head massage, for example, as this helps to relieve pain. In addition, the use of anti-inflammatory drugs or analgesics for pain relief in tension headache may be indicated. Check out how the treatment for tension headache is done.
2. Migraine
Migraine corresponds to a severe headache that lasts between 3 to 72 hours and can be recurrent. This situation is very uncomfortable and can be triggered by several factors, including excessive use of analgesic drugs, excessive consumption of caffeine or neurological changes.
Although migraine-related headaches occur mainly in the lateral region, it can also radiate to the top of the head, in addition to being accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, changes in appetite and decreased sleep quality. See more about migraine.
What to do: It is important that the neurologist is consulted so that migraine pain relief medications can be indicated, and the use of anti-inflammatories, analgesics, triptan or anticonvulsants may be indicated, for example, according to the symptoms presented by person and pain characteristics.
3. Tiredness
Excessive tiredness can also lead to pain at the top of the head, especially when the person sleeps a few hours a day. This causes the body and mind to become tired, resulting not only in pain in the head, but also decreased mood, tired eyes, decreased productivity and difficulty concentrating.
What to do: In these cases it is important to look for ways to rest and relax, so it is possible to recover your energies and relieve your headache, which may include massage, physical activity, yoga and a good night's sleep.
See in the video below some tips to ensure a good night's sleep:
4. Occipital neuralgia
Occipital neuralgia, also known as occipital neuralgia, corresponds to inflammation of the nerves present in the occipital region, which can happen due to systemic disease, trauma or the presence of a tumor, for example.
This situation is characterized mainly by severe and constant head pain that worsens when moving the neck. Although the headache is more frequent on the back of the head, it can also radiate to the top and to the region near the ears.
What to do: The treatment for occipital neuralgia is indicated by the neurologist according to the symptoms presented by the person, and it may be indicated to massage the head, rest, use medication or perform surgery in the most severe cases.
5. Hypertension
Hypertension, which corresponds to an increase in blood pressure, usually does not lead to the appearance of signs or symptoms, however when there is a rapid increase in pressure, usually above 180/110 mmHg, hypertensive crisis is characterized, in which one of the symptoms it is the headache that begins in the occipital region and migrates to the top of the head.
In addition to the headache, other symptoms that can appear in the hypertensive crisis are blurred vision, altered breathing rhythm, dizziness and mental confusion. Learn how to identify the hypertensive crisis.
What to do: The hypertensive crisis is a medical emergency and, therefore, as soon as signs and symptoms of crisis appear, it is important to check the person's blood pressure and take him to the hospital so that other tests can be done and appropriate treatment is started. , thus being possible to avoid complications such as bleeding and stroke, for example.
At the hospital, treatment is carried out through the administration of medications to reduce pressure, in addition to recommendations on changes in lifestyle, such as decreased salt consumption and regular physical activity.