How to relieve constant tension in the head during neurosis?

Pressing pain in the head is often pronounced, which negatively affects performance and sleep. The causes of pain can be different; it is not always caused by factors hazardous to health. But in order to understand exactly why discomfort occurs regularly or periodically, it is better to undergo diagnostics and consult with a specialist.

Pressing pain in the head appears for various reasons

Causes of pressing pain in the head

The occurrence of compressive pain syndrome is associated with the following reasons:

1. Brain injuries. The appearance of pressing cephalgia is caused by the formation of hematomas, hemorrhage or bruise. Unpleasant sensations are concentrated at the site of damage. Additionally, the victim experiences nausea and vomiting, and an increase in temperature and blood pressure.
2. Infectious processes affecting the central nervous system (meningitis, encephalitis). Severe pain compresses the head and radiates to the eyes. The patient's temperature rises, nausea and vomiting occur, and consciousness is impaired.
3. Intoxication of the body. Poisoning occurs when you overdose on medications, inhale toxic substances, or consume poor-quality food or alcoholic beverages. Additional symptoms: general weakness, nausea, heaviness in the limbs.
4. Hypothermia. When exposed to low temperatures for a long time, vasospasm occurs. Cephalgia is concentrated in the forehead area.
5. Osteochondrosis. Due to deformation of the cervical vertebrae, the proper movement of blood through the vessels is disrupted, as a result the brain experiences a deficiency of oxygen and nutrients. Under such conditions, the head hurts in the occipital region.
6. Diseases of the nasal and paranasal sinuses (frontal sinusitis, sinusitis, sinusitis). Pressing pain in the frontal part of the head and radiates to the eye area. This is due to the accumulation of purulent masses in the sinuses and swelling of the mucous membrane.

Less dangerous causes of pressing headaches are overwork, hunger, and stress. If symptoms occur regularly, you should consult a doctor.

Pain that feels like pressure on the skull

Patients often complain that their headaches feel as if their skull is being squeezed. The patient experiences a feeling of fullness in the head area.

The type of cephalalgia is usually caused by:

1. Development of neoplasms from brain structures. It can be either a malignant or benign tumor. The growth of its cells causes compression of nearby tissues, which causes bursting pain in the skull.
2. Vegetative-vascular dystonia. Due to dysregulation of vascular tone, the activity of the cardiovascular system is disrupted. Anyone who suffers from this syndrome has an abnormal heart rate and changes in blood pressure. Cephalgia is paroxysmal and intense.
3. Hormonal fluctuations. With an imbalance of hormones, a general deterioration of the condition is observed. The pain is so intense that it feels as if the skull is being compressed by a heavy hoop or helmet.

To determine the cause of pressing cephalgia, you need to undergo diagnostic procedures. The patient is prescribed:

• Ultrasound examination of cerebral vessels;
• Laboratory tests of blood, urine;
• MRI or CT scan of the brain;
• Electromyography.

Treatment depends on the nature of the identified deviation.

To stop an attack of compressive cephalgia, you can use painkillers Analgin, Nurofen, Pentalgin at home.

The feeling of pressure in the head requires attention. It accompanies serious illnesses that require urgent treatment. If pain occurs regularly and does not disappear after taking painkillers, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Diagnostics

Due to the many possible causes of head compression, correct diagnosis is important. In 35% of cases, it is not possible to establish the exact causes of pain. If the patient complains of bursting pain in the head area, the doctor collects an anamnesis and prescribes instrumental and laboratory examinations to identify etiological factors.

During the consultation, the nature, intensity, exact localization of pain, and factors provoking the development of an attack of cephalgia are clarified. A blood test shows the presence of an inflammatory process, metabolic and endocrine disorders (hemoglobin deficiency, changes in the concentration of hormones, glucose, lipids), which makes it possible to suspect the disease that provoked the symptom - cephalgia. During an ophthalmological examination, the following characteristics are revealed:

• Condition of the fundus and blood vessels.
• Visual acuity.
• The presence of a spasm of accommodation.
• Signs of visual dysfunction (loss of visual fields, appearance of foreign objects within the boundaries of vision - dots, spots).

A neuroimaging examination (CT, MRI) shows the presence of space-occupying formations in the medulla. Angiography and Doppler ultrasound are performed to identify the condition of the elements of the circulatory system of the brain, including to detect abnormalities in the development of blood vessels - arteriovenous malformations, aneurysms.

Using electroencephalography, features of the bioelectrical activity of the brain and the presence of convulsive foci are revealed. If the compressive pain in the head is severe, acute, a lumbar puncture is prescribed to rule out infectious brain damage (meningitis, encephalitis) and subarachnoid (in the space between the meninges - soft and arachnoid) hemorrhage.

Which doctor should I contact?

Often, after physical exertion or mental stress, people feel worse. The nature of the pain can be varied. Compressive, pressing, throbbing pain in one side of the head is possible.

Pain during exercise is often functional in nature. They can occur for many reasons:

• Changes in temperature and atmospheric pressure;
• Stressful state during physical activity;
• Heat and stuffiness in the room;
• Dehydration is often the cause of headaches;
• Eat a large meal before training;
• Overweight people often suffer from hypoxia during exercise.

The likelihood of illness is higher in people with specialties: programmer, accountant, driver, who spend many hours at the computer or constantly strain the muscles of the eyes and neck.

Persistent cephalgia, which occurs regularly, requires mandatory consultation with a doctor in order to exclude serious pathology and prescribe the correct treatment in a timely manner.

The initial appointment should be made by a therapist. He will conduct a general examination, measure blood pressure, write out directions for tests and refer you to specialists.

If you have unpleasant sensations in the head and neck area, it is good to have a home blood pressure monitor, with which you can track pressure surges in different life situations. A rise in blood pressure after physical activity can often be the cause of pain.

The doctor gives a referral to an otolaryngologist to rule out chronic otitis media, sinusitis or inflammation of the maxillary sinuses (sinusitis).

The doctor can give a referral to an ophthalmologist to identify changes in the fundus and possible vision defects.

Most of the causes of discomfort in the head are associated with neurological symptoms, so diseases accompanied by head pain syndrome are treated by a neurologist.

Features of the condition and symptoms

You need to pay attention to the accompanying symptoms to make it easier to identify the cause of the swelling in the head

Pressure and swelling of the head are often accompanied by a feeling of fogginess and numbness in the limbs. All this leads to a deterioration in cognitive function and, in some cases, causes memory loss and disorientation. People with a chronic feeling of fullness are characterized by impaired concentration and decreased ability to work. They learn worse and absorb new information, and also suffer from chronic fatigue.

Common neurological symptoms are also accompanied by other signs of pathologies:

• spots before the eyes;
• cardiopalmus;
• sweating and increased fatigue;
• dizziness and nausea, leading to vomiting;
• fluctuations in blood pressure;
• increased nervousness, aggressiveness;
• sensitivity to weather changes.

If a person has the feeling that his head is about to burst, he needs to pay attention to additional symptoms, which will depend on the cause of the condition. With infectious lesions of the brain or the body as a whole, high fever, chills and muscle pain appear.

The most dangerous infection, meningitis, is accompanied by unbearable headaches and stiff neck muscles. This condition is also characterized by frequent vomiting.

With hypertension, floaters often appear before the eyes and numbness in the arms or legs.

With circulatory diseases, symptoms worsen in a horizontal position. Also, pain and a feeling of fullness appear after prolonged work with the head down. It is especially dangerous to be in stuffy, unventilated rooms.

What tests are usually prescribed?

At an appointment with a neurologist, a physical examination of the patient is performed: basic neurological reflexes are checked and the neck muscles are examined.

The doctor writes out a referral for tests: general blood test, biochemical blood test, blood sugar test.

A general blood test with an increase in ESR or an increased content of leukocytes indicates inflammation in the body.

Blood biochemistry may indicate a deficiency of one of the vital elements, which leads to discomfort in the head area.

Low blood glucose levels are often accompanied by cephalgia, dizziness and weakness.

The doctor may write a referral for additional tests:

1. The gas composition of arterial blood can reveal brain hypoxia.
2. A blood test for hormones determines various abnormalities in the functioning of the hypothalamus.

A neurologist can give a referral to one or more diagnostic methods:

1. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - excludes the presence of various neoplasms (tumors and cysts), aneurysms. The photographs clearly show post-traumatic defects, neurodegenerative abnormalities, and changes in blood vessels affected by atherosclerosis.
2. Computed tomography (CT) is the most informative method for studying the brain. It gives a clear idea of ​​pathological changes in the skull and brain, pathology of bone tissue, blood vessels and brain structures. Provides information about the consequences of traumatic brain injuries. The disadvantage of this method is the significant radiation dose during the study.
3. Electroencephalography gives an idea of ​​the presence of pathological changes in blood vessels and impaired cerebral circulation.
4. Doppler ultrasound (ultrasound of the vessels of the head and neck) - shows the presence of atherosclerotic plaques in the arteries; narrowing and tortuosity of the arteries, leading to brain hypoxia; peripheral vascular resistance.
5. Rheoencephalography (REG) - gives an idea of ​​the tone and blood flow of blood vessels. Using REG, the following are diagnosed: hypertension, atherosclerosis, vegetative-vascular dystonia.
6. MRI of the cervical spine - the presence of cervical osteochondrosis can cause pain in the head and neck, which intensifies when turning the head.
7. Rheovasography of cerebral vessels (RVG) - shows the quality of blood flow through the great vessels, evaluates collateral circulation.
8. Radiography will be less known. In the image you can only see the bone structures of the skull, soft tissues are not visible.

There is no need to panic when scheduling such a serious examination. The doctor excludes rare severe pathologies and looks for the causes of the pain process.

Based on the studies, if no serious organic lesions are found, the cause of the disease is usually diagnosed. It develops as a result of: vascular spasms, cerebral hypoxia, hypertonicity of cerebral vessels, hormonal imbalances, vegetative-vascular dystonia or osteochondrosis, provoked by physical or psycho-emotional stress.

Groups of drugs effective for episodic attacks of pain

Medicines to treat this pathology are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). They have an analgesic effect, relieve inflammation, and eliminate swelling.

Often prescribed:

• Ibuprofen-400 mg per day;
• Ketoprofen-100 mg/s;
• Naproxen-500 mg/s;
• Meloxicam-7.5-15 mg/s;
• Celecoxib-200 mg/s.

Most NSAIDs have a negative side effect: with long-term use, they negatively affect the organs of the gastrointestinal tract, including the development of drug-induced gastritis.

Medicines Meloxicam and Celecoxib are new generation drugs that do not have a negative effect on the gastrointestinal tract. The disadvantages of using these drugs include the relatively high price.

Analgesics are often used at home to relieve an attack. They do not treat the disease, but only relieve pain. Drugs in this group are suitable for stopping episodic attacks, but their systematic use leads to the occurrence of abuse syndrome.

During an attack of pain, you can take Paracetamol-100 mg, Citramon, Analgin-500 mg or Mig 200-400 mg.

If the examination revealed the appearance of cephalgia after exercise as a result of increased blood pressure, the doctor will prescribe medications prescribed at an early stage of the development of hypertension. These include: vasodilators, ACE inhibitors, diuretics, calcium channel blockers.

Self-prescribing antihypertensive drugs is unacceptable. Self-medication leads to serious consequences.

For muscle tension, drugs from the group of muscle relaxants are used as part of complex treatment. They relax the spasmodic muscles of the head and neck, relieving pain of a spastic nature, and help restore blood flow.

Often prescribed:

• Mydocalm-150-450 mg per day;
• Sirdalud (Tizanidine) - 4 mg/s;
• Baclofen-15 mg/s.

Nootropic drugs are often prescribed as part of complex treatment: Phenibut, Nootropil, Glycine. Nootropics have an activating effect on brain function and increase its resistance to damaging factors. The drugs improve cerebral circulation and eliminate the consequences of traumatic brain injuries.

Sedatives in combination with basic drugs lead to muscle relaxation and decreased vascular tone. Taking tranquilizers helps relieve pain, but this type of medication quickly causes drug dependence with withdrawal symptoms.

Sedatives that are not addictive: Afobazol, Atarax; alcohol tinctures of valerian, motherwort, Maryina root.

For severe attacks, a combination of drugs is used: Sirdalud 2 mg + Aspirin 500 mg or Analgin 250 mg + sedative.

How to overcome fears, worries and anxiety

There is such a concept as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) - this is one of the forms of anxiety disorders, with one caveat - the duration of this kind of disorder is measured in years, and affects absolutely all areas of a person’s life.

We can conclude that it is precisely this monotonous state of “I’m afraid of everything, I’m afraid always and constantly” that leads to a complex, painful life.

Even ordinary cleaning of the house, not done according to schedule, upsets a person, going to the store for a necessary thing that was not there, calling a child who did not answer on time, but in his thoughts “they stole, killed”, and many other reasons why There is no need to worry, but there is anxiety.

And all this is generalized anxiety disorder (also sometimes called phobic anxiety disorder).

To get rid of fear, anxiety and anxiety today there are two main approaches.

Psychotherapy sessions

Psychotherapy sessions, alternative name for CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy). During such therapy, the causes of mental vegetative and somatic disorders are identified.

Another important goal is a call for proper stress relief and learning to relax. During sessions, a person can change his stereotypical thinking; during a calm conversation in a conducive environment, the patient does not fear anything, which is why he opens up completely: calmness, a conversation that helps to understand the origins of his behavior, realize them, and accept them.

Treatment of chronic disease

Sometimes cephalalgia becomes chronic. The pain occurs every day, continuously, with varying degrees of intensity.

Tricyclic antidepressants are prescribed for a long course of 2-6 months. They relieve pain and help normalize the psycho-vegetative state of the nervous system.

Amitriptyline 10-100 mg/s is most often prescribed, the dose is increased gradually. The drug relieves pain well, but has many negative side effects and is addictive.

As an alternative, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are prescribed: Fluoxetine, Paroxetine, Sertraline. The course of treatment is at least 2 months. These drugs have less toxicity.

In addition to prescribing drug therapy, the doctor will recommend massage, a course of physiotherapy or acupuncture.

Complications of various types of headaches

Headaches are:

• Primary
• Secondary.

Complications of primary headache

In particular, she has no complications. It includes hemicrania, tension-type headache, PHB, trigeminal autonomic cephalgia.

Migraine is a one-sided, throbbing pain that occurs due to bright light, noise, fatigue, eating foods such as chocolate, spices, cheese and wine. The disease is based on irritation of the nervous system of the head and neck, after which the blood joints narrow and sharply expand. Main complications of migraine:

1. Status migraine is a severe attack. The disease causes swelling of the brain, seizures, stroke, heart attack,
2. Migraine infarction - a migraine attack with an aura lasting 60 minutes,
3. Migraine-associated seizures,

Complications of secondary headache

It occurs as symptoms of other diseases such as head trauma, cerebral vascular damage, infection, mental illness, damage to homeostasis and others. It disappears when the underlying disease is treated.

Intracranial hypertension

Intracranial hypertension is an increase in intracranial pressure. When pressure increases to 30 mmHg, blood circulation in the brain is disrupted. If it rises above 50 mm Hg, death is possible. A person experiences a pressing headache, nausea (in the morning), fatigue, drowsiness, depression of consciousness and prolonged hiccups. Pathology can cause structural damage.

Intracranial hypertension has serious complications:

1. Cerebral ischemia, resulting from compression of the brain substance,
2. Dislocation – displacement of brain structures,
3. Wedging.

Giant cell arteritis (Horton's disease)

Giant cell (temporal) arteritis is an inflammation of the lining of the red blood joint, which affects the arteries of the temporal region of the head. The causes of the disease have not been fully identified. The disease occurs due to immune disorders. Pathogens enter the body and produce antibodies that cause inflammation.

Complications:

1. Blindness. Vision loss is irreversible. Occurs as a result of impaired blood supply,
2. Stroke. Rarely found
3. Aortic aneurysm. Can happen at any time and lead to internal bleeding.

Meningitis

Meningitis is a lesion of the meninges. Pathogenic microorganisms (viruses, bacteria, protozoa and fungi) cause disease. When sick, patients experience headaches and nausea.

Complications after meningitis:

1. Paralysis,
2. Blindness,
3. Deafness,
4. Ischemic stroke,
5. Intellectual impairment
6. Paresis,
7. Convulsive syndrome,
8. Hydrocephalus,
9. Epilepsy,
10. cerebral edema,
11. SIADH
12. Speech disorders
13. Brain abscess
14. Aneurysm,
15. Transverse myelitis,
16. Sphincter dysfunction.

The chance of death from bacterial meningitis is 10%. The mortality rate for viral meningitis is much lower (only 1%).

Glaucoma

Glaucoma – intraocular pressure (IOP).

The process begins with deterioration of peripheral vision. If left untreated, the nerves of the eye die.

The disease can occur due to old age, farsightedness, diabetes, hereditary predisposition, etc.

Complications:

1. Blindness,
2. Nerve dystrophy.

Sinusitis

Sinusitis is an inflammation of the maxillary sinuses that occurs as a result of complications of rhinitis. Inflammation occurs when viruses and bacteria enter the maxillary sinuses.

Complications:

1. Chronic sinusitis lasting 12 weeks
2. Frontitis - inflammation of the frontal sinus,
3. Meningitis,
4. Osteomyelitis,
5. Hearing and vision problems.

Brain hematoma

A brain hematoma is an injury in which blood enters the skull from the joint. As a result, blood compresses the brain. This condition threatens human life and therefore requires timely treatment. The causes of the disease are arterial hypertension, tumors and injuries.

Intracranial hematoma causes disturbances in the brain. The blood squeezes the brain and oppresses it.

Complications:

1. Deterioration of blood supply and blood outflow,
2. Increased intracranial pressure,
3. Problems with the movement of cerebrospinal fluid,
4. Disorders related to movement and feeling. Appears due to limited signal transmission.

How does this disease manifest itself?

A neurotic disorder of the nervous system necessarily leads to detrimental consequences for the body and social activity of a person.

Neurosis itself can cause the following troubles:

• nausea,
• dizziness,
• constant headaches,
• increased conflict,
• irritability,
• disability.

That is why, when neurosis manifests itself, you need to solve the problem, and not hope for its independent disappearance.

Dizziness is a frequent companion of neuroses

The main manifestations of the disease include:

• headaches of various types;
• numbness of the limbs;
• dizziness;
• various types of sleep disorders;
• a person cannot relax if he wants to;
• increased irritability;
• the patient does not feel joy and happiness, he is constantly depressed;
• restlessness, anxiety;
• decrease in cognitive functions, intellectual abilities;
• fast fatiguability;
• pain in internal organs, in the limbs, without obvious reasons;
• decreased labor productivity;
• mood swings;
• tearfulness;
• touchiness;
• “getting stuck” in a stressful situation;
• the body's sensitivity to temperature changes and bright light;
• disorders of the autonomic nervous system: sweating, rapid heartbeat, fluctuations in blood pressure, problems with the stomach;
• decreased sex drive;
• decrease in the intensity of volitional impulses;
• dyspnea;
• dark spots when closing or opening the eyes, the condition is accompanied by dizziness;
• decreased appetite, inability to form a bolus due to insufficient amount of saliva in the mouth;
• the appearance of a feeling of fear without a threatening factor.

Worth seeing: Tachycardia in neurosis

Literature

1. L. G. Akhmadullina: Headache
2. D. Marcus: Headache
3. Evgeny Rozner: Headache. Migraine
4. Gyuzal Tabeeva: Headache. Management
5. Alekseev, Alyabyeva, Amirov: Glaucoma. National leadership
6. V. I. Morozov, A. A. Podshivalin, G. E. Chigvintsev, G. A. Yulmetov: Natal damage to visceral organs
7. V.N. Shtok: Headache. Practical guide
8. A. I. Ermolaeva, G. A. Baranova: Headache
9. A. M. Satybaldyev: Giant cell arteritis. Part 1. Terminology, classification, clinical manifestation, diagnosis
10. Kolosova O. A., Osipova V. V.: Classification of headaches

What types of headaches require immediate emergency care?

Headache can appear for simple reasons that do not require attention, and in some cases it can indicate the development of serious conditions that pose a threat to human life.

It is recommended to call an ambulance if you experience pain in your head:

• are too intense and do not disappear after taking painkillers;
• appear and intensify with any movement of the head;
• accompanied by nausea, dizziness, darkening of the eyes;
• appeared as a result of traumatic injury;
• accompanied by confusion;
• occur in parallel with speech impairment and numbness of one part of the body or face;
• accompanied by a violation of orientation in time and space.

Symptoms may indicate critical conditions that require emergency medical attention.

What is neurosis?

Neurosis is a disease in which a person loses the ability to cope with stressful situations..

The body’s defenses and the formed psychological adaptation “break down” in this state, leading to exhaustion of the nervous system.

This disease affects not only the psyche and the nervous system; a person often notices a malfunction of an internal organ or prolonged pain.

Strong neurosis does not go unnoticed from the outside either. People around note increased irritability and deterioration in the physical condition of a person suffering from this disease.

Causes of the disease

• An interesting fact is that not only situations related to the loss of something close can lead to neurosis . The cause of the disease can also be a bright, joyful event, for example, the birth of a child, a wedding, or the start of studies at the desired college or university.
• Neurosis often occurs in melancholic and choleric people . These types of temperament are characterized by emotional instability, so typical melancholic and choleric people have a more difficult time experiencing traumatic situations.
• Physical and psycho-emotional stress ultimately lead to this nervous pathology . If a person constantly works or studies and does not have enough time for relaxation and rest, he is at risk. Especially with accompanying problems in your personal life, the development of neurosis cannot be avoided.
• With long-term or intense somatic illnesses, psychological problems associated with the inability to finish the work started, symptoms of severe neurosis also appear.

Why you should always seek help from a doctor for headaches

If a person has been bothered by discomfort in the head area for a long time, it is recommended to consult a doctor. After conducting a series of examinations, collecting anamnestic data and complaints, he will be able to establish the cause of their occurrence, make a diagnosis and prescribe an adequate treatment regimen.

Headache is a rather complex symptom; it can be primary (in the form of migraine, tension headaches and pain not associated with structural lesions) and symptomatic (occurs against the background of injuries, vascular disorders, infectious lesions, the use of drugs and other chemicals, metabolic disorders, pathologies of the skull, eyes, cranial, facial structures).

Pain can be caused by pathologies of the cervical spine, depression, VSD, and arterial hypertension. These conditions require proper therapy, otherwise the disease becomes chronic and can cause severe complications.

Prevention

Prevention of tension in the head caused by stress and physical inactivity is through movement. Physical activity reduces stress. It is useful to simply walk for half an hour after a surge of adrenaline to prevent the effect of this hormone on vascular tone.

Posture training will prevent tension in the neck and masticatory muscles in response to changes in the position of the chest.

You can also see a therapist to find out why you're feeling stressed or anxious. Once you know the root causes, you can take steps to reduce stress.

Why you should never rely on folk remedies for such pain

Traditional recipes are not the best treatment method. In ancient times, they were used out of despair; traditional medicine was inaccessible.

Pain in the head area in most cases requires medication. And if they become a symptom of dangerous diseases, then surgical intervention is required.

Recipes from folk sources are not considered a panacea; they can be used as an auxiliary method of therapy, because they do not affect the cause of pathological symptoms. Such treatment should be agreed with a doctor.

Treatment methods

Herbal compresses will relieve the condition

To treat a bursting feeling in the head, it is important to establish the cause of the disorder. Next, treatment tactics are prescribed. General recommendations to reduce pain are required:

• You should not take medications without a doctor’s examination;
• You can relieve tension by taking a comfortable position and relaxing;
• a towel soaked in cool water will help with feeling unwell;
• you should open a window or window so that it is not stuffy;
• if there is no nausea, you can drink warm tea.

When it becomes easier, you should not immediately start heavy work or exercise.

Folk recipes

During treatment, you can use decoctions of chamomile, mint, and St. John's wort, but only after discussion with your doctor. You also take 40 drops of propolis tincture and add honey to your drinks. Cosmetic clay compresses applied to the forehead before bed will also help combat discomfort.

Medicines

Prescription of medications depends on the cause of the condition. Sometimes taking an NSAID is enough to relieve pain. But in most cases an integrated approach is required. They use medications to improve blood circulation, take analgesics and vitamins in courses.

When using medications, it is important to follow the instructions and not ignore contraindications.