Pressure in Your Head: Causes and Relief

Pressure in your head isn't usually a cause for alarm and can have several causes, such as a tension headache, migraine, sinus infection, dental issue, or ear infection. Additional symptoms may vary depending on the cause of the head pressure. Rarely, pressure in the head is caused by an emergent issue such as a head trauma or tumor.

Many causes of head pressure can be effectively treated with home remedies, such as over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication. However, in some situations, pressure in the head can indicate a serious medication condition and require a healthcare provider's treatment.

Why You Feel Head Pressure

Your head contains a complex system of lobes, empty spaces called sinuses, blood vessels, nerves, and ventricles. Pressure is regulated very closely in these systems, and any disruption to this balance can be noticeable.

For example, a sinus infection may inflame the sinuses, leading to a sensation of fullness and pressure in the head. Tension headaches often cause tension in the neck and scalp muscles, leading to a feeling of head pressure.

Sometimes, figuring out what is causing discomfort with a headache can be challenging. Pain, pressure, irritability, and nausea are all symptoms that can occur with headaches.

Location of the Pressure

Pressure in your head in more than one spot is possible with a migraine or a severe cold. Pain also may occur in more than one spot if you have a head injury. If the feeling of pressure is more specific, it can help provide clues about the cause of your symptoms.

Medical issues can cause pressure in different areas. For example, a sinus infection may cause pressure in your face, especially under your eyes and around your nose. A migraine or tension headache, on the other hand, can appear as:

• A band of pressure around the head
• Pain or pressure behind your eyes
• Stiffness and pressure at the back of the head or neck

If you experience head pressure often, consider scheduling an appointment with your provider to discuss your symptoms. Details about what the pressure feels like and where pressure is felt can help your provider diagnose and effectively treat you.

Causes of Feeling Pressure in Your Head or Brain

While pressure and pain in your head are important symptoms to discuss with your healthcare provider, the root cause of the problem is not always clear. There are several potential causes, some more serious than others.

Tension Headache

Tension headaches are the most common form of headache.

What it feels like: Tension headaches feel like pressure squeezing around your head.

Causes: These headaches usually develop because of tightness in the head and scalp muscles caused by:

• Stress
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Head injuries

Unusual positioning of the head or illness can cause tension headaches. Beyond muscle tension, these types of headaches can develop because of:

• Alcohol use
• Overuse of caffeine
• Caffeine withdrawal
• A cold or the flu
• Sinus infections
• Eye strain
• Cigarette smoking
• Fatigue
• Overexertion
• Physical or emotional stress
  

Adults and older teens are most likely to develop tension headaches, and they are more common in people assigned female at birth than in males. Tension headaches can also run in families.

Sinus Headache

There are several sinus cavities in your face — on each side of your nose, between your eyes, in your cheeks, and on your forehead. Depending on which sinuses are infected, the location of where these headaches cause pressure can vary.

What it feels like: Sinus headaches typically include facial pain and pressure, loss of smell, or a fever. True sinus headaches are rare and typically accompanied by thick, discolored nasal drainage.

Causes: A sinus headache (rhinosinusitis) is caused by a viral or bacterial infection in your sinus cavities. You may also develop feelings of pressure when your sinuses are blocked or inflamed because of a cold or allergies.

Migraine

Migraines are recurring headaches that can take many forms. Classified as a neurological disease rather than just a headache, migraines affect about 39 million Americans. Migraines are often genetic and can run in families.

What it feels like: Migraines can cause symptoms ranging from pain and nausea to visual disturbances (aura). Pain is often throbbing and can also feel like pressure in the head. One-sided head pain is the most common, but pain may also be felt on both sides.

Causes: There are many different migraine triggers, which are usually unique to each person. Some common causes include:

• Sleep patterns
• Certain foods
• Diet and exercise
• Stress and anxiety
• Sleep apnea
• Gender
• Hormones
• Genetics

The best way to understand what is triggering your migraine is to keep a diary of what you ate, your activities, and how you felt before, during, and after a migraine occurs.

Ear Conditions

Your ears help your body sense movement and balance. A problem in the part of the inner ear that helps control balance can cause a type of migraine called a vestibular migraine.

In addition to vestibular migraines, an ear infection can also cause feelings of pressure or pain in your head.

What it feels like: Vestibular migraines might cause problems with balance and feelings of vertigo (a sense of spinning).

Ear infections can also cause feelings of pressure or pain in the head. They put pressure on the delicate structures of the middle and inner ear.

Causes: Many situations that trigger regular migraines can also trigger vestibular migraines. Examples include weather patterns, hormones, stress, and certain foods. Females who are in their late 30s and 40s who have a history or migraines or motion sickness are at a greater risk for vestibular migraines.

Ear infections are often caused by a viral illness or, less commonly, a bacterial infection.

Concussion and Head Injuries

A concussion is a traumatic brain injury that usually results from a physical blow to the head that causes movement of your brain inside your skull. Contact sports are common causes of concussions.

What it feels like: Head pressure and headache are typical symptoms reported with concussions. People often experience other symptoms, such as nausea, dizziness, light sensitivity, and head pain.

Causes: Direct trauma to the head causes a concussion. Trauma can occur due to contact sports (e.g., football), a fall or other injury, a car accident, or whiplash, where the acceleration and deceleration result in injury to the brain.

Increased Intracranial Pressure

Many neurological diseases and conditions can lead to increased pressure in your head, called intracranial hypertension, which is a generic term for increased pressure in the brain.

What it feels like: The pain depends on the specific cause.

Causes: For some people, there is no apparent cause, and this is called idiopathic intracranial hypertension.

Other causes of increased intracranial pressure include:

• Hormones
• Certain medications
• Head injury
• Brain tumors
• Blood clots in the brain
• Infections in the brain like meningitis or encephalitis
• Fluid buildup inside the brain (hydrocephalus)
  

Brain Aneurysm

Aneurysms can occur in any blood vessel in the body. When they occur in the blood vessels in the brain, they are known as a cerebral or brain aneurysm.

What it feels like: Aneurysms typically only cause pain and symptoms when they've become large. The most common symptom is a headache caused by the aneurysm pushing on brain tissue and nerves. This can feel like pressure.

A ruptured aneurysm will cause sudden, severe pain and is a medical emergency.

Causes: A brain aneurysm may be caused by:

• Congenital malformations
• Atherosclerosis
• IV drug use
• Heart valve infections that spread

Risk factors for brain aneurysms include:

• Connective tissue disorders (e.g., Ehlers-Danlos syndromes)
• First-degree family members who have experienced a brain aneurysm
• High blood pressure
• Smoking cigarettes
• Drug use
  

Other Conditions

Pressure in your head can also occur only when you move to stand up, bend over to reach a low shelf, or otherwise change your posture so that your blood pressure is affected. Examples of positional causes of head pressure include:

• Postprandial hypotension: postural head pressure after eating due to a drop in blood pressure
• Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS): a blood circulation disorder that results in blood pressure shifts

Additionally, there are several other possible causes of pressure in the head. Some of these include:

• Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak: CSF leak into the nose or ear can result in head pressure (this condition warrants immediate medical attention).
• Muscle strains: Neck muscle strains can contribute to feelings of pressure and pain in the head or trigger a headache that creates a sense of pressure and pain.
• Elevated blood pressure: Constricted arteries and arterioles lead to blood trying to move through narrower spaces.
• Stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA): Both a full stroke or TIA (aka a ministroke) can present with head pain or pressure but are likely to be accompanied by additional symptoms.
• Brain tumor: Pressure in the skull from growing tumors can cause headaches that feel like pressure in the head.
• Headaches: Other headache types, such as cluster headaches, can cause painful pressure sensations in the head. There are hundreds of various headache types.

Is It a Brain Tumor?

A common concern with pressure in the head is a brain tumor. Brain tumors are uncommon, and it is unlikely that a brain tumor is causing your head pain. Brain tumors typically present with several symptoms, such as:

• Headache
• Decreases in mental function
• Mood or personality changes
• Vision problems
• Nausea and vomiting
• Lethargy

It is important to remember that most headaches are not caused by brain tumors. However, several red flags indicate a brain tumor is more likely:

• Pain is worse when lying down.
• Pain is worse when you first wake up from sleeping.
• Pain is unrelenting and recurs with increased frequency.

While brain tumors are generally rare, if you are concerned you have a brain tumor, contact your medical provider for advice.

Treatment

Treatment to get rid of pressure in your head depends on what is causing the increased pressure in the first place. You can effectively treat some causes of pressure in your head at home, but others may require medical attention. Depending on the cause of your head pressure, some home remedies include:

• Warm compresses on your face to open your sinuses
• Over-the-counter (OTC) decongestants or antihistamines
• Humidity or steam
• Rest
• Massage
• OTC pain relievers
• Meditation
• Drinking water and hydrating
• Focusing on a good night's rest

Additionally, some individuals find relief through:

• Acupuncture
• Biofeedback devices
• Massage therapy

Head pressure caused by sinus or ear infections may require antibiotic treatment. Allergies causing increased sinus pressure and headaches may need an OTC antihistamine.

Anxiety and depression can contribute to several headache types. Individuals who experience stress or anxiety-induced headaches may benefit from therapy and medications from their healthcare providers. There are prescription medications available both to treat anxiety and also to treat migraines.

If a condition such as a blood clot, increased fluid in your head, stroke, or brain tumor is the cause, you will need treatment by a healthcare provider.

When to See a Healthcare Provider

Pressure in your head or head pain isn't always serious, but some conditions warrant medical care. Reach out to your healthcare provider or seek medication attention if:

• The pressure or pain in your head is sudden and severe.
• You experience a head trauma or injury.
• Your headache is accompanied by stroke symptoms (e.g., slurred speech, facial droop, visual changes, loss of coordination).
• You have a fever and neck pain.
• You experience any loss or change in consciousness or confusion.
• New symptoms develop that don't typically accompany your headaches if you regularly get them.

If you are concerned about the sensation or pressure in your head at any point, seek medical advice.

Diagnosis

If you seek medical care, your healthcare provider may take several steps to reach a diagnosis. They will likely conduct a physical exam, including a neurological exam. This includes testing reflexes, coordination, and cranial nerve function.

If there is concern about conditions such as a brain tumor, aneurysm, or stroke, they may order imaging such as an MRI or CT scan. Both of these scans can be performed with or without a special type of dye called contrast.

Summary

Headache, injury, illness, or disease can cause pressure in your head. The location of the pressure or pain can help your healthcare provider determine the cause. Most of the time, pressure in your head is not serious.

Head pressure can be treated with home remedies or may require prescription medication, like antibiotics, in more severe cases. Talk to your healthcare provider about any concerns about your symptoms.

Regardless of severity, identifying the cause and finding an effective treatment is important to your health.