Pressure in Back of Head

The feeling of pressure or tightness in back of head could be caused due to a wide range of reasons. If tightness in head is affecting your ability to perform your daily activities, you must consult a doctor soon. Though it may not always be a cause of grave concern, at times, a serious medical condition may be the reason why pressure might be felt in back of the head. In such cases, a timely diagnosis and treatment would be required so as to help one deal with the debilitating pressure. In this article, we will find out about the medical conditions that may cause headaches in back of head.

What Causes Pressure in the Back of Head?

Headaches or the feeling of pressure in the back of head may be caused due to a wide variety of reasons. Given below are some medical conditions that are most likely to cause tightness in the back of head.

Inflamed Sinuses: Frontal sinuses, maxillary sinuses, sphenoid sinuses and ethmoid sinuses are four pairs of air-filled spaces that lie within the skull. Each of these air-filled cavities connect to the nasal cavity through a small opening called ostium. Sinuses are lined with mucus membranes that secrete mucus and moisten the nasal passages. Sinuses also help in filtering out dust, pollutants and pathogens that may be present in the air that we inhale. Sinusitis occurs when exposure to these irritants causes inflammation or swelling of nasal membranes. This leads to the blockage of the ostia. When mucus does not drain out, the pathogens can easily enter into the sinuses and cause a sinus infection. Blocked and inflamed sinuses often cause pressure around the face. The pressure is usually felt around the eyes. One may also experience pressure in back of head when bending over or lying down due to inflamed sinuses. Sinus pressure may be experienced in the back of head when sphenoid sinuses located deep within the skull get inflamed. Once the sinus infection resolves, the feeling of pressure will go away on its own.

Tension Headaches: Tension headaches are characterized by a feeling of a 'hatband' tightness or a feeling of 'weight on top of the head'. Such heaviness or pressure in head is caused due to contraction of muscles in the neck and shoulders. The tension in muscles often causes stiffness at the back of head. The tightened muscles in the back of neck and scalp may be caused due to poor posture or overexertion. The best way to tackle such tension headaches is to maintain a proper posture and stay relaxed. Deep breathing exercises, massage or other such relaxation techniques can surely help in relaxing the muscles.

Cervicogenic Headache: Pressure in the neck and the back of head could also arise due to neck problems. Injury to the neck or neck arthritis may cause pressure at the back of head. A bulging disc in neck could also cause tightness in head. Stress on inter-vertebral discs that separate the bones in the spine due to lifting heavy weights or strenuous activities may cause a degeneration of a disc. A bulging disc may occur when the outer wall of a disc weakens and the gelatinous material leaks out. If the protruding disc irritates a spinal nerve, one is likely to experience pain or pressure.

Brain Disorders: Pressure at the back of head may also be caused due to presence of malignant growth or tumor within the brain. A brain tumor can put pressure on the brain. Brain infections such as meningitis can also cause headaches or pressure. Hydrocephalus is another condition that occurs when cerebrospinal fluid accumulates around the brain. This causes an increase in the intracranial pressure, which in turn, may cause various neurological symptoms.

These were some of the conditions that may cause pressure in the back of head. Since some of the conditions are serious and need immediate medical condition, those suffering from a persistent and debilitating pressure in head must get themselves medically examined soon.