Headache in the forehead area: should you worry and how to help yourself?

Causes of pain

The head in the forehead area can hurt without damage to the internal organs. The cause may be mental fatigue. For knowledge workers, tension accumulates in the center of the forehead. At the end of the working day, a pressing feeling arises. A light massage of a point in the center of the forehead, and then upward, to the sides, will help to remove it.

Head pain in the forehead area may occur due to poisoning by toxic fumes. Such sensations often haunt employees of household chemicals and building materials stores. Low-quality products have a strong odor and emit fumes that cause pain, dizziness, and nausea. People who are sensitive to this should change their job or profession, and wear a respirator before leaving.

Severe headaches are sometimes caused by cerebral vasospasm. This condition manifests itself against the background of smoking, alcohol abuse, and sometimes due to changes in climate zones. Pain can also be triggered by physical or emotional stress.

Read also: Sweating head

Symptoms

Headache
Pain in the neck
Headaches worsen with exertion, coughing, bending or moving the head
Dizziness
Double vision
Memory disorders
Loss of appetite
Hearing impairment
Nausea and vomiting
Changes in sense of smell or taste
Problems concentrating
Tinnitus
Noise sensitivity
Sensitivity to light
Anxiety
Depression
Sleep problems
Muscle spasms in the head, neck, back and shoulders
Fatigue

Possible diseases

In some cases, the head hurts in the forehead and there is pressure due to pathologies of the internal organs. Associated diseases:

infections: acute respiratory viral infections, acute respiratory infections (cause a rise in temperature and intoxication, which is why the head hurts and puts pressure on the forehead);
ENT diseases: sinusitis, ethmoiditis, frontal sinusitis (a characteristic symptom is severe nasal congestion);
inflammation of the membranes of the brain: encephalitis, meningitis (accompanied by fever);
pathologies of the nervous system: migraine (pain intensifies due to sounds, bright light, and recedes in silence and darkness), neuralgia (sharp, severe pain);
injuries: concussions, skull fractures, bruises of the soft tissues of the head;
diseases of the cardiovascular system: changes in intracranial pressure, hypertension, atherosclerosis, neurocirculatory dystonia;
endocrine disorders: pathologies of the thyroid gland, adrenal glands;
ophthalmological diseases: changes in intraocular pressure, uveitis, inflammation of the optic nerve, myopia;
oncological pathologies: brain tumor, neoplasms in the sinuses or pituitary gland.

Headaches in the forehead area can occur against the background of a large number of diseases. A comprehensive examination of the body will allow you to identify and eliminate the provoking factor.

High blood pressure and headaches: together or apart?

Hypertension is deceptive. It can be completely asymptomatic - it’s not for nothing that it’s called the silent killer.

At the same time, many are sure that they will certainly feel it if the pressure “jumps.”

And a headache in the back of the head is secretly the leader among those considered classic signs of hypertension. Does high blood pressure really cause headaches?

Blood Power

To understand how hypertension can manifest itself and why, it would be good to understand what happens in the body when pressure increases.

So, when the heart contracts, blood is pushed into the vessels - through them it penetrates into the tissues. In order for blood rich in oxygen and nutrients to reach every cell of the body, it must be ejected from the heart with a certain force, which, in turn, puts pressure on the blood vessels. It is this force that is considered blood pressure.

The level of pressure is determined by many factors. It depends on the force with which the heart pumps blood into the vessels, the volume of blood entering the arteries, the elasticity of the vessels and many other aspects. Therefore, the famous norm is 120/80 mm Hg. can vary both downward and upward.

However, if the threshold of 140/90 mmHg is exceeded. blood pressure is considered abnormally elevated.

If blood pressure rises regularly, arterial hypertension develops. It “approaches” imperceptibly: usually the numbers increase gradually, and the body adapts to the change in the force with which the blood presses on the walls of the blood vessels. Therefore, even with constantly high blood pressure, a person often feels great, which is confirmed by data from numerous studies studying the relationship between hypertension and its possible manifestations, including headaches.

Does not hurt…

In fact, many scientific studies have shown that there is no connection between headaches and increased blood pressure. Moreover: it has been proven that regular headaches do not affect the condition of a patient with hypertension.

Thus, the American Journal of Hypertension published the results of a large-scale study in which 1914 patients with arterial hypertension participated. Scientists observed them for three long decades, recording the symptoms, course and complications of the disease.

The results of the experiment showed that there is no connection between the regular occurrence of headaches and the likelihood of cardiovascular death.

This indirectly confirms that headache is not related to hypertension.

The lack of connection between headaches and hypertension is confirmed by many cardiological organizations, for example, the American Heart Association. Its experts have published data showing that patients with arterial hypertension are less likely to experience headaches than those with normal blood pressure. And yet there is an opposite opinion.

...or does it hurt?

The fact is that a sudden and sharp increase in blood pressure, known as a hypertensive crisis, can cause an increase in pressure inside the skull - in the sinuses of the brain, ventricles of the brain and other structures. This may result in a headache that is different from a “traditional” tension headache or migraine attack.

What to do?

For headaches that occur against the background of a hypertensive crisis, it is important to take measures to lower blood pressure as quickly as possible. We must not forget that a sharp drop in it is just as undesirable as a sudden increase. During the first two hours, pressure should be reduced by no more than 25%, and target values (i.e. normal) should be achieved within 2-6 hours after the onset of the attack.

Diagnostics

People come to a therapist and neurologist with headaches. Additionally, patients are asked to undergo an examination by an ophthalmologist to assess the condition of the fundus. Further testing to determine the cause of headaches includes:

complete blood count to rule out infections;
EEG - determines the electrical activity of the brain, detects epileptic activity, migraine;
ECG - checking the state of the cardiovascular system;
analysis of thyroid hormone levels;
Ultrasound of the vessels of the neck and head;
Ultrasound of the thyroid gland;
X-ray of the cranial sinuses - to determine ENT diseases.

Even a complete examination does not guarantee that the cause of the pain will be discovered. But it allows you to exclude serious diseases or identify them and select therapy.

Read also: Headaches in the temple area

What to do if you have a headache when you move your eyes?

Headache when moving the eyes and at rest (whether it is pain in the eyes when reading or working on a computer) is an extremely unpleasant condition for a person. Therefore, it is urgent to take a painkiller from the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The next step in helping a person is to see a doctor. If there are signs of a general infectious disease (flu, acute respiratory infections), then a general practitioner will be able to provide adequate medical care. In other cases, consultation with an ophthalmologist and often a neurologist is necessary. If the cause of pain in the eye is a foreign object or injury, in no case should you rub your eyes or try to reach such an object directly with your fingers. It is necessary to rinse your eyes generously with clean water. If this does not produce results, seek medical help immediately.

Treatment

Headaches cannot be tolerated, so during attacks you should take analgesics. These can be drugs based on paracetamol, ibuprofen, ketorol and others that help a particular patient.

The main treatment for headaches is always aimed at their cause. If there are serious pathologies of internal organs, hormone or chemotherapy, drugs for migraines or epilepsy, and drugs for heart disease are prescribed. Treatment is selected individually, taking into account the results of the examination and the general condition of the patient.

Dear patients!
Remember that only a qualified doctor can make an accurate diagnosis, determine the causes and nature of the disease, and prescribe effective treatment. You can make an appointment with our specialists or call a doctor at home by calling 8-(4822)-33-00-33 Be healthy and happy!

Treatment for eye movement disorders

There are many reasons why the eyes hurt and there is a violation of their movement. However, this combination of symptoms indicates a severe pathology, where self-medication is inappropriate. Disorders of eye movements occur most often due to neurological pathology (diseases of the cranial nerves or circulatory disorders in the brain). An infectious process in the orbit can lead to a temporary disturbance in movement and a condition where the eye muscles hurt when moving upward (most often, such symptoms are observed with inflammation in the lower fornix of the orbit). Treatment of eye movement disorders can only be carried out by an ophthalmologist in joint consultation with related specialists (neurologists, neurosurgeons). If pain in the eye when moving the eyeball haunts you, contact the Neuro-Med clinic for help. Our specialists will advise you in detail on all issues, as well as prescribe suitable treatment.

Treatment methods for acute sinusitis

The mildest disease does not require the use of any special measures or antibacterial agents for treatment. It is enough to take anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve general symptoms and use vasoconstrictor drops to relieve swelling and facilitate the release of mucus.

Sinusitis with a purulent form is treated with the help of antibiotics (for example, Amoxiclav).

Therapy for the acute form of the disease is best supplemented by rinsing the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. The most effective method of treating sinusitis is Proetz lavage, better known as the “cuckoo” method.

Physiotherapeutic procedures and irrigation of the nasal cavity with antiseptic agents will help to consolidate the effect of treating sinusitis.

Reasons for the development of sinusitis

Acute sinusitis can be caused by the following factors:

colds;
viral infections: ARVI, measles, influenza, etc.;
allergic reactions;
damage and injury to the nose;
untreated teeth, tooth roots entering the cavity of the maxillary sinus, inflammation of the gums.

In medicine, it is customary to distinguish two ways of infection entering the maxillary sinuses: when the infection penetrates from the nasal mucosa into the maxillary sinus or when the infection develops directly in the maxillary sinus through blood flow and general inflammation.

Sinusitis (in addition to bacteria) can be provoked by factors that interfere with normal air circulation and the release of mucous masses from the sinuses. These include:

deviated nasal septum;
adenoids;
cyst;
polypous formations;
and etc.

Unfavorable environmental conditions - dust, gas pollution, work in hazardous industries - can also disrupt the process of the release of mucous masses from the sinuses and further treatment.

Types of acute sinusitis

There are catarrhal and purulent forms of sinusitis.

Make an appointment right now!

Call us by phone or use the feedback form

The name “catarrhal” comes from the medical term “catarrh,” meaning “to flow, drain.” That is, with this form of sinusitis, inflammation of the mucous membrane and its swelling develop quite quickly. Initially, the changes affect only the mucous membrane. Inflammation during sinusitis of this form is accompanied by severe swelling of the mucous membrane - it noticeably increases in size and, as a result, a little later transparent mucus forms. Only thanks to timely treatment, it is possible to prevent the transition of catarrhal forms into purulent sinusitis, which with a high degree of probability can become chronic.

With purulent sinusitis, direct contact of pus with the mucous membrane degenerates it, quite quickly and, what is most dangerous, irrevocably. Thus, with improper treatment or no treatment at all, you can very easily and simply join the army of people suffering from a chronic form of sinusitis.

The cause of the purulent form of sinusitis (acute sinusitis) is bacteria. The secreted mucus contains streptococci, staphylococci, and less commonly pneumococci and fungi, which leads to the appearance of purulent contents in the sinus itself.

How is diagnosis carried out?

Treatment of acute sinusitis in adults and children must be carried out under the supervision of an experienced otolaryngologist.

At the appointment, the ENT doctor will collect anamnesis and conduct an examination of the nasal cavity. Painful sensations when palpating the area under the eyes at the level of the cheeks will indicate the presence of an inflammatory process in the sinuses.

A reliable diagnostic method is x-ray examination. But young children and pregnant women are not prescribed x-rays. They are shown CT and ultrasound examination of the sinuses - sinus scanning.

To obtain complete information about the disease, rhinoscopy and endoscopy of the nasal cavity and nasopharynx are performed.