Numb head or head numbness can be a result of nerve irritation, or a pinched nerve, especially in the neck and upper back region. The medical term used for this condition is head paresthesia. It is usually caused by stress and anxiety, and muscular problems in the neck, shoulder and upper back region. But, occasionally, head numbness can be an indicator of more serious conditions. Here is a brief account of numb head causes.
Numb Head Causes and Symptoms
As has been mentioned already, most of the times, head numbness is caused by trauma or injury, and stress to the muscles of the neck and the upper back region. Such a condition usually, puts pressure on the nerves that spread to the scalp. Generally, irritation of the cervical nerves and trigeminal nerves, spinal disorders, neurological diseases, infections, as well as herniated disks are associated with numb head. A few of the most common head numb causes are explained below
Multiple sclerosis is the autoimmune neurological disorder, that can cause head numbness. It can affect the brain and the spinal cord to cause head numbness, along with blurred vision, paralysis in one side of the body and dizziness.
Herpes zoster, more commonly known as shingles can affect the cervical nerves and trigeminal nerves, to cause numbness and tingling in one side side of the face and head.
Meningitis is an infectious disease, caused by bacteria, and it affects the meninges of the brain. It can also cause numb head, pain in the head, nausea and fever.
Epilepsy can be another cause of head numbness. Sensations of tingling, convulsions, muscle spasms and loss of consciousness are also caused by this condition.
Trigeminal neuralgia is a nerve disorder that mainly affects the adults. The exact causes of this disease are not known, but it affects the trigeminal nerve to cause numbness in head and the facial region.
Stroke can be one of the major health conditions, that can be associated with head numbness. It can interrupt the supply of blood to the brain, which can lead to head numbness.
Like stroke, transitional ischemic heart attack can too cause head numbness by blocking the supply of blood to the brain. However, it is a less serious condition than stroke, as it interrupts the supply of blood to the brain only for a brief period of time.
Injury to the spinal cord, as well as spinal disorders like, degenerative disc diseases, spinal arthritis and herniated discs can also cause numb head. Head injury is another common factor that too can cause numbness and tingling in the head.
Apart from these, some other numb head causes are, brain tumor, vertebrobasilar circulatory disorder, hyperkalemia, vasculitis, migraine, spondylitis, Lyme disease, etc.
Numb head is sometimes, accompanied by a tingling sensation as well. Apart from this, one can experience pain, dizziness and nausea. Presence of such numb head symptoms can indicate a more serious health condition, than minor injury or trauma to the muscles of the neck and back regions.
Treatment for Numb Head
Treatment for head numbness depends on the diagnosis of the underlying causes or health conditions. Therefore, physicians carry out a complete analysis of the medical history of the patient, as well as the history of the symptoms, like time and frequency of occurrence, the exact location, where numbness is felt, and whether numbness is accompanied by other symptoms like, dizziness, blurred vision, nausea, pain, etc. The next step of diagnosis is a series of neurological examinations including, nerve conduction studies, nerve biopsy and electromyography. Blood test is also performed to look for the count of blood cells, hemoglobin, the level of minerals like, calcium and magnesium, and the level of vitamin B12 and thiamine.
Once the exact cause of numb head is ascertained with the help of these diagnostic tests, physicians prescribe the appropriate medications, supplements and therapies to address the condition. Sometimes, anti-inflammatory and antidepressant drugs can also be required for treating head numbness, depending on the underlying condition. At the same time, proper stress management can help to cope with head numbness, and other associated discomforts. Meditation and stress relief techniques are some of the proven and effective ways in this regard.
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So, proper diagnosis of numb head causes can play an important role in treating the condition, and preventing some complications that can arise, if head numbness is not treated on time. If you experience numbness in the head for a considerable period of time, and it is accompanied by symptoms like, vision problem, dizziness, headache, loss of consciousness etc, then it is more likely to be associated with nerve injury or disorder. Such a condition, if not diagnosed and treated on time, can lead to some serious neurological complications.
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