Do any members of your family or friends ever express the complaint “my head feels heavy”? There may be a reason why you or someone you know feels heavy in the head.

Why does my head feel heavy? The sensation of having a heavy head can have many different causes. From minor ailments like a headache or sinus infection to more serious ones like a concussion or brain tumor, these can range in severity. A heavy head is typically not a sign of anything serious.

The causes, symptoms, and treatments for Ménière’s disease are discussed in this article, along with both natural and conventional cures. We also advise making dietary changes to help someone with their symptoms.

Why Does My Head Feel Heavy?

Muscle Strain

Any injury that aggravates the neck and head muscles can make your head feel heavy and more challenging to support.

The neck muscles can become overworked as a result of sports injuries, auto accidents, or lifting heavy objects, which can cause a heavy head sensation.

Other symptoms of muscle strain in the neck include:

• Soreness
• Limited range of movement
• Swelling
• Muscle spasms
• Stiffness
• Weakness

Your neck and eyes may feel fatigued if you spend the entire day in front of a computer. Feelings of pressure and heaviness may result from this.

If you work at a computer, be sure to take breaks throughout the day to rest your neck and eyes. The 20-20-20 rule can help you avoid eye fatigue and give your neck some downtime.

Whiplash

When your neck’s muscles and ligaments move past their normal range of motion, whiplash occurs. The head suddenly and violently moves backward before suddenly moving forward.

The most frequent cause of whiplash is a rear-end auto accident, but it can also be brought on by amusement park rides, abuse, falls, or sports injuries.

Common symptoms of whiplash include:

• Stiffness in the neck
• Pain
• Headaches near the base of the skull
• Dizziness

It may seem like your head is heavier than usual due to whiplash-related neck pain and stiffness, as well as a headache at the base of the skull. Learn more about whiplash and some remedies you can use at home.

Concussion Or Head Injury

Any injury to the head, scalp, or brain is referred to as a head injury. Your brain bumps up against the walls of your skull, which is one type of head injury known as a concussion.

Other signs of a concussion may include:

• Confusion
• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Memory problems
• Blurred vision
• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Sensitivity to light or noise
• Balance problems

After an injury, concussion symptoms may last for weeks or even months. Headaches, vertigo, fatigue, drowsiness, blurred vision, and other symptoms could occur. These symptoms can also cause a heavier-than-normal feeling in the head.

Vestibular Problems

A vestibular disorder may cause a heavy head sensation. The inner ear and brain regions that regulate the balance and eye movements make up the vestibular system.

Symptoms of a vestibular disorder include:

• Tinnitus, or ringing in the ear
• Hearing loss
• Vertigo, or feel like the room is spinning
• Stumbling when walking
• Headaches

A particular kind of inner ear disorder known as the vestibular disorder is Meniere’s disease. Aural fullness, another symptom of Meniere’s disease that contributes to dizziness and may make you feel as though your head is heavy, can also be experienced in addition to vertigo.

Fatigue

Obsessive tiredness is the general definition of fatigue. There are several medical conditions that can make you feel exhausted all the time in addition to being sleep deprived or having a hangover.

Some conditions that may make you feel this way include:

• Anemia
• Hypothyroidism
• Sleep apnea
• Heart disease
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Fibromyalgia
• Lyme disease
• Multiple sclerosis
• Lupus (SLE)
• Major depressive disorder
• Kidney or liver problems
• Malnutrition
• Dehydration

In general, it may be more difficult to keep your head up all day if you are overly exhausted. You might constantly want to lie down or take a nap. If you experience constant fatigue and heaviness in the head, it may indicate a serious health problem.

If these sensations persist, consult a doctor.

Tension Headaches

It feels like a squeeze, pinch, or dull ache in the head and is a common type of pain. In addition, it makes your head feel heavy by tightening the muscles in your neck and shoulders.

Migraines

Headaches and migraines are not the same. Migraines are more intense, even debilitating, and come with many symptoms in addition to head pain, such as:

• Fatigue
• Sensitivity to light and sound
• Neck stiffness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Pulsing and throbbing head pain
• Migraine-associated vertigo

The stiff neck, exhaustion, and head pain linked to migraines can lead to a heavy head feeling. Here is all the information you require if you regularly get migraines.

Allergies

Because the signs of seasonal allergies frequently cause pressure and congestion in the head, they are also referred to as hay fever or allergic rhinitis.

Common symptoms of allergic rhinitis include:

• Sneezing
• Nasal congestion
• Runny nose
• Itchy throat
• Itchy or watery eyes
• Sinus pressure
• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Ear pressure or congestion

You might experience heavier-than-normal head weight due to headaches, sinus and ear congestion, and general ill health. Discover the causes, cures, and DIY treatments for allergic rhinitis.

Sinus Infection

When the nasal cavities swell up, it leads to a sinus infection, also known as sinusitis. Sinusitis is typically brought on by a virus and can accompany a cold. Bacteria or, less frequently, a fungal infection of the sinuses can also cause sinus infections.

Along with headaches and nasal congestion, a sinus infection can result in pressure and pain in the face. These symptoms are sometimes also described as heavy-headednessTrusted Source. The best way to treat sinusitis is to be aware of its symptoms.

Brain Tumor

It’s critical to understand how uncommon brain tumors are.

Because of the pressure, the tumor places on the skull, a heavy head may be one of the signs of a brain tumor. There will likely be other symptoms, such as:

• Frequent headaches
• Seizures
• Nausea and vomiting
• Vision or hearing problems
• Weakness of the arms, legs, or face muscles
• Behavioral and cognitive issues, like poor memory or an inability to concentrate

Symptoms

The underlying causes of head weight can affect the associated symptoms.

Tension in the muscles, particularly those of the neck and shoulders, is a symptom that the majority of people will experience. It may be difficult to move the head from side to side as a result of this tension causing stiffness in the neck.

Headaches, particularly on both sides of the head, are one of the other signs and symptoms of a heavy head.

Treatment Advice

It’s important to try to take breaks from looking down if someone’s head feels heavy because of poor posture. To maintain the neck in a neutral position during this change of position, it may be necessary to take breaks from tasks like typing, texting, or working.

A person can take over-the-counter pain relievers if they have a headache that makes their head feel heavy. Naproxen, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen are some examples.

Another thing a person might want to do is try to figure out what causes their tension headaches. Hunger, insufficient sleep, and teeth grinding at night are a few examples. A person can lessen their tension headaches by avoiding these habits and, if necessary, seeking treatment to help them break them.

Balance disorders are treated with medications, which can include:

• Anticholinergics: Scopolamine, a substance that has historically been used to treat motion sickness, is one of these drugs.
• Antiemetics: These medications treat any nausea a person might have as a result of their dizziness. Examples include the drug cocktail Decadron (dexamethasone) and Zofran (ondansetron).
• Antihistamines: The side effects of these medications can be lessened. Treatments include promethazine (Phenergan), diphenhydramine (Benadryl), and meclizine (Antivert). Online retailers offer a selection of antihistamines.
• Benzodiazepines: These drugs are intended to manage acute motion sickness and vertigo as well as anxiety. Alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), and diazepam (Valium) are benzodiazepines that are commonly used to treat vertigo.

Exercises that lessen vertigo are among the other treatments for balance disorders. The Epley maneuver is one such method that helps to lessen the effects of inner-ear-related vertigo.

Home Remedies For A Heave Head

Using a heating pad on the shoulders and neck is one of the home remedies for headache relief. In order to prevent skin burns, it is crucial to make sure the heating pad is covered with a cloth.

On the internet, heating pads can be purchased.

If a person has neurological conditions, such as diabetes, they should speak with a doctor before using a heating pad.

If one feels that their neck muscles are particularly weakened, they can perform neck-strengthening exercises at home. These exercises can aid in neck strengthening and the reduction of muscle tension.

Before starting any exercise program, a person should always consult a doctor. Examples of these programs include:

Chin Tuck

This exercise can aid in strengthening the neck muscles necessary for maintaining good posture. It is possible to perform it by leaning up against a wall, pulling one’s shoulders back, and looking straight ahead.

To feel a stretch in the back of the neck and the muscles on either side of the collarbone, move and tuck the chin downward. Five seconds should be spent in this position before releasing it.

Back Burn

The back burn exercise can improve posture and fortify the muscles in the neck. Stand with your back to a wall and your arms out in front of you at shoulder height.

The palms of the hands should still be facing forward as you slowly raise your arms above your head. Returning to the starting position, slowly lower the arms. At least three to five times per day, repeat 10 times.

When To See A Doctor?

The majority of the time, you won’t just have a heavy feeling in your head. Along with a head that feels heavier than normal, you should see your doctor right away if you experience any of these other symptoms:

• A headache that worsens or doesn’t improve with the use of OTC drugs
• Nausea and vomiting if not clearly related to a hangover or flu
• Recurring episodes of fainting
• Chest pain
• A sudden, severe headache
• An abrupt change in speech, vision, or hearing
• Shortness of breath
• High fever
• A very stiff neck or muscle pain in the neck that doesn’t resolve in a week
• Seizures
• Difficulty walking
• Unequal pupil size
• Abnormal eye movement
• Loss of consciousness
• Anxiety that interferes with daily life
• Suicidal thoughts

The Healthline FindCare tool can help you locate a doctor in your area if you don’t already have a primary care physician.

Takeaway

There are numerous potential causes and treatments for the unusually heavy feeling in the head. A person can lessen their symptoms by taking action to relieve fatigue and anxiety and by stretching their neck.

Get assistance from a crisis or suicide prevention hotline or dial 911 if you are having suicidal thoughts.

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