Feeling a tingling sensation in the head , or rather, in the scalp is a very common discomfort, and is due to an altered sensitivity, or to a prolonged stimulus, on the skin that lines the skull.
The most common manifestations are itching , a “pulling” sensation, burning, pain and numbness of the scalp. Furthermore, the discomfort can occur in an episodic and sporadic manner, or manifest itself more frequently and become chronic.
Given the importance of the anatomical site, i.e. the head, persistent or particularly acute discomfort can generate, especially in subjects with a certain degree of anxiety, the serious fear may be the symptom of a serious pathology, therefore of a tumor or ischemia or any other vascular lesion located in the skull.
Since tingling in the head both on the left and right side , and a rather common discomfort, it is clear, as in most cases, this is not the symptom of a clinical picture of relevance but rather it is to be referred to non-pathological factors or however slight.
If the tingling in the head is persistent, it is necessary to talk about it with your general practitioner, exposing all the characteristics of the disorder in order to be directed to specialized tests to find the causeof the symptom.
If, on the other hand, other symptoms such as burning, pain, numbness, mental confusion, lack of balance (dizziness), paralysis, incontinence and paraesthesia (changes in sensitivity) are also associated with the sensation of tingling in the head , a consultation is necessary. doctor with the utmost speed, undergoing all the necessary tests without delaying or looking for improbable remedies on the internet.
In fact, in these cases it could be an initial sign of stroke or ischemia, events that can seriously endanger the patient’s life.
So let’s go to illustrate the main causes of tingling in the head, taking into account both the most common causes and which do not represent a sign of a pathology, and the causes of greatest clinical interest.
What are the causes of tingling in the head
As we previously mentioned, the causes that can lead to experiencing this symptom can be of various nature and severity.
This is why we decided to collect the main pathological and non-pathological conditions that are responsible for the appearance of tingling in the head.
Incorrect posture
Most of the time the sensation of tingling in the head and face is transient and due to incorrect posture of the head, due to compression of the nerves and blood vessels.
This happens easily when, for example, you stand for a long time with your head resting on your hand or on a hard surface or if you use a pillow that is too high.
The ideal would be, in fact, to rest in the most correct posture possible by sleeping on latex pillows that adapt to the pressure exerted by our body.
Presence of hernias Tingling in the head
can easily arise following a compression of the nerves due to the presence of cervical hernias. Cervical hernia
is a protrusion of the vertebral disc (the cartilage pad placed between two cervical vertebrae with a cushioning function) with respect to its natural anatomical site.
This protrusion can cause abnormal pressure on nerves and blood vessels, causing tingling sensation.
Anxiety and stress
Subjects who suffer from anxiety or who are subjected to a period of strong stress, perhaps related to work, study or strong emotional situations, tend to maintain a posture of muscle contraction for a long time.
The state of contraction, especially in the shoulders and neck, if it persists for a long time, exerts excessive pressure on the cervical level , establishing muscle fatigue and tingling in the head which can be associated with itching, dizziness and a sensation of “pulling” skin.
It is a very common condition and is perhaps the most common somatic manifestation related to anxiety .
Stroke and ischemia
These phenomena represent a minimal percentage of the total events that cause tingling in the head , however they constitute two events that require immediate intervention so it is necessary to contact 118 or the nearest emergency room.
In both cases these are vascular lesions that do not allow the correct blood supply to the head (therefore to the brain) and therefore the right supply of oxygen.
In this type of clinical condition, the manifestations are quite clear: they are not limited to a single tingling sensation in the head, in fact, to them are added burning, severe pain, lack of mental clarity, incontinence, paresthesia and paralysis.
Migraine
Tingling often precedes a migraine attack. Migraine is the most widespread form of headache, so much so that it affects about 10% of the population with a prevalence for women compared to men.
Often it is a condition triggered by the change in hormone levels, so it tends to increase in correspondence with the menstrual cycle.
Seizures
Similarly to what happens with migraines, tingling in the head is an event that can precede a seizure for those suffering from this neurological disorder.
Cancer
It is one of the most feared occurrences, along with vascular lesions, although it is a rather rare phenomenon compared to the other causes.
As the tumor grows in volume, it compresses nerves and cranial vessels, causing tingling in the head .
Trauma and fractures
Similarly to what happens for cancer, the presence of trauma or fractures causes edema inside the skull that result in a tingling sensation and paraesthesia (alterations in sensitivity).
Diabetes
The high level of glucose in the blood has a neurotoxic effect and tingling in the scalp is one of the symptoms through which it manifests itself.
Multiple sclerosis
We are talking about one of the most widespread neurodegenerative diseases affecting the central nervous system and which leads to a progressive loss of the myelin sheath that covers the nerves, which allow the correct transmission of the electrical impulse.
The destruction of this coating, in addition to causing progressive motor difficulties that reach the point of disability, also determines alterations at the sensory level. Those affected by this disease experience widespread paresthesias such as tingling in the hands , tingling in the legs and head.
At this point we just have to deepen the ways in which the diagnosis is made by the doctor and what are the therapiesmore effective to solve this disorder, remembering right now that the purpose of this guide goes beyond any type of therapy or do-it-yourself diagnosis.
Tingling in the head: how the diagnosis takes place
We have seen how tingling in the head can be due to numerous causes , most of the time temporary and which should not induce particular fears, sometimes instead, if the symptoms are clearer, the triggering cause can be a factor of great clinical importance (stroke, ischemia and tumor).
Given the delicacy of the question, if the episodes of tingling and paraesthesia recur frequently or are of significant intensity, the invitation is to contact the general practitioner who will be able to direct you to the appropriate diagnostic tests useful for addressing the diagnosis.
If instead, as seen before, the symptoms are acute and are accompanied by paralysis, mental confusion or incontinence, the invitation is to immediately contact 118 or go to the nearest emergency room.
During the anamnesis phase, the symptoms felt play a fundamental role, therefore the frequency of tingling episodes in the head , their duration, when they arise if they are associated with other manifestations such as itching, pain, burning, skin changes.
Furthermore, it is also important to evaluate if the patient suffers from any pathology, if he is taking drugs and if he has recently suffered trauma.
Once the doctor has collected all the symptoms felt by the patient, he can orient the diagnosis on the basis of specific diagnostic suspects.
Depending on the case, a blood sample may be useful , to evaluate the presence of inflammation factors or an index of autoimmune diseases or to recommend performing an MRI scan to view the structure of the nervous system by checking for lesions or tumors or still request an electroencephalographic trace.
The lumbar puncture investigates the composition of the cerebrospinal fluid, verifying if there are signs of infection that can cause tingling in the head as a symptom .
What are the
most effective therapies Therapy must be adequate and specific to the cause of the tingling head and any associated symptoms, taking into account the individual factors of the subject (pathologies, age, general health and drug intake).
It is clear that the therapeutic indications belong only to the doctor after having read all the diagnostic investigations carried out and after having come to understand the real underlying cause of the disorder.
Therefore, we invite you not to consider in any way the indications or remedies resulting from any research on the internet or recommended by acquaintances. Tingling in the head
can be a symptom that should not be underestimated, therefore the treatment must be entrusted exclusively to the attention and competence of a doctor, usually a specialist in neurology.
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