Every person probably knows that feeling when his head goes numb. There are indeed reasons for concern regarding this symptom. However, you should not panic, because this symptom can be caused not only by serious diseases, but also, for example, by improper head position during sleep. If numbness is noted for a long time, then a person must necessarily see a doctor to get a competent consultation.
How does this symptom manifest itself?
It is worth noting that numbness of the head is not an independent disease, but a symptom. It can be noted with completely different diseases. Hypesthesia (another name for the symptom) may also be accompanied by different symptoms. The patient often complains that at the same time he is spinning, his head goes numb. The reasons lie in many diseases. Sometimes one part goes numb.
Usually, if hypesthesia appears abruptly and also abruptly passes, then doctors recommend consulting a neurologist. It is also important to consult a specialist more quickly if, along with numbness, it is difficult for the patient to talk or move, and also if uncontrolled urination occurs. As a rule, such serious symptoms indicate the presence of complex diseases in the human body and the sooner treatment is started, the higher the chance of a patient's full recovery.
Numbness due to impaired circulation
In case of circulatory disturbance, as a rule, part of the head goes numb. The reason lies in which particular artery is functioning poorly. There may be several reasons for circulatory disorders. It is likely that this happened due to developing atherosclerosis or due to progressive hypertension, and maybe due to commonplace osteochondrosis.
It is worth noting that if numbness of the head occurred due to hypertension, then the likelihood of developing a stroke is high. Such a patient should be examined as soon as possible. A stroke can be suspected if a person has speech retardation, double vision, and it is also difficult for him to make ordinary movements. A stroke is treated, and it is very successful, but only in the first 6-12 hours after the onset of symptoms.
Numbness and multiple sclerosis
Quite often, people with a diseased nervous system have a numb head. The reasons may be different, but most often it happens that numbness occurs due to developing multiple sclerosis. This disease is especially often fixed in the elderly, but sometimes it occurs in the younger generation.
The treatment of this diagnosis should be carried out only by a doctor, and you need to contact him as soon as possible if a person has vivid symptoms of multiple sclerosis. Among them, loss of vision, decreased sensitivity of the scalp, difficulty in movement and poor coordination. During multiple sclerosis, the myelin sheath of the nerve is replaced by connective tissue, which poorly conveys the sensations of tactile contact. Due to this, hypesthesia appears.
Tumor and injuries - causes of numbness of the head
Benign and malignant tumors, as well as injuries, are the most unpleasant diseases for humans. Against the background, they often go numb, headache. The reasons are not often, but sometimes they are hidden in them. Therefore, if a person began to systematically appear a violation of the sensitivity of the skin, it is urgent to undergo an examination with a specialist.
So, if a tumor develops in a person’s head, then he will often experience severe pain and numbness. It is also possible an increase in temperature and vomiting. Do not forget that a tumor is not necessarily cancer. It is likely that it has a benign character and is successfully treated.
Numbness after an injury is also a serious signal. A decrease in the sensitivity of the skin can be caused by an open hemorrhage or a violation of the integrity of the tissues.
Numbness and sore nerves
Sometimes it happens that sensitivity decreases not over the entire surface of the head, for example, the right side of the head goes numb. The causes of such symptoms may lie in inflammation of the nerves (trigeminal or facial).
If a person has an inflammation of the trigeminal nerve, then he will also experience pain when touched, dry skin, as well as involuntary twitching of facial muscles. The trigeminal nerve is often inflamed with advanced dental diseases.
Inflammation of the facial nerve is first manifested by pain behind the ear, and only after that the sensitivity of the scalp decreases.
It happens that a person simultaneously has pain and the nape of the head is numb. The reasons also lie in inflammatory processes. With such symptoms, it is worthwhile to assume that the patient had inflammation of the occipital nerve and he should consult a doctor.
How to help yourself?
Doctors say that a symptom such as numbness of the head is also found in healthy people. It is necessary to be alarmed and treated only if a decrease in sensitivity occurs systematically and for a long time. However, delaying treatment is not recommended. The fact is that with late treatment, the doctor will no longer be able to establish the initial cause of the disease, and the patient will have to treat the neglected diagnosis for a long time.
Sometimes a patient may be referred for urgent hospitalization when his head goes numb. The reasons for this may be different, and hospitalization is indicated only in severe conditions.
Also, with a decrease in the sensitivity of the scalp, it is recommended to receive a referral to a biochemical blood test. This is necessary in order to detect the presence of an inflammatory process and start treatment on time. If the reason is not in the head, then it is necessary to examine the neck and upper spine.
Disease diagnosis
So, many diseases were analyzed, due to which the scalp was numb. The causes of the disease must be diagnosed very carefully and only under the supervision of the attending physician. In modern medicine, there are a lot of diagnostic methods for this symptom. It is important to choose the one that really helps to identify the cause.
Of the main methods for identifying the causes of numbness of the head, one can distinguish:
- computed tomography;
- MRI (shown if, theoretically, a patient develops a benign or malignant tumor);
- electroneuromyography (helps to identify a specific nerve, which causes numbness of the scalp);
- X-ray
- ultrasound examination of cerebral vessels (ultrasound of the vessels of the cervical spine can also be prescribed if the doctor suggests that the cause of numbness lies precisely in the cervical osteochondrosis).
Treatment of numbness of the scalp
So, the doctor established a disease from which the patient's head goes numb. The reasons can be varied and treatment is prescribed based on what illness was diagnosed in the patient. There are two methods of treatment: non-drug and drug.
Non-drug treatment includes acupuncture, physical therapy and massage. It is proved that medical massage helps to restore blood circulation in the scalp faster, which eliminates pain and eliminates numbness.
Medication is prescribed when serious causes are identified. With hypertension and atherosclerosis, the doctor prescribes stopping pressure surges of the drug or medications that lower cholesterol. It is also possible to prescribe hormonal drugs to the patient or drugs that positively affect blood circulation.
If the cause of numbness is established of a neuralgic nature, anticonvulsant drugs or drugs that relieve muscle spasm are prescribed.
Disease prevention
It is known that the disease is easier to prevent than to cure. There are several general rules that make it possible to protect yourself from diseases such as atherosclerosis, hypertension and neuralgia. First you need to adhere to a healthy lifestyle. It is not necessary to limit yourself in everything. You can, for example, drink alcohol, but only in small quantities.
It is also important to play sports and develop physically. A good physical condition can protect a person from such ailments as osteochondrosis. It is still important to eat properly. To do this, you need to monitor your diet daily and eliminate harmful products. It must be remembered that a large amount of fatty, fried or sweet foods can significantly increase the amount of bad cholesterol in the blood. An excellent prevention will be a complete cessation of smoking.