A throbbing sensation, pain or a feeling of tightness can be described as pressure in the head. This pressure can either be a headache or affect parts of the head. Pressure in the back of the head can be excruciating.
Pressure, headaches or pain in the back of the head can be caused due to many reasons and headaches due to sinusitis are not uncommon. This condition is known as sphenoid sinusitis. The location of the sphenoid sinus is at the base of the brain. An infection of this sinus causes a bad, throbbing and vague headache or pressure at the back of the head.
What Causes Pressure In The Back Of Your Head?
Feeling pressure at the back of the head could be due to many reasons. Some of the more common ones are –
- Cluster headaches – this form of headache occurs in repeated succession over one or many days in clusters or groups. The pain is excruciating that starts around the eye and progresses to the various parts of the head and the face.
- Tension headaches – this occurs due to tension or stress that could be caused due to lack of sleep, irregular eating habits, overworking and alcohol or drug abuse.Foods like chocolate, cheese and food enhancers could also lead to pressure in the back of the head.
- Migraines – this is a common form of headache that could either affect the whole head or the pain shifts from side to side. This is accompanied by various other symptoms like nausea, dizziness, sensitivity to light and sounds, fatigue etc.
- Temporal arteritis – this form of condition occurs when one or more arteries that supply blood to the head become tender, inflamed and swollen with pressure or pain at the back of the neck.
- Cervicogenic headaches – this form of headache is caused by the neck. Cervicogenic refers to the cervical areas. The pressure that is felt, travels from the neck and then spreads to other areas of the head.
- Occipital neuralgia – This condition involves two pairs of nerves originating from the second and third vertebrae, which are the occipital nerves. The pain usually starts at the nape of the neck and travels to the back of the head or to other places in an around the head and the face areas. The reasons for the headaches could be either primary or secondary. There could be underlying problems like tumors, systemic diseases, hemorrhage or infections that could cause secondary headaches. The pressure could be continuous and shocking, aching or throbbing.
If you suffer from persistent frequent and painful headaches, consult a doctor or neurologist immediately.