Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Causes Feeling Of Warmth At Top Of My Head?
Question: hi doctor wanted to know recently I noticed top of my head feels really warm is this something normal ,maybe it has to do with stress or some thing else
Brief Answer:
looks like stress here but check few more points
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
As it is an almost a chance discovery by you, im hopeful that there is nothing very serious about it. You are keeping healthy also.
Such feelings are frequently seen in many people who are otherwise normal. But to be on the safer side-- I usually ask few more questions to my patients to clarify some important doubts-
1. Are you a hypertensive? if yes, getting Blood pressure readings three times a day for a week can help you. If there is rise in a certain part of the day, this might be related to the feeling of warmness.
2. Are you the one who is prone to headaches or heaviness of head? These people are usually prone to feel different temperature changes in head or forehead area.
3. Most important: is the feeling related temporally to any stressful life event? You have suggested this possibility in your case in the question. I think you need to ponder on the third point. This feeling of warmness and also heaviness and pressure like feeling is associated frequently in patient under any chronic or acute stress.
So, check yourself on the above points. I donot feel that there should be anything organic. You may get a CT scan head ( if at all this feeling scares you or troubles you a lot).
Wish you good luck.
Please ask more questions for clarification.
Dr. Manisha Gopal
MD Psychiatry
looks like stress here but check few more points
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
As it is an almost a chance discovery by you, im hopeful that there is nothing very serious about it. You are keeping healthy also.
Such feelings are frequently seen in many people who are otherwise normal. But to be on the safer side-- I usually ask few more questions to my patients to clarify some important doubts-
1. Are you a hypertensive? if yes, getting Blood pressure readings three times a day for a week can help you. If there is rise in a certain part of the day, this might be related to the feeling of warmness.
2. Are you the one who is prone to headaches or heaviness of head? These people are usually prone to feel different temperature changes in head or forehead area.
3. Most important: is the feeling related temporally to any stressful life event? You have suggested this possibility in your case in the question. I think you need to ponder on the third point. This feeling of warmness and also heaviness and pressure like feeling is associated frequently in patient under any chronic or acute stress.
So, check yourself on the above points. I donot feel that there should be anything organic. You may get a CT scan head ( if at all this feeling scares you or troubles you a lot).
Wish you good luck.
Please ask more questions for clarification.
Dr. Manisha Gopal
MD Psychiatry
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I would have to go with 2and3 because I had MRI of the head done on Monday because I have been getting headaches pressure and a stiff neck but MRI is clear, this symptom is new the top of the head and also when I look down I get little light headed or some time I feel like my head will start to hurt
Brief Answer:
check BP amd get X Ray neck please
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
when MRI is normal- at least any major problem is ruled out for now.
You think that it can be related to stress or headache issue. Still looking at the further description given by you in follow up amswer, I feel that even though you are not hypertensive but get the blood pressure checked and rule out new change there.
secondly, when there is associated feeling of discomfort on bending the neck- it can be related to cervical spondylosis quite commonly. Getting an X Ray neck ( AP and Lateral View) will help to make things clear.
Do get the X-Ray please ( even if this dosent sound much conviencing to you at present).
Wish you good luck.
Please feel free to ask more questions for any clarification.
Dr. Manisha Gopal
MD Psychiatry
check BP amd get X Ray neck please
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
when MRI is normal- at least any major problem is ruled out for now.
You think that it can be related to stress or headache issue. Still looking at the further description given by you in follow up amswer, I feel that even though you are not hypertensive but get the blood pressure checked and rule out new change there.
secondly, when there is associated feeling of discomfort on bending the neck- it can be related to cervical spondylosis quite commonly. Getting an X Ray neck ( AP and Lateral View) will help to make things clear.
Do get the X-Ray please ( even if this dosent sound much conviencing to you at present).
Wish you good luck.
Please feel free to ask more questions for any clarification.
Dr. Manisha Gopal
MD Psychiatry
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
thank you Doctor, I am going through a lot this week just looking for more advice, I went to do a stress test on Thursday it was good ekg Is good yet I am having some left arm discomfort running some time to my hand and to my chest but closer to my armpit and speaking of bp my usual bp is 110/70 last night it was 13585 this morning 150/85 pulse is about 70-79.but layer on in the morning went back to 125/80 and I had same issue beginning of the week going crazy trying to figure out what's wrong, by the way i am 34 if that plays a role
Brief Answer:
its due to stress. heart is fine.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Your blood pressure readings are fine except in morning once when it was to 150 systolic. However, normal stress test and EKG rules out anything cardiac behind the symptoms.
you mut be concerned about the pain and feeling in left arm, to armpit..as it mimics heart related reasons..scary enough for anyone....Here I would like to tell you that almost every third or fourth patient of anxiety disorder or just under some recent anxiety due to stresses in life has this or similar sets of symptom. You will be surprised to know that under psychological stress body can mimic any kind of physical symptom without actual organic threat.
So, its more of your mind playing games I feel ( espically after having the detailed follow up replies from you).
Now, this dosent mean that you donot do anything for them. Rather, you should at least look into the reason of stress you are having and try to sort it out. Many a times we just ignore day to day life stresses but sometimes mind is not ready to ignore and creates problem. Your conditiin looks like one of this.
You mentioned going through " a lot" this weeks...I would sugest that you: fight back this " a lot" and free yourself and your mind with the worry and all these symptoms.
If at all they persisit and there is occurance of new one- do meet a psyhiatrist for evaluation. May be just therapy can help completely.
You didnt mention X Ray neck? got it?
Wish you good luck!
Feel free to ask more questions for clarification.
Dr. Manisha Gopal
MD Psychiatry
its due to stress. heart is fine.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Your blood pressure readings are fine except in morning once when it was to 150 systolic. However, normal stress test and EKG rules out anything cardiac behind the symptoms.
you mut be concerned about the pain and feeling in left arm, to armpit..as it mimics heart related reasons..scary enough for anyone....Here I would like to tell you that almost every third or fourth patient of anxiety disorder or just under some recent anxiety due to stresses in life has this or similar sets of symptom. You will be surprised to know that under psychological stress body can mimic any kind of physical symptom without actual organic threat.
So, its more of your mind playing games I feel ( espically after having the detailed follow up replies from you).
Now, this dosent mean that you donot do anything for them. Rather, you should at least look into the reason of stress you are having and try to sort it out. Many a times we just ignore day to day life stresses but sometimes mind is not ready to ignore and creates problem. Your conditiin looks like one of this.
You mentioned going through " a lot" this weeks...I would sugest that you: fight back this " a lot" and free yourself and your mind with the worry and all these symptoms.
If at all they persisit and there is occurance of new one- do meet a psyhiatrist for evaluation. May be just therapy can help completely.
You didnt mention X Ray neck? got it?
Wish you good luck!
Feel free to ask more questions for clarification.
Dr. Manisha Gopal
MD Psychiatry
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your answer it look like its definitely right about the anxiety and I am in the process of dealing with it, it just its something new every other day and mostly left side like I woke up this morning and very time I breath in I get this sharp pain in my left breast my wife told me its my muscle it's just non stop, thank you again big help I will look in to the x ray
Brief Answer:
try deep breathing exercise, good luck
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Anxity, as I said is notorious and gives new symptoms on and off...and irritates the patient. The point that - new and fluctuating symptoms also goes in favour of anxiety.
Usually the anxiety symptoms mimic chest pain..may be it is so beacuse it is related to the knowledge and hidden fear of death psychologically....so, mind always plays in that area of health...its our weakest or most concerned area which produces symptoms under stress.
So,beat this stress.. OK
You may try deep breathing exercise. First, relax in sitting or lie down posture; count till 10 slowly and hmm a soft song which you like...; then when you are relaxed further start to focus on your breath-- take deep and relaxed breath and exhale ...the exhalation should be of double duration of the inhalation..
Do this for five to ten minutes, three times a day. This will help you a lot!
Wish you good luck.
Dr. Manisha Gopal
MD Psychiatry
try deep breathing exercise, good luck
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Anxity, as I said is notorious and gives new symptoms on and off...and irritates the patient. The point that - new and fluctuating symptoms also goes in favour of anxiety.
Usually the anxiety symptoms mimic chest pain..may be it is so beacuse it is related to the knowledge and hidden fear of death psychologically....so, mind always plays in that area of health...its our weakest or most concerned area which produces symptoms under stress.
So,beat this stress.. OK
You may try deep breathing exercise. First, relax in sitting or lie down posture; count till 10 slowly and hmm a soft song which you like...; then when you are relaxed further start to focus on your breath-- take deep and relaxed breath and exhale ...the exhalation should be of double duration of the inhalation..
Do this for five to ten minutes, three times a day. This will help you a lot!
Wish you good luck.
Dr. Manisha Gopal
MD Psychiatry
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you doctor , i am trying everything, can anxiety give this arm problems meaning that they just dont go away i took some time off from work went on a little road trip and all my other symptoms went away but my arm is driving me crazy and now i feel its the only thing is giving me a panic attack i keep thinking its my heart dont know if its muscle tension or something else because its bothering more in my breaast are shoots down closer to my armpit and then travels to my lower arm and sometimes i cant even squeeze my hand , i went to a neuro doctor and he said my nerves are fine , so i dont even know whick doctor to talk to
o
o
Brief Answer:
add a drug to relieve this symptom
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
If neurologist and cardiac tests are fine, at least there is no immenent danger associated with this left sided symptom. However, there is a complaint which is persisitent and needs attention.
In such presentation when there is a pain symptom associated with stress and doesnt respond to life style approach, it is better to add a medicine. Otheriwse, the problem may increase and cause other symptom as well. I usually start pregabalin (50-75mg night) or amitripatlline (25-50mg at night) in such cases. Please discuss with your doctor.
I hope that within few days the symptom should improve. In between continue with life style changes and slowly reduce the drugs and see if you can stop them.
Wish you good luck.
Do not panic, it is not your heart at all...it's just notorious stress....
Please ask more questions for clarification.
Dr. Manisha Gopal
MD Psychiatry
add a drug to relieve this symptom
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
If neurologist and cardiac tests are fine, at least there is no immenent danger associated with this left sided symptom. However, there is a complaint which is persisitent and needs attention.
In such presentation when there is a pain symptom associated with stress and doesnt respond to life style approach, it is better to add a medicine. Otheriwse, the problem may increase and cause other symptom as well. I usually start pregabalin (50-75mg night) or amitripatlline (25-50mg at night) in such cases. Please discuss with your doctor.
I hope that within few days the symptom should improve. In between continue with life style changes and slowly reduce the drugs and see if you can stop them.
Wish you good luck.
Do not panic, it is not your heart at all...it's just notorious stress....
Please ask more questions for clarification.
Dr. Manisha Gopal
MD Psychiatry
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
thanks today another crazy day, just want to clarify new symptom driving me crazy I am getting this really bad shooting pain from my arm to my fingers it's driving me crazy still can't sleep
Brief Answer:
can be sprain, take pain killer & relaxant
Detailed Answer:
Hellp,
You didnt tell wether you took the pervious medicine I had prescribed for this pain symptom? you must have forgotten due to your disturbing problem at hand...
I think that this pain can be related to some muscle pull or sprain..so, try taking aceclofenac along with omeprazole. If that relieves it, you should continue taking it for three to four days and let the injury heal..You may add a muscle relaxant along with this. I feel that this should help you.
You can also apply some warm compress over that area of sharp pain..if that works, give three sittings of five to ten minutes each.
And do continue with other stress relieving exercises and life style changes.
Please try the above two measure and tell me the response. And remember all cardiac tests are normal...
Wish you good health.
Feel free to ask more questions for clarification.
Dr. Manisha Gopal
MD Psychiatry
can be sprain, take pain killer & relaxant
Detailed Answer:
Hellp,
You didnt tell wether you took the pervious medicine I had prescribed for this pain symptom? you must have forgotten due to your disturbing problem at hand...
I think that this pain can be related to some muscle pull or sprain..so, try taking aceclofenac along with omeprazole. If that relieves it, you should continue taking it for three to four days and let the injury heal..You may add a muscle relaxant along with this. I feel that this should help you.
You can also apply some warm compress over that area of sharp pain..if that works, give three sittings of five to ten minutes each.
And do continue with other stress relieving exercises and life style changes.
Please try the above two measure and tell me the response. And remember all cardiac tests are normal...
Wish you good health.
Feel free to ask more questions for clarification.
Dr. Manisha Gopal
MD Psychiatry
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
