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What Causes Heavy Head Sensation Upon Waking?
Question: I get heavy head in the morning only upon wake. goes away after an hour.. tyrenol with HCl helps. lasts 1-2 days at a time. This occurs about every 2 months or so.
Brief Answer:
Neck arthritis most probable
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
If the heavy head sensation or headache is only present once every one or two months I can safely say that it is not related to any threatening condition such as brain tumor, stroke, infection etc.
As for the possible causes I would say that considering your age the most probable would be degenerative arthritic changes in your spine which are more marked in the morning and improve both because of the Tylenol analgesic effect as well as being put in motion (warming up so to say). It may manifest on only certain mornings due to certain prolonged postures during sleep.
Other causes might include sinusitis (but would include other signs such as nasal congestion and discharge and would be more persistent) or tension type headache the most common primary headache (primary meaning no cause can be identified) often influenced by stress and anxiety.
I wouldn't recommend any particular measures if the episodes remain of such low rate, if they become more frequent a neck Xray would be a good first initial test.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Neck arthritis most probable
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
If the heavy head sensation or headache is only present once every one or two months I can safely say that it is not related to any threatening condition such as brain tumor, stroke, infection etc.
As for the possible causes I would say that considering your age the most probable would be degenerative arthritic changes in your spine which are more marked in the morning and improve both because of the Tylenol analgesic effect as well as being put in motion (warming up so to say). It may manifest on only certain mornings due to certain prolonged postures during sleep.
Other causes might include sinusitis (but would include other signs such as nasal congestion and discharge and would be more persistent) or tension type headache the most common primary headache (primary meaning no cause can be identified) often influenced by stress and anxiety.
I wouldn't recommend any particular measures if the episodes remain of such low rate, if they become more frequent a neck Xray would be a good first initial test.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
The first time I experienced this was about 3 years ago--one or two days...then nothing for a year.. then another instance for 1-2 days. but my eyes bother me--eye strain/.. on occasion or seem to bring it on the night before. Have had a tube in my ear 20 years ago for similiar problems. tube has since fallen out after 10 years.
Also bad upper teenth that get infected on occasion. All linked?
Also bad upper teenth that get infected on occasion. All linked?
Brief Answer:
Link unlikely
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for that additional information.
Eye strain can cause headache due to increased scalp muscle tension, if you feel that has an influence you should be checked about your eyesight as appropriate glasses might resolve the problem. However if the issue is in the morning I am not so prone to blame it on the glasses, it should develop during the day as you use your eyes, culminating in the evening. In the morning after sleep, rest, the symptoms should be better.
It is a little difficult to comment about the ear issue as I am not certain what do you mean by having a tube inserted and why was that. I am inclined to say that it is not related as symptoms would be more persistent than 1-2 days once a couple of months, but I am not that confident as I am not clear about the ear diagnosis.
As for the teeth unless your heavy headed sensation is associated with fever and pain episodes I would say no, they are not related.
I hope to have been of help.
Link unlikely
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for that additional information.
Eye strain can cause headache due to increased scalp muscle tension, if you feel that has an influence you should be checked about your eyesight as appropriate glasses might resolve the problem. However if the issue is in the morning I am not so prone to blame it on the glasses, it should develop during the day as you use your eyes, culminating in the evening. In the morning after sleep, rest, the symptoms should be better.
It is a little difficult to comment about the ear issue as I am not certain what do you mean by having a tube inserted and why was that. I am inclined to say that it is not related as symptoms would be more persistent than 1-2 days once a couple of months, but I am not that confident as I am not clear about the ear diagnosis.
As for the teeth unless your heavy headed sensation is associated with fever and pain episodes I would say no, they are not related.
I hope to have been of help.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
the ear tube was inserted because ear was not draining. DR. said it was due to "shape of ear canal"
One last comment please;
My eyesight is not equal in both eyes since teen years...2/30 in one corrected and 20/70 in the other corrected. could this add to the problem?
One last comment please;
My eyesight is not equal in both eyes since teen years...2/30 in one corrected and 20/70 in the other corrected. could this add to the problem?
Brief Answer:
Read below
Detailed Answer:
I imagined that the tube was used for draining but was there a chronic infection, have you had any check ups afterwards to check for the possibility of an infection among which signs would also be headache (although as I said I think it would be more persistent and do not think it likely).
As for the eyesight, if adequately corrected there is no reason to cause the problem. That is if you have had regular check-ups since then I assume, the situation may be changed especially with age. But again, in relation to your current complaint, if the eyes were the main cause should be more marked in the evening after a long day strain, not in the morning.
Read below
Detailed Answer:
I imagined that the tube was used for draining but was there a chronic infection, have you had any check ups afterwards to check for the possibility of an infection among which signs would also be headache (although as I said I think it would be more persistent and do not think it likely).
As for the eyesight, if adequately corrected there is no reason to cause the problem. That is if you have had regular check-ups since then I assume, the situation may be changed especially with age. But again, in relation to your current complaint, if the eyes were the main cause should be more marked in the evening after a long day strain, not in the morning.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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