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What Causes Pressure In Head?

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Posted on Sat, 18 Oct 2014
Question: Hi, I am 36, female, (about 170#, 5'3") and have recently begun exercising more intensely with both cardio and weights. A couple of weeks ago, I experienced a mild headache while lifting weights, and for several days afterwards, the headache generally persisted, sometimes more painful than other times. It subsided, and I continued working out.

A couple of days ago, I did weights again, and felt fine at the time, but the next day, I started feeling some pressure in my head - not pain necessarily, and also some pressure in the ear area, which seems mostly on my right ear, for some reason. I don't think I've ever had any particular problem with my right ear, so I don't know why it would just be that ear.

But over the past 2 days, even though it isn't necessarily painful, the pressure is distracting, and sometimes I feel slightly dizzy. I haven't tried to workout in the past 2 days because I'm afraid of making it worse or that I might even feel like throwing up during the workout.

But I am not sure what to do. I took some Anacin, and it has helped a little bit, but not enough to feel normal again. I took my blood pressure at home, and it was what it usually is for me, 97 over 64, which seems low, but every time my blood pressure has been taken it tends to be on the low end.

I'm trying to drink a lot of water right now, to see if the water retention/swelling might be due to dehydration. But as I said, I am worried a bit about the dizziness, since it even bothers me when I'm sitting still trying to read.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Abubakar Siddiqh (42 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
needs evaluation-stop workouts.

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

I had gone through your question and understand your concerns.

I see similar cases amongst young people who visit my clinic, I would like to ask you few more details.

Do you have any other symptoms associated with head-ache like post nasal drip, dry cough or nasal block ?

Here I am giving possibilities of headache with dizziness.

The First possibility is headache and dizziness could be due to hypotension(low bp) secondary to variation in thyroid hormone levels.

The Second possibility is head-ache and dizziness could be due to electrolyte (sodium,potassium and calcium) loss due to work out and exercise sweat.

The third possibility is (ear pressure with head-ache) sinusitis causing acute otitis media.

The fourth possibility is cervical spondylitis( un usual neck movements during work out causing dizziness and head-ache.


I suggest you to to consult ent surgeon and get detailed ent examination, bp monitoring, x ray- cervical spine, blood tests-hemoglobin percentage, serum electrolytes and thyroid profile.

I advise you to stop doing exercises till you evaluate the cause of dizziness.


Hope this answers your question, if you have additional questions or follow up questions then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your questions.

Wishing you good health.


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Abubakar Siddiqh (4 hours later)
Thank you so much for your response, Dr. Siddiqh.

To respond to your question, I do not have any other symptoms like post nasal drip, dry cough, or nasal block - the headaches, pressure in head, and dizziness are the main things I have been feeling.

The ear pressure has gone away, but I still feel general nausea and dizziness. I hope to be able to consult an ent surgeon as you suggested, and I will definitely take your advice about not continuing the workouts for now.

Thank you again!

doctor
Answered by Dr. Abubakar Siddiqh (37 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Always welcome

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

If you have additional questions or follow up questions then please do not hesitate in writing to me. you are always welcome.

Wishing you good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Abubakar Siddiqh

ENT Specialist

Practicing since :1994

Answered : 2038 Questions

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What Causes Pressure In Head?

Brief Answer: needs evaluation-stop workouts. Detailed Answer: Hi, I had gone through your question and understand your concerns. I see similar cases amongst young people who visit my clinic, I would like to ask you few more details. Do you have any other symptoms associated with head-ache like post nasal drip, dry cough or nasal block ? Here I am giving possibilities of headache with dizziness. The First possibility is headache and dizziness could be due to hypotension(low bp) secondary to variation in thyroid hormone levels. The Second possibility is head-ache and dizziness could be due to electrolyte (sodium,potassium and calcium) loss due to work out and exercise sweat. The third possibility is (ear pressure with head-ache) sinusitis causing acute otitis media. The fourth possibility is cervical spondylitis( un usual neck movements during work out causing dizziness and head-ache. I suggest you to to consult ent surgeon and get detailed ent examination, bp monitoring, x ray- cervical spine, blood tests-hemoglobin percentage, serum electrolytes and thyroid profile. I advise you to stop doing exercises till you evaluate the cause of dizziness. Hope this answers your question, if you have additional questions or follow up questions then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your questions. Wishing you good health.