Possible Causes and Solutions to Pain in The Back of Your Head

The pain in the back of the head is a common health issue that most of us have experienced. The causes vary from non-threatening factors of everyday life to, in rare cases, serious conditions that require professional care.

If you experience them on and off, as is the case most often, chances are they are a result of daily stress leading to unwanted tension in your body.

Let’s have a closer look at several possible causes and solutions for this pain:

Migraines

Migraines are not only felt around the temples, but can also be the cause of pain in the back of the head. Typical pointers would be other symptoms typically associated with them: diziness, blurry vision, nausea and sensitivity to surrounding factors, among others.

It is important to pay attention to activities done prior to migraines appearing. They can be caused by various factors, be it stress, dietary habits, caffeine, lack of rest or, as a long-standing condition, even depression. The best recommendation is to try and adopt a healthy lifestyle – a natural diet and exercise are key here. Also make sure to see your doctor, if you want to pinpoint the cause accurately.

Stress headaches

These headaches are generally caused by emotional problems such as depression, fatigue, stress or anxiety. They manifest by starting at the back of the head and slowly surrounding the whole skull. The only symptom is, most often, general pain – these headaches do not generally come with nausea or muscle tension.

There are also physical factors that can lead to this type of headaches, such as bad nutrition and your body’s posture. The recommendation is, again, a healthy lifestyle that will improve your mental well-being.

Muscle tension

Muscle tension is easy to spot due to increased sensitivity to head movement. This is often due to bad habits such as improper position when using a desk or when sleeping. It is important to ensure your neck muscles are in a relaxed position during your regular activities. Start taking short breaks for stretches whenever you find yourself in stiff positions for more than 1 hour.

Exercise headaches

Exercising can also lead to headaches. Most of the time, they are limited to pain and can be controlled using medication. They are, however, a cause of concern if they bring nausea, dizzines or unusual neck tension, this is when medical attention should be promptly requested.

Occipital Neuralgia

This type of pain in the back of your head is caused by inflamed nerves. This translates into a scalp that is very sensitive to touch. To help relieve this condition, you can use anti-inflammatory oils locally, for massages. You can also consume food with the same properties.

Brain Tumor

Sometimes, headaches can be a sign of tumors. However, it is rarely the case that pain alone, felt ocassionally, points towards such serious problems.

Conclusion

The pain in the back of your head can have numerous causes but it is, more often than not, a manageable, temporary problem. However, persistence and interference with your daily activities should warn you to contact a doctor immediately.