Probably everyone knows the feelingwhen the head is numb Reasons for worrying about this symptom really exist. However, do not panic, because this symptom can be caused not only by serious diseases, but also, for example, by the incorrect position of the head during sleep. If numbness is noted for a long time, then the person must appear to the doctor to get a competent consultation.
How does this symptom manifest itself
It is worth noting that head numbness is notan independent disease, and a symptom. It can be observed in completely different diseases. Hypesthesia (another symptom name) may also be accompanied by different symptoms. The patient often complains that his head is spinning at the same time. The causes lie in many diseases. Sometimes one part goes numb.
Usually if hypesthesia appears abruptly and alsopasses abruptly, then doctors recommend to consult a neurologist. It is also important to consult a specialist more quickly if it is difficult for the patient to talk or move along with numbness, as well as if uncontrolled urination occurs. As a rule, such serious symptoms indicate the presence of complex diseases in the human body and the sooner treatment is started, the higher the chance of a complete recovery of the patient.
Numbness due to impaired blood circulation
When circulatory disorders, usually numbpart of the head. The reason lies in exactly which artery functions poorly. There may be several reasons for circulatory disorders. It is likely that this was due to developing atherosclerosis or due to progressive hypertension, and maybe because of a banal osteochondrosis.
It is worth noting that if the head is numboccurred due to hypertension, then the likelihood of stroke is great. This patient should be examined as soon as possible. A stroke can be suspected if a person has a speech retardation, double vision, and it is difficult for him to make ordinary movements. A stroke is treated, and it is very successful, but only in the first 6-12 hours after the onset of symptoms.
Numbness and multiple sclerosis
Quite often in people with a sick nervous system.head numb The causes may be different, but most often it happens that numbness occurs due to developing multiple sclerosis. This disease is particularly common in older people, but sometimes it also occurs in the younger generation.
Treatment of this diagnosis should be carried out onlyThe doctor, and it is necessary to address him as soon as possible if the person had bright symptoms of multiple sclerosis. Among them are loss of vision, reduced sensitivity of the scalp, difficulty in movement and poor coordination. During multiple sclerosis, the myelin sheath of the nerve is replaced by connective tissue, which does not convey the sensations of tactile contact. Due to this, hypesthesia appears.
Tumor and injury - causes of head numbness
Benign and malignant tumors, andalso suffered injuries - the most unpleasant for the human disease. On the background of their often numb, headache. The reasons are not often, but sometimes they lie in them. Therefore, if a person began to systematically appear a violation of the sensitivity of the skin, an urgent need to undergo examination by a specialist.
So, if a person develops in the headswelling, he will often experience severe pain and numbness. Also, fever and vomiting are possible. Do not forget that the tumor is not necessarily cancer. It is likely that she has a benign character and is successfully treated.
Numbness after injury is also a serious signal. Decreased skin sensitivity may be caused by hemorrhage or a violation of tissue integrity.
Numbness and inflamed nerves
Sometimes it happens that the sensitivity decreasesfor example, the right side of the head does not grow numb over the entire surface of the head. The causes of these symptoms may lie in the inflammation of the nerves (trigeminal or facial).
If a trigeminal nerve has become inflamed, thenit will also experience pain when touched, dry skin, and involuntary twitching of the facial muscles. The trigeminal nerve is often inflamed with advanced dental diseases.
Inflammation of the facial nerve is first manifested by pain behind the ear, and only after that the sensitivity of the scalp decreases.
It happens that a person simultaneouslypain present and numb of the head. The causes also lie in inflammatory processes. With such symptoms, it should be assumed that the patient had an inflammation of the occipital nerve and he should consult a doctor.
How to help yourself?
Doctors say that a symptom like numbnesshead, found in healthy people. You need to be anxious and apply only if the decrease in sensitivity occurs systematically and for a long time. However, it is not recommended to delay treatment. The fact is that in case of late treatment the doctor will not be able to establish the original cause of the disease, and the patient will have to treat the diagnosis for a long time.
Sometimes a patient may be referred for urgent hospitalization when he has a headache. The reasons for this may be different, and hospitalization is indicated only in severe conditions.
Also while reducing the sensitivity of the scalpIt is recommended to receive a referral for biochemical analysis of blood. This is necessary in order to identify the presence of the inflammatory process and start treatment in time. If the reason lies not in the head, it is necessary to examine the neck and upper spine.
Diagnosis of diseases
So, a lot of diseases were dismantled, becausewhich numb the scalp. The causes of the disease must be diagnosed very carefully and only under the supervision of the attending physician. In modern medicine, there are many methods for diagnosing this symptom. It is important to choose the one that really helps to identify the cause.
From the main methods of identifying the causes of head numbness can be identified:
- computed tomography;
- MRI (shown if theoretically a benign or malignant tumor develops in a patient);
- electroneuromyography (helps to identify a specific nerve, which causes numbness of the scalp);
- X-ray
- ultrasound examination of cerebral vessels (ultrasound of vessels of the cervical region may also be prescribed if the doctor suggests that the cause of numbness lies precisely in the cervical osteochondrosis).
Scalp numbness treatment
So, the doctor found a disease from whichthe head is numb. The causes can be varied and treatment is prescribed based on what ailment was diagnosed in the patient. There are two methods of treatment: non-drug and drug.
Non-drug treatment includesacupuncture, physical procedures and massage. It has been proven that medical massage helps to restore blood circulation in the scalp faster, which causes pain syndrome and numbness.
Drug treatment is prescribed for the detection ofserious reasons. In hypertension and atherosclerosis, the doctor prescribes medications that stop blood pressure or medicines that lower cholesterol. It is also possible the appointment of the patient hormonal drugs or drugs that have a positive effect on blood circulation.
If the cause of numbness is determined to be neuralgic, anticonvulsant drugs or drugs that relieve muscle spasm are prescribed.
Prevention of diseases
It is known that the disease is easier to prevent,than cure. There are several general rules by which to really protect yourself against diseases such as atherosclerosis, hypertension and neuralgia. First you need to adhere to a healthy lifestyle. At the same time, it is not necessary to limit yourself in everything. You can, for example, drink alcohol, but only in small quantities.
It is also important to play sports and develop.physically. Good physical shape can protect a person from such ills as osteochondrosis. It is also important to eat right. To do this, you must daily monitor your diet and eliminate harmful products. It must be remembered that a large amount of fatty, fried or sweet foods can significantly increase the amount of bad cholesterol in the blood. An excellent prevention will be a complete cessation of smoking.
