Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesRare CausesTreatmentWhen to See a Doctor
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Rare Causes
Treatment
When to See a Doctor
A headache on top of the head could be due to a variety of factors. Some common causes include:
This article will explore more about what can trigger pain or pressure on the top of the head, how to treat this type of headache, and when to see a healthcare provider.
Causes: Headache on the Top of Your Head
Pain on the top of your head may have a number of causes, many of which have to do with what’s happening elsewhere in the body.
Stress
Stress is a common cause of headaches, including one on top of the head. Researchers don’t know exactly how stress causes a headache, but they think that it may cause tightening of the muscles in the back of the head or neck, which can result in pain or pressure in the scalp or forehead area. These are also calledtension headaches.
What Your Headache Location Means
Caffeine
You may feel pain on the top of your head if you miss your usual cup of coffee.Regular ingestion of caffeinecan lead to dependency and withdrawal symptoms, such as a headache, when intake is abruptly stopped.
This type of headache may be moderately to severely painful and can feel worse with activity. Most people start to feel better from caffeine withdrawal within a week.
Dental Problems
Teeth issues such as cavities, cracks, or impaction can irritate thetrigeminal nerve, setting off pain in the head. Grinding your teeth, which some people do while sleeping, can also lead to headaches.
Eye Strain
You may develop a headache on the top of your head after you’ve been reading, watching, or otherwise focusing on something for a while. Over time, your eye muscles tire and have towork harder, causing them to contract. These spasms can lead to headaches. Squinting can make the muscle contractions even worse.
Hormonal Changes
People who have a low level of thyroid hormone may experience headaches, something that may result from having too little thyroid or may be a symptom of the condition. Like stress-induced headaches, this type of head pain is generally dull instead of throbbing.
Sleep Changes
Not getting enough sleepcan induce a headache on top of the head. When you get too little sleep, this can interfere with body functions such as temperature, hunger, and sleep-wake cycles and lead to a subsequent headache. You may also have a tendency to feel more stressed when sleep deprived, possibly causing or compounding a headache.
Alcohol
Some people develop a headache on the top of their head or elsewhere within a few hours afterdrinking alcohol. Called a cocktail headache, these alcohol-induced headaches typically resolve within 72 hours. The mechanism behind this headache isn’t well understood, but it’s possible that the widening of blood vessels in the brain (called vasodilation) when drinking alcohol may trigger head pain.
This type of headache is different than a hangover headache, which can result after you drink but no longer have alcohol left in your blood.
Rare Causes of Top of Head Headaches
Top of the head pain can also result from more serious and rare causes:
How to Treat Top of Head Headache
Treatment for easing a headache top of the head includes:
Depending on the cause of your headache, your doctor may suggesttreatment optionsincluding prescription medication, physical therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, chiropractic therapy, or acupuncture.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
You should also see a healthcare provider if you:
You should call 911 or go to the emergency room if:
Summary
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
World Health Organization.Headache disorders.
MedlinePlusBrain tumor.
Brigham and Women’s Hospital.Brain aneurysm.
NHS.Headaches.
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