Heavy-headedness is the feeling of
faintness
Syncope, commonly known as fainting, or passing out, is Unconsciousness, a loss of consciousness and muscle strength characterized by a fast onset, short duration, and spontaneous recovery. It is caused by a decrease in blood flow to the brain ...
,
dizziness
Dizziness is an imprecise term that can refer to a sense of disorientation in space, vertigo, or lightheadedness. It can also refer to disequilibrium or a non-specific feeling, such as giddiness or foolishness.
Dizziness is a common medical c ...
, or feeling of floating,
wooziness. Individuals may feel as though their head is heavy; also feel as though the room is moving/spinning also known as
vertigo
Vertigo is a condition where a person has the sensation of movement or of surrounding objects moving when they are not. Often it feels like a spinning or swaying movement. This may be associated with nausea, vomiting, sweating, or difficulties w ...
. Some causes of heavy-headedness can be tough to get rid of and can last a long period of time, however most can be treated.
Causes
Heavy-headedness can be caused by inner ear disturbance, motion sickness and medication effects. Sometimes it can be caused by an underlying health condition, such as poor circulation, infections or injuries.
Panic attacks
Panic attacks are sudden periods of intense fear and discomfort that may include palpitations, sweating, chest pain or chest discomfort, shortness of breath, trembling, dizziness, numbness, confusion, or a feeling of impending doom or of losing ...
can cause heavy-headedness as well. Medical conditions like
anxiety
Anxiety is an emotion which is characterized by an unpleasant state of inner turmoil and includes feelings of dread over anticipated events. Anxiety is different than fear in that the former is defined as the anticipation of a future threat wh ...
causes heavy-headedness too. A sinus infection can cause facial pressure and pain, as well as nasal congestion and headaches; which is also known as heavy-headedness. New users to specific drugs can cause heavy-headedness.
Chronic subjective dizziness
The term chronic subjective dizziness (CSD) is used to describe a commonly encountered type of dizziness that is not easily categorized into one of several other types, and for which the physical examination is typically normal. Patients with CSD ...
(CSD) can be related to heavy-headedness.
Nausea
Nausea is a diffuse sensation of unease and discomfort, sometimes perceived as an urge to vomit. While not painful, it can be a debilitating symptom if prolonged and has been described as placing discomfort on the chest, abdomen, or back of the ...
and vomiting can cause heavy-headedness. In cases of
Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome
Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome (WKS) is the combined presence of Wernicke encephalopathy (WE) and Korsakoff syndrome. Due to the close relationship between these two disorders, people with either are usually diagnosed with WKS as a single syndrome ...
cognitive effects such as severely disrupted speech, giddiness, and heavy-headedness have been documented.
Treatment
Treatment for heavy-headedness depends on the problem. Over-the-counter pain medications can sometimes work for heavy-headedness. Examples include acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and naproxen.
See also
*
Dizziness
Dizziness is an imprecise term that can refer to a sense of disorientation in space, vertigo, or lightheadedness. It can also refer to disequilibrium or a non-specific feeling, such as giddiness or foolishness.
Dizziness is a common medical c ...
*
Vertigo
Vertigo is a condition where a person has the sensation of movement or of surrounding objects moving when they are not. Often it feels like a spinning or swaying movement. This may be associated with nausea, vomiting, sweating, or difficulties w ...
References
{{Cognition, perception, emotional state and behaviour symptoms and signs
Symptoms and signs of mental disorders