| Known as paresthesia, a tingling sensation in the head is a common experience most of us have had at one point in our lives. It can feel like a burning sensation, or like that pins and needles sensation you get when your foot falls asleep, or you may experience it as numbness in the head or scalp. Show The sensation can be a rare occurrence, or it can happen on a regular basis. For some people, the sensation never goes away. So what exactly is this tingling sensation in the head? And, more importantly, should you be worried?
What is the Tingling Sensation in My Head?Persistent anesthesia, or paresthesia, can be the result of a variety of factors. The number one cause is staying in the same position for too long, allowing the blood flow to be constricted to a certain area, like when your foot falls asleep because you’ve been sitting on it. Other causes of paresthesia can include:
Certain medical conditions can also cause paresthesia, including:
Most of these medical conditions have one of two things in common. They affect the circulation of the blood or affect the nerves. For example, rheumatoid arthritis indirectly affects the nerves because of the deformation of the joints the disease causes, which can result in paresthesia. On the other hand, strokes and TIAs (transient ischemic attacks) are the results of a lack of blood flow to a specific part of the brain. The effects of a stroke are typically permanent or long-term, whereas the effects of a TIA are usually brief or short-lived. Depending on which part of the brain is affected, the result could be the complete loss of the use of a limb or simply paresthesia.
Stress and Anxiety Can Be a FactorThe feeling of anxiety is the result of the release of stress hormones and is more commonly known as the “fight or flight” response. It is an instinctive response to a life-threatening situation that has its roots in our caveman days (when there was a very real threat that people could end up as dinner for a lion). But this stress response has an on/off switch. When the threat passed for cavemen, the stress response would shut down and they were able to relax again. Today, our stress response is stuck in the “on” position. This constant bombardment of stress hormones in the brain can lead to a variety of strange side effects, one of which is paresthesia. So if you’ve ever asked yourself “what is this tingling sensation on the left side of my head,” it could be the result of stress from a high-pressure environment.
Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR)Brain tingles can also be caused by a newly discovered phenomenon called autonomous sensory meridian response or ASMR. Very little research has been done in this area of neuroscience, but ASMR is a tingling in the brain caused by hearing a specific type of sound such as whispering or finger tapping. In fact, a quick search on YouTube reveals over 5 million results for ASMR videos that offer a variety of different sounds that can trigger the response.
When to Seek Medical AttentionAlthough paresthesia is a common phenomenon, there are instances when a visit to your physician is warranted. Our doctors can help you determine if your paresthesia is cause for concern. You should contact the National Headache Institute right away if your paresthesia:
Our doctors will run a variety of tests including MRIs, lab tests (bloodwork), electromyography or electroencephalography, and if necessary, a nerve biopsy. Combined with your current medical history and a neurological exam, our doctors will be able to help you determine the cause of the tingling sensation in your head and find a treatment that works for you. |
What causes a crawling sensation on your scalp?
Copyright © 2024 SignalDuo Inc.
