Why numbness in head

Numbness can occur unilaterally on one side of your head. Sometimes, the entire right or left side of your head is affected. Find out what may be causing numbness on the left side of your face.

People with anxiety sometimes report numbness or tingling in their head. For some, a panic attack might trigger numbness and tingling in the scalp, face, and other areas of the body. Blood flow is directed towards areas that can help you fight a threat or escape it.

Without adequate blood flow, other parts of your body may be left feeling temporarily numb or tingly. Your doctor will conduct a physical exam and ask you about your symptoms and medical history. For instance, they might ask when the numbness began and whether other symptoms appeared around the same time.

Your doctor may also prescribe one or more of the following tests to help identify the cause of your head numbness:. Once you get a diagnosis, treatments usually address the underlying condition. For instance, if your head numbness is caused by diabetes, treatment will focus on stabilizing blood sugar levels through diet, exercise, and insulin treatments. If posture is causing head numbness, try changing your position, using ergonomic aids, or moving more often.

Certain exercises, including deep breathing , may also help with posture. Alternative treatments such as acupuncture and massage may improve blood circulation and relieve head numbness. Head numbness has many possible causes, including illness, medication, and injuries. Numbness in your head usually goes away with treatment. Doctors may ask whether any family members have had similar symptoms or have a hereditary disorder that affects the nervous system. They ask the person about use of drugs, including recreational drugs, and about possible exposure to toxins.

The physical examination includes a complete evaluation of the nervous system neurologic examination Neurologic Examination When a neurologic disorder is suspected, doctors usually evaluate all of the body systems during the physical examination, but they focus on the nervous system.

Examination of the nervous system—the Testing is not needed if the diagnosis is obvious and treatment involves only general measures such as rest or a splint —for example, in some cases of carpal tunnel syndrome. For sensory nerves, plexuses, or spinal nerve roots: Nerve conduction studies and electromyography. For plexuses: Nerve conduction studies and electromyography and sometimes magnetic resonance imaging MRI after a contrast agent is injected into a vein.

Nerve conduction studies and electromyography Electromyography and Nerve Conduction Studies Diagnostic procedures may be needed to confirm a diagnosis suggested by the medical history and neurologic examination. Electroencephalography EEG is a simple, painless procedure in which Nerve conduction studies use electrodes or small needles to stimulate a nerve. Then doctors measure how fast the nerve transmits signals. For electromyography, a small needle is inserted into a muscle to record its electrical activity when the muscle is at rest and when it is contracting.

Other tests are then done to identify the specific disorder. For example, if results suggest a polyneuropathy, doctors do blood tests to check for its various causes such as diabetes, kidney disorders, or vitamin deficiencies.

General measures can help relieve symptoms and prevent additional problems. Precautions to prevent injury are needed because people with numbness are less likely to feel discomfort.

If their feet are numb, particularly if circulation is impaired, they should wear socks and shoes that fit well and should check their shoes for pebbles or other foreign material before putting their shoes on.

People should inspect their feet frequently for sores and signs of infection, such as redness. If hands or fingers are numb, people should be careful when handling objects that could be hot or sharp. If people are having difficulty walking or have lost their sense of position where body parts are , physical therapy can help them learn to walk more safely and to prevent falls Prevention Most falls occur when older people with one or more physical conditions that impair mobility or balance encounter an environmental hazard.

Although many people have no symptoms before a fall People should be aware that they may have problems driving, and if they do, they should talk to their doctor about the problems. Numbness refers to partial or complete loss of sensation and is often accompanied by abnormal sensations, such as tingling.

Numbness, which has many causes, occurs when one part of the pathway from sensory receptors in the skin to the brain malfunctions. If people have any warning sign Warning signs Numbness refers to the partial or complete loss of sensation. Telling doctors which parts of the body are affected and how quickly symptoms develop helps doctors identify the location and cause of the malfunction.

Testing usually starts with nerve conduction studies and electromyography if the sensory nerves, plexuses, or spinal nerve roots are thought to be affected or with MRI if the brain or spinal cord is thought to be affected. Merck and Co. From developing new therapies that treat and prevent disease to helping people in need, we are committed to improving health and well-being around the world. The Manual was first published in as a service to the community.

Learn more about our commitment to Global Medical Knowledge. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. Simple partial seizures can affect people with epilepsy. When a person has a simple partial seizure, they do not lose consciousness, as the seizure occurs in only one part of the brain. Instead, someone having a simple partial seizure may experience numbness or tingling that lasts for a few minutes. The tingling may be in the head or face.

In some cases, autoimmune conditions attack the nerves and surrounding tissues. If this occurs, a person may experience tingling in the head. Two occipital nerves run on both sides of the head. They from the neck to the top of the head, stopping at about the forehead.

These nerves are responsible for the feelings and sensations on the top and back of the head. If something irritates either of them, it can cause shooting pain or a tingling sensation in the head. Occipital neuralgia is a condition that can irritate these nerves and cause tingling. Though not common, some infections can cause nerve damage in the head, which can lead to a tingling sensation. A stroke occurs when a person loses the blood supply to their brain for a short time.

The loss of blood causes a loss of oxygen, which can damage the brain. The trigeminal nerves run on both sides of the face and give sensation to the forehead, cheeks, teeth, and jaw. Sometimes, the trigeminal nerve can become irritated or compressed, which can cause numbness or tingling in the face. Less commonly, some other conditions may cause a person to feel tingling in the head. Some of these are benign, while others are potentially dangerous. A person may not need to see a doctor if they experience tingling in the head on occasion.

If the tingling comes and goes quickly, is associated with a cold or other acute infection, or comes along with a headache, it will typically go away without treatment. Anyone experiencing the symptoms of a stroke or seizure should seek emergency medical attention. Whenever a person is concerned about their symptoms, it is always best to speak to a doctor for a full diagnosis. Migraines cause intense throbbing or pulsing pain on one or both sides of the head.

Changes in blood flow and pressure in the head may result in tingling. A migraine aura occurs before a migraine. It can cause sensory symptoms, such as tingling, typically in the face. Stress can sometimes lead to tingling in the head. Stress hormones, such as norepinephrine , direct blood to the areas of the body that need it most. As a result, you might experience tingling or a lack of sensation in other areas. Injuries that impact the base of the skull can damage nerves inside the brain. This can lead to symptoms such as facial paralysis , numbness, or tingling.

Injuries directly to the nerves responsible for the sensation to the head may also cause tingling or numbness in the injured area. Diabetes is a common metabolic disorder associated with high blood sugar. Over time, untreated diabetes can lead to nerve damage. Although cranial nerve damage is less common, older adults who have diabetes can develop it. It can cause numbness in the face and other areas of the head. MS is a chronic, degenerative disease that affects the central nervous system.

Tingling and numbness are common symptoms. They can affect the face, neck, and other parts of the head. Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that causes seizures. Certain types of seizures, such as simple partial seizures , can cause tingling in the face. Bacterial and viral infections can affect the nerves in the head, triggering tingling and numbness in the head, face, and neck. Some of these conditions include:. Sometimes, the nerves in the brain are affected, leading to head or face tingling.

Some autoimmune conditions that cause head tingling include:. Tingling or numbness in the head can be a side effect of some medications, such as chemotherapy drugs or anticonvulsants. Misusing alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs can also cause head tingling.