Head pressure, or intracranial pressure, is tightly regulated to protect the brain. The head contains circulating fluid called cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF, designed to cushion and protect the brain in case of injury, as well as facilitate brain communication. The brain is also surrounded by three membranes called the meninges, each separated by more fluid to protect the brain. High intracranial pressure can damage and harm the brain, leading to headaches and permanent brain damage. There are a number of underlying causes of head pressure.
Infection
In some cases, infection of the brain, spinal cord or the meninges can increase intracranial pressure. Infections such as meningitis, a bacterial, viral or fungal infection of the meninges severely increases head pressure leading to severe headaches, seizures and death, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Infection increases intracranial pressure due to swelling of tissues within the skull, placing pressure on the brain and other surrounding structures. Some forms of infection also lead to an increase in fluid within the brain, further increasing head pressure. Most infections can be treated with antiviral, antifungal or antibacterial medications to kill infectious agents and ultimately restore proper head pressure.
Hemorrhaging
Another possible cause of head pressure is hemorrhaging, which is bleeding in or around the brain, according to MedlinePlus. The meninges surrounding the brain contain a rich supply of blood vessels. Weak blood vessels or chronic high blood pressure can lead to blood vessel rupture within the meninges, causing bleeding in between the layers of tissue and into the brain. As blood accumulates as a result of the bleeding, the amount of fluid within the skull steadily increases, increasing intracranial pressure and putting stress on the brain. If left untreated, brain hemorrhaging can irreparably damage the brain, leading to a loss of brain function and death.
Brain Tumors
Head pressure may also develop as a result of brain tumor development. Brain cell division is a carefully regulated process and many of the cells within the brain stop dividing once the cell matures. Brain tumors develop as a result of disrupted brain cell division, leading to the formation of a mass of cells in the brain. Tumor growth increases the mass of the brain and puts pressure on surrounding tissues as the tumor expands.
Patients with brain tumors suffer from increased head pressure leading to headaches, seizure or the development of neurological problems such as personality changes, according to the American Brain Tumor Association. Surgery to remove a brain tumor can restore proper head pressure and alleviate the symptoms associated with the tumor.
