MayoClinic.com reprints
This single copy is for your personal, noncommercial use only. For permission to reprint multiple copies or to order presentation-ready copies for distribution, use the reprints link below.
· Order reprints of this article now.
External compression headaches
By Mayo Clinic staffMayo Clinic Health Manager
Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.
Get Started
About our e-newsletters
- Free e-newsletters
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- We do not share your e-mail address
Housecall, our weekly general-interest e-newsletter, keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics with timely, reliable, practical information, recipes, blogs, questions and answers with Mayo Clinic experts and more. Our biweekly topic-specific e-newsletters also include blogs, questions and answers with Mayo Clinic experts, and other useful information that will help you manage your health.
Housecall Archives
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Definition
Do your work or leisure activities require a helmet or goggles? If they fit too tightly, you may be setting yourself up for a headache.
Any head wear that puts continuous pressure on your forehead or scalp can lead to what's known as an external compression headache. Common culprits include tight hats, helmets, headbands and goggles.
With most external compression headaches, the solution is as obvious as the cause. Simply remove the head wear causing the pressure.
Symptoms
The pain of external compression headaches is often described as constant pressure. It hurts most where the object is pressing on your head. As long as the head wear is in place, the pain may get progressively worse.
Causes
External compression headaches are caused by any type of head wear that places pressure on the head — including tight hats, helmets, headbands and goggles. Researchers don't know why some people are more sensitive than are others to this type of pressure.
Risk factors
External compression headaches can affect anyone who uses head wear. The headaches are more common among people who have migraines. They affect more women than men — possibly because migraines are more common in women.
Treatments and drugs
Remove the head wear that's causing the pressure. Further treatment is rarely needed.
Prevention
To prevent external compression headaches, skip the head wear. If head wear is unavoidable, make sure it fits properly and is positioned carefully. Try various styles and sizes as you look for the most comfortable options.
