Will I have a stroke or aneurism?

Question

Sometimes I get a lot of pressure in my head as if I have really stuffed sinuses and blood is still pumping into my brain... this comes on all of the sudden and then goes away after 4-6 minutes. My mother died from an aneurism and, although I was athletic in my youth, I have been abusing my body for the past 20 years... I know I shouldn't take medical advice online, but I figured it might be a step in the right direction until I do see the doctor... thanks.

Answer 1

When you say abusing your body, i take it you mean substance abuse.

Well a consequence of that could be thinning of arterial and venous capillaries and so increased risk of stroke.

This doesn't mean your symptoms indicate you're going to suffer one though.

What this does sound like is as already mentioned, sinus over production and causing your tubes to be blocked and so the feeling of pressure in your head and claustrophobic feeling.

Your hearing may swing from normal tones to dull tones as well, another symptom of blocked tubes.

You'll find relief by steam inhalation of menthol, you can buy Menthol crystals, boil a pan of water to a simmer, add the crystals, about a small teaspoon full, pour immediately into a bowl.

Covering your head with a towel, lean over the bowl with the towel serving to to prevent escape of fumes too quickly, and breath the steam/fumes deeply, if your nose is a little blocked, begin inhaling through your mouth and the fumes will permeate through your head and soon unblock your nasal passages.

If this works well for you and you want to use it regularly, steam inhalation devices can be purchased which simplify the treatment

This is a proper method for this sort of thing but you may well find relief by sucking on menthol sweets like Lockets or strong mints, before buying Menthol crystals you may want to try those first, can work wonders.

Talk to your doctor anyway about having a concern about stokes because of your mother and past self abuse, you may be sent for some tests to eliminate that risk or confirm it, if family have suffered something like that it's better to have it checked than to ignore it.

Answer 2

It could just as easily be sinus headaches. You're describing the sinus headaches I used to have until I had surgery. Don't freak out until you see a doctor.