Many people think that high blood pressure, also called hypertension, causes headaches. But the truth is a bit more complicated.
High blood pressure is often called the “silent killer” because it usually doesn’t cause any obvious symptoms. This includes headaches—unless the blood pressure is dangerously high.
Let’s start by understanding what high blood pressure is. Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries when your heart pumps.
If this pressure stays high for too long, it can damage your arteries and your heart. Doctors diagnose high blood pressure when your readings are consistently above 140/90 mmHg.
The idea that high blood pressure causes headaches comes from early reports of people who had both problems.
But more recent research, including a large review published in the journal Hypertension, shows that regular high blood pressure doesn’t cause headaches. Headaches usually only happen when blood pressure reaches a very high level, called a hypertensive crisis.
A hypertensive crisis is when blood pressure shoots up above 180/120 mmHg. This is a medical emergency. People in this situation may have a pounding headache along with other symptoms like blurry vision, trouble speaking, nosebleeds, or feeling very anxious. In these cases, the headache is a warning sign that something is seriously wrong.
So why do some people with high blood pressure still get headaches? Often, the cause is not the high blood pressure itself, but other things that happen alongside it. For example, stress is a major factor.
It can temporarily raise your blood pressure and also lead to tension headaches. Some blood pressure medications can also have side effects, including headaches.
Your lifestyle also matters. Not getting enough sleep, being dehydrated, or drinking too much alcohol can all trigger headaches and affect your blood pressure. People with high blood pressure may be more sensitive to these triggers. Being overweight or not getting enough exercise can also make both blood pressure and headache issues worse.
There’s even some new research looking at how long-term high blood pressure might change blood flow in the brain. A study in the *Journal of Headache and Pain* suggested that these changes might make people more likely to get headaches. But scientists still need to do more studies to fully understand this link.
The good news is that managing your blood pressure can also help reduce headaches. Taking medication as prescribed and making healthy changes—like eating better, getting more exercise, lowering your salt intake, and reducing stress—can help keep both your blood pressure and your headaches under control.
To sum it up, high blood pressure by itself usually doesn’t cause headaches, except in very serious cases. But the two can still be connected in other ways. If you have high blood pressure and often get headaches, talk to your doctor. They can help you figure out what’s really going on and how to feel better.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies about This daily food is very important for blood pressure and heart health and Common blood pressure medication may have harmful side effects.
For more about blood pressure, please read studies about This alcohol treatment could help treat high blood pressure and How blood pressure changes with age.
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