Are high blood pressure and headache related? Dr Manjinder Sandhu from Artemis Hospital explains

 

 

 

 

Are high blood pressure and headache related? Dr Manjinder Sandhu from Artemis Hospital explains

 

 

-by Dr Manjinder Sandhu

 

 

Whether high blood pressure causes headache or not – has been a topic of much debate. According to Dr Manjinder Sandhu from Artemis Hospital Gurgaon, there does not appear to be an association between the two health conditions.

Although it has been documented that very, very high blood pressure can cause headache, studies have failed to account for a large number of other possible causes of headache. However, according to the studies conducted by Dr Majinder Sandhu and his team of cardiologists at Artemis Hospital, there is no distinct association between high blood pressure and headache. Studies hold it true for moderate or severely elevated high blood pressure.

On being asked about the possibilities of headache being a cause of high blood pressure, Dr Sandhu says, “Patients with active headaches may well have high blood pressures. The physical stress of a headache and and associated pain is an obvious cause of high blood pressure. In these cases, the blood pressure is expected to return to baseline levels once the headache has subsided.”

Dr Sandhu’s team at Artemis Hospital claims pheochromocytoma to be a potential cause of high blood pressure accompanied with headache. Pheochromocytoma is a rare tumor and a rare cause of uncontrolled very high blood pressure. Common symptoms associated with a pheochromocytoma are episodic headaches, palpitations and sweating. The headaches are typically associated with palpitations, sweating and anxiety.

Talking further about the health conditions that might cause headache along with high blood pressure, Dr Majinder Sandhu says, “Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia are an important, although uncommon cause of uncontrolled blood pressure episodes in pregnancy. High blood pressure, abnormal swelling, and protein in the urine characterize pre-eclampsia. Severe and persistent headache is an important part of the disorder.”

According to the studies conducted by cardiologists at Artemis Hospital, high blood pressure crisis is another condition due to which high blood pressure might be accompanied with headache. High blood pressure crisis, also known as hypertensive crisis, is defined as blood pressure greater than 180 systolic (top number) and 120 diastolic (bottom number).

High blood pressure crisis is typically a severe uncontrolled episode in patients that usually have a history of blood pressure. Several symptoms, ranging from headache to other neurological issues and chest pain, can be experienced due to a hypertensive crisis. If there is any damage to organs such as the heart, brain or kidney, patients will typically require admission to an intensive care unit and IV medications to control blood pressure.

“There can be some other medical conditions responsible for patients with high blood pressure experiencing headache. Our team of cardiologists at Artemis Hospital is investigating the other possible causes, if any,” said Dr Manjinder Sandhu.

 

 

 

 

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About Author 

This article is written and brought to you by Dr Manjinder Sandhu