What is a Headache?
Many people who lead reasonably healthy lives are surprised when they find out that they have high blood pressure. Often, people don’t show symptoms, which is why high blood pressure (also known as “hypertension”) can lead to health problems such as heart attacks, heart disease, and strokes.1
Blood pressure is determined by both the amount of blood that your heart pumps through the body and the amount of resistance to the blood flow in your arteries.2 When you have high blood pressure, it’s caused by the force of your blood consistently pushing against the walls of your arteries arteries with high intensity.2 A normal blood pressure is <120/<80.3 An elevated blood pressure is 120-129/<80.3 And stage 1 hypertension reads at 130-139/80-89.3
There are two primary types of high blood pressure:2
For nearly a century, researchers believed that high blood pressure was a contributing factor in headaches.4 For those with a particularly elevated blood pressure of 200/110 or higher, this still holds true.1 Recently, however, a large recent study has called this belief into question. The study found that most people with high blood pressure may actually be less prone to headache than those with normal blood pressure.5 The study concluded that increases in systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure may decrease the prevalence of headaches.5 There’s also the fact that hypertension can cause the arteries that supply the brain with blood and oxygen to become blocked, potentially leading to a stroke.1 Even if frequently high blood pressure is not explicitly connected to headaches, it’s still dangerous for your overall health.
Some high blood pressure medications may cause headaches (along with dizziness or nausea.)6 If you are experiencing headaches while on medication to manage your high blood pressure, be sure to consult with your doctor or healthcare professional.
A hypertensive crisis is a sudden, extreme elevation in blood pressure with a reading of 180/120 mm Hg or greater.7 This is considered a medical emergency because it can lead to a stroke, heart attack or other issues that may threaten the life of an individual.7 When an individual’s blood pressure is that high there may be collateral damage to the blood vessels themselves, as well as organs like the brain, eyes and kidneys.7
A hypertensive crisis may be caused by forgetting to take blood pressure medication, a negative interaction between certain medications or even a tumor on the adrenal gland.7 One of the symptoms of a hypertensive crisis is a severe headache, known as a hypertension headache.7 Other symptoms include:7,8
A hypertensive crisis is a sudden, extreme elevation in blood pressure with a reading of 180/120 mm Hg or greater.7 This is considered a medical emergency because it can lead to a stroke, heart attack or other issues that may threaten the life of an individual.7 When an individual’s blood pressure is that high there may be collateral damage to the blood vessels themselves, as well as organs like the brain, eyes and kidneys.7
A hypertensive crisis may be caused by forgetting to take blood pressure medication, a negative interaction between certain medications or even a tumor on the adrenal gland.7 One of the symptoms of a hypertensive crisis is a severe headache, known as a hypertension headache.7 Other symptoms include:7,8
If you’ve never experienced a hypertensive crisis and a corresponding hypertensive headache, they may be disorienting and a little scary.7 If you know you have high blood pressure and you feel like your heart is racing and your head is pounding, check your blood pressure. If it’s 180/120 mm Hg or greater don’t hesitate to call your doctor or emergency care.7
If you’ve sought professional medical care, your treatment may include a short hospital stay to ensure that no organ damage has taken place.7 If your hypertensive crisis has not required urgent medical care, but your hypertension headache has become unbearable, you might want to reach for an over-the-counter pain reliever.
If you’re taking medication for high blood pressure, your best options are medicines that contain aspirin or acetaminophen.8 Excedrin Extra Strength can help combat hypertension headaches due to a powerful combination of aspirin, acetaminophen and caffeine. It starts working in as little as 15 minutes so you can get back to your day.
