High Blood Pressure and Headaches: Is There a Link?

One minute, you’re going about your day feeling fine. The next minute, your head feels like it’s weighed down by a bag of rocks. Headaches are common, but they can often start to disrupt your day-to-day life.

So the million-dollar question is: Why do I keep getting headaches?

A wide range of lifestyle and environmental factors can cause headaches. (It could be that salami sandwich you had for lunch or the looming thunderstorm.) But if you have high blood pressure (or hypertension), you might wonder if there could be a link.

The short answer, says cardiologist Luke Laffin, MD, is not usually. Dr. Laffin explains what you need to know if you have both high blood pressure and headaches.

When does high blood pressure cause headaches?

The truth is, Dr. Laffin says, slightly elevated blood pressure doesn’t cause headaches in most people.

While your blood pressure is a good measure of your health and your risk for certain conditions, having mild (stage 1) or moderate (stage 2) hypertension isn’t likely to cause headaches.

“The vast majority of people have no symptoms whatsoever from high blood pressure,” says Dr. Laffin. But he notes that it’s likely that if your blood pressure spikes to an unusually high level, you may have symptoms including a headache.

“If you have a sudden, intense headache that’s significantly worse than usual and your blood pressure is elevated, you should seek medical attention,” stresses Dr. Laffin.

It’s important to pay close attention to any spikes in your blood pressure because it could be a sign of a bigger issue, like a stroke. So, be sure to listen to your body’s warning signs and contact your healthcare provider if your blood pressure has spiked significantly and isn’t coming down.

What does a headache caused by a spike in blood pressure feel like?

There’s no high-quality research showing that a headache from a spike in blood pressure feels any different from a regular headache, Dr. Laffin notes.

He also points out that it can sometimes be tricky to tell what’s causing what.

“Another thing to remember about headaches and blood pressure is that it’s not always the blood pressure that causes a headache,” says Dr. Laffin. “It could be the other way around. Sometimes, it’s a chicken and the egg scenario. We don’t know which comes first. Headaches can cause an elevation in blood pressure.”

Depending on how the spike in blood pressure is affecting your body, you might also have other symptoms along with a headache, including:

• Chest pain.
• Blurred vision.
• Nausea.
• Shortness of breath.

“If you notice a spike in blood pressure, that elevated number in itself doesn’t mean you need to go to a hospital,” Dr. Laffin says. “But if it’s coupled with something new, like a severe headache, severe chest pain or shortness of breath, then you should go get evaluated.”

How to treat a headache

If you have high blood pressure, you need to be mindful about which treatments you choose, especially if you’re taking high blood pressure medications.

Monitor your diet

Diet plays a role in headaches for about 1 in 5 people. But the list of potential culprits — from artificial sweeteners to pickles to red wine — is long. It’s best to keep a food diary to find out if any foods are a headache trigger.

Over-the-counter medicine

If your headache is becoming unbearable, your first instinct might be to reach for some type of pain reliever. Just know that if you’re taking high blood pressure medications, aspirin or acetaminophen are your best options, Dr. Laffin says. Talk to your doctor about other over-the-counter or prescription options to make sure they’re safe for you.

To hear more from Dr. Laffin on this topic, listen to the Health Essentials Podcast episode, “Combating High Blood Pressure.” New episodes of the Health Essentials Podcast publish every Wednesday.