Virtual Headache Specialist

Hypertension Headaches: Symptoms, Cure, and Effective Management

Hypertension Headaches Cure

If you’ve ever had a hypertension headache with pulsatng pain and discomfort, you know how important it is to immediately find effective relief. In this blog post, we’ll look at the complicated link between high blood pressure and headaches, find out what causes them, and discuss possible hypertension headaches cures that can greatly help. We will start our investigation by examining signs of high blood pressure headaches. To fully understand how complicated headaches from high blood pressure are, we will look at the core reasons why they happen.

We aim to give you the information and resources to deal with hypertension headaches. We want to give you the knowledge to take charge of your health and find relief from the painful pressure of hypertension headaches by helping you understand the symptoms. So, if you’re thinking about what causes hypertension headaches and how to treat them, then continue reading this blog post.

 

What Is Hypertension Headache?

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a common clinical problem. Technically, the definition of hypertension is a blood pressure of 140/90 or higher. Prehypertension is 120-139/80-89 and normal is less than 120/80. It’s important to get checked out by a doctor if you think you may have hypertension because high blood pressure can lead to serious health problems like heart disease and stroke. In fact, it is the number one cause (and easily treatable) cause of stroke.

 

Hypertension headaches are common symptoms of hypertension, but they are often nonspecific in character, similar to dehydration headache or headaches from sleep apnea (a condition where your breathing stops while sleeping). The symptoms of a hypertension headache can be similar to other kinds of headaches such as milder migraine-type throbbing or pulsating pain often in the back part of your head. They can also be tension-type pressure headaches behind your eyes, in the temples or throughout the head like a band around the head. Some hypertension headaches may make people feel nauseous or dizzy when standing up quickly after sitting down for long periods. Blurry vision can also be associated with hypertension headaches. Sometimes the headaches can increase while lying down because blood flow may increase to the head since the effects of gravity pulling the blood downwards is less in this position. Any of these symptoms mean that it’s time to see a doctor!

 

Symptoms Of Hypertension Headache

  • Headaches that start in the morning.
  • Lying down often seems to make your head hurt worse, as discussed above.
  • Headaches are worse when you move your eyes or do physical activity.
  • Headaches are worse when you bend over (and increased blood rushes to the head). For example, if you have a headache and then tie your shoes or bend over to pick something up off the floor, it may indicate hypertension headaches because these movements often cause pain in people with this condition.

 

Causes Of Hypertension Headache

What causes hypertension headaches? Well, it can be caused by several things, including:

Stress

The stress hormone cortisol causes blood vessels to narrow and makes your heart beat faster. This combination can lead to a headache, especially if you’re not getting enough sleep or eating well.

 

Lack of sleep or poor quality sleep (insomnia)

Sleep deprivation can trigger headaches because it interferes with how your body regulates blood pressure and releases hormones like cortisol, affecting pain sensitivity in the brainstem area responsible for triggering migraines.

 

Lack of exercise regularly

Lack of regular exercise can contribute to the development of hypertension headaches. When individuals lead sedentary lifestyles and do not engage in physical activity, their overall cardiovascular health may be compromised. Regular exercise helps to improve blood flow, reduce blood pressure, and maintain a healthy weight. Without exercise, the body becomes more prone to hypertension, which can lead to headaches as a result of increased pressure in the blood vessels. Therefore, incorporating regular physical activity into one’s routine is crucial for preventing hypertension-related headaches.

 

Poor diet

Eating too much can lead to obesity, hypertension, and subsequently headaches. Excess salt intake is a common cause of hypertension. Eating excess junk food or sugary sweets that spike your blood sugar levels and drinking alcohol also contribute to hypertension. Heavy drinking over time can lead to hypertension and, in turn, headaches often associated with it.

Treatment For Hypertension Headaches

Here are some hypertension headache treatments:

Blood pressure medication 

If hypertension can not be controlled by conservative measures such as diet changes, weight loss, and exercise, then blood pressure medications should be used. Uncontrolled blood pressure should always be treated as quickly as possible.

 

Headache medication

If you have a headache, taking over the counter pain medicines such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen can be tried. However, these are not typically very effective because the mainstay of treatment is treating the underlying cause of the headache… the hypertension.

 

Rest

Rest as much as possible during the day and night. It will help you feel better and reduce stress levels in your body. Relaxation and rest helps to lessen blood pressure.

 

Stress reduction

Do something relaxing, such as listening to music or taking a bath with lavender oil added to it (this helps calm down your nervous system). You can also exercise regularly which helps to lessen stress.

 

Avoiding triggers

Avoid alcohol consumption since it increases blood pressure levels which can lead to hypertension headaches if consumed in excess. Also avoid smoking cigarettes because they contain nicotine which causes constriction of blood vessels throughout the body, including those in our head associated with headaches.

 

Avoid stressful situations as much as possible, such as work-related tasks or arguments with loved ones. Avoid Aunt Betty at the big family Thanksgiving dinner so you don’t have to explain to her AGAIN why it is that you’re still single. Having a busy schedule can lead to increased levels of stress hormones like cortisol which can trigger headaches in some people.

 

Dietary changes

Eat healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables is very important. Avoid fried foods and sweets if possible because these types of food tend to increase blood sugar and salt levels which in turn leads to increased blood pressure levels over time (this does not mean that you can never eat these things–just try moderation). Some studies have shown that people who consume more than five servings per week tend not only to see higher blood pressure levels, but also experience more frequent episodes of high blood pressure exacerbations.

 

Conclusion

Managing hypertension headaches takes a multifaceted approach that includes changing your lifestyle, getting medical help, and getting advice from a professional. Ultimately, the treatment of hypertension headache is maintaining normal blood pressure control. You can successfully control your blood pressure and reduce the frequency and severity of hypertension headaches by changing your diet, exercising regularly, learning how to deal with stress, and taking prescribed medications when conservative measures are not helping.

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Last Updated on November 18, 2023 by Dr. Eric Baron

Dr. Eric Baron

Dr. Eric P. Baron is a staff ABPN (American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology) Board Certified Neurologist and a UCNS (United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties) Diplomat Board Certified in Headache Medicine at Cleveland Clinic Neurological Institute, Center for Neurological Restoration – Headache and Chronic Pain Medicine, in Cleveland, Ohio. He completed his Neurology Residency in 2009 at Cleveland Clinic, where he also served as Chief Neurology Resident. He then completed a Headache Medicine Fellowship in 2010, also at Cleveland Clinic, and has remained on as staff. He is also a Clinical Assistant Professor of Neurology at Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University. He has been repeatedly recognized as a “Top Doctor” as voted for by his peers in Cleveland Magazine, and has been repeatedly named one of "America's Top Physicians". He is an author of the popular neurology board review book, Comprehensive Review in Clinical Neurology: A Multiple Choice Question Book for the Wards and Boards, 1st and 2nd editions, and has authored many publications across a broad range of migraine and headache related topics. To help patients and health care providers who do not have easy access to a headache specialist referral due to the shortage in the US and globally, he created and manages the Virtual Headache Specialist migraine, headache, and facial pain educational content, blog, and personalized headache and facial pain symptom checker tool. You can follow his neurology, headache, and migraine updates on Twitter @Neuralgroover.