Headaches and blood pressure

United States
October 8, 2008 6:35pm CST
Does anyone know if sudden headaches that won't go away with any meds could be a sign of high blood pressure? I finally got my bp to register on my machine tonite during one of my headaches and it was 134/103 w a hr of 57. Didn't know if this could be connected...
1 person likes this
4 responses
• India
9 Oct 08
Headaches in the back of head is a potential sign. Automatic sphygmomanometers are a fad these days.They are not actually the traditional manometers. Using them has not been accurate enough and so one should not put much stress on that. I know many people and doctors in a lot of countries are using them. In many countries doctors have even forgot how to take the blood Pressure with the right kind of instrument manually. still then I do not doubt your machine and my guess is if your headaches are causing sleeplessness or if there is head reeling or even occipital (back of the head) then only it could have been due to high blood pressure. 134/103 is hardly enough to cause sudden severe headaches in most individuals. For a 25 year female like you let me assure you it is quite rare. Reason being 1. Young age and high blood pressure are unheard of. 2. Females rarely get high blood pressure in their reproductive years due to protective hormones. sound sleep of 8 hrs for 2-3 consecutive nights are the only things that are required. The best preventive against high blood pressure is "Dont panic".
2 people like this
• United States
9 Oct 08
So you don't necessarily think that it is connected? That is a relief but still yet I will not disreguard my body. I do have a manual cuff and sphyg I just can't seem to find it as of yet(we just moved). I do know not to put alot of stock in the auto bp it just worried me cause it was together. Thank you though for responding. It does seem to get better if I lay on my stomach with my head on a soft pillow but no meds will kick it. Also, it is right across the front of my head which made me think of stress headaches, just combined with the spike in bp was a red flag. I will call my doc in the am and see what he says. Thank you again. Where do you practice by the way?
1 person likes this
• India
13 Oct 08
I am from SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack. So I am in India. I am planning to make a personal website which would cater to some professional needs along side. Many times people get tension by watching the BP rise and this increases BP further. Thereby it becomes a vicious circle. So be watchful and do not panic. Have a nice day.
@genihanna (358)
• United States
8 Oct 08
Don't relax thinking you know what your sudden headache is caused by. It could be so many things, a lot of which could be very serious. You really ought to check with your primary doctor who should be able to narrow it down and send you to the proper specialist. I used to always have one kind of headache or another seems like every day - nobody could seem to figure t out. I finally went to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, and found I actually had four different types of headaches caused by four different things - I had the usual tension headaches, and debilitating migraines. But I also had vascular headaches which are linked to my LOW blood pressure. Then I was found to be having a type related to the benign brain tumor they found that I have that rests on or near my thyroid gland and my optic nerve. I am now finally taking the proper medications and I can't remember the last time I had one of those severe scary headaches. Get it checked - please!
1 person likes this
• India
9 Oct 08
I am sorry to hear that you have 4 types of headaches. 1.I do not know about the people who diagnosed you with a brain tumor around thyroid and prescribed medicines for this. Well everybody knows thyroid is in neck. At the best the ectopic thyroid can travel to floor of mouth, but not beyond. I think it is pituitary you are talking about. If it is so it is quite dangerous. 2.Tumor near optic nerve and you are taking some medicines. Dont take me wrong but if it is true then consult a neuro surgeon as medicines can hardly treat it. 3.Low blood pressure and headache? Now that is intresting. In our setup we are in the habit of thinking that low blood pressure is a boon. Now Mayo clinic is really doing some great job out there. actually all these type of new information shows how new things are just coming in despite the fact that no standard text book on the matter have never noticed this before. I am just being skeptic about the diagnosis you have been given. Do not get me wrong but at age 50 mostly you can all these types, but it is either very unfortunate to get all those types or probably it is nothing but overenthusiastic diagnosis. Have a good day.
1 person likes this
@lilaclady (28207)
• Australia
8 Oct 08
I guess it could be, I know just before I found out I had high blood pressure I was getting mose bleeds and palpitations, I guess everyone gets different signs, have it all checked as it is all important...
@mayrah (1144)
• United States
9 Oct 08
Yes there might be a connection, But you know headache could be a symptom of other diseases too, So if you experience headache that very often you must consult Physician as this may be also a symptom of other related illness not just high bp The usual symptoms of High blood pressure is pain at back of the neck, But there are also hypertensive patient who doesn't experience any symptoms, so that put them at greater risk since they don't have an idea that they are hypertensive which could lead to stroke if not treated as their the heart enlarges.