A number of lifestyle and environmental factors can cause headaches. (It could be that salami sandwich you had for lunch or an approaching storm.) But if you have high blood pressure (or hypertension), one wonders if there might be a connection. 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. Does high blood pressure cause headaches? Most of the time, high blood pressure does not cause symptoms. The only case in which hypertension seems to cause a headache is a hypertensive crisis. This occurs when blood pressure rises to 180/120 mm Hg or more. A hypertensive crisis is a medical emergency because it can lead to stroke, heart attack, kidney damage, memory loss and other serious complications. If your blood pressure is 180/120 mm Hg or higher, wait five minutes and measure your blood pressure again. If your blood pressure is still elevated but you have no other symptoms, contact your healthcare provider for guidance. However, if your blood pressure is 180/120 mm Hg or higher and you experience any of the following symptoms, go to the emergency room immediately:

• Severe headache
• Blurred vision
• Disorientation
• Pain in the chest
• Suffiness
• Nudity and vomiting
• Severe anxiety
• Attacks
• No response

Headache Treatment There are many ways to treat headaches, from over-the-counter (OTC) medications to lifestyle changes to alternative therapies. Although the following ways are safe for a healthy person, it is important not to diagnose the cause of frequent or chronic headaches. Your doctor can evaluate your symptoms, health history and other factors to properly diagnose any causes of your headache and work with you to create a treatment plan. Medicines Two main types of medications can help relieve various headaches: OTC pain medications: Acetaminophen (Tylenol), aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve) can be used for headaches and mild migraines. However, they should not be taken daily for long periods of time, as some of them can lead to problems such as ulcers or other gastrointestinal complications. Beta-blocker drugs: For recurrent migraines, doctors may prescribe blood pressure medications such as propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran). These can reduce the feeling of pressure in the head.   [cool_tag_cloud on_single_display="local"]