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link between cluster headaches and high bp (Read 1211 times)

candilicious

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link between cluster headaches and high bp
Dec 18^th, 2009 at 3:22pm

i've been suffering from cluster headaches for approximately 3months now..and about 2months into the diagnosis, the doctor found out that my blood pressure was high (and i'm only 20yrs old)
he stated that the blood pressure rise was probably caused by the severity of my headaches as my heart is forced to pump harder as to get more oxygen to my head during attacks. has anyone else expeienced this?? i'm currently taking medication to control my blood pressure and its now becoming a little too low i.e hypotension.
i'm hating how this is taking over my life,i feel so powerless and not in control, this is the only place i know i will be understood and sympathized with regarding the severity of the headaches Cry

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Bob Johnson

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Re: link between cluster headaches and high bp
Reply #1 - Dec 18^th, 2009 at 3:41pm

I have never seen a discussion of this relationship in the medical literature.

BUT, hope you can appreciate that having this diagnosis (BP) now, getting it under control, IS being in control--and will prevent much grief in later life. High BP is one of the most neglected medical problems which lead to a host of life damaging and life threatening conditions.

In saying this, I'm making a distinction between elevated BP as a stress reaction and a primary disorder which is largely independent of a temporary stress situation. The temporary elevation is usually not of much concern whereas the "permanent" type really needs some aggressive, continuing attention.

« Last Edit: Dec 20^th, 2009 at 1:41pm by Bob Johnson »

Bob Johnson

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candilicious CH.com Newbie Offline I Love CH.com! Posts: 12	Re: link between cluster headaches and high bp Reply #2 - Dec 19^th, 2009 at 5:01am neither have i.searched high and low in the internet to try find a link,guess its just two separate conditions i have to deal with separately..thanks
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deltadarlin CH.com Alumnus Offline I love YaBB 1G - SP1! Posts: 3823 Downsville LA Gender:	Re: link between cluster headaches and high bp Reply #3 - Dec 20^th, 2009 at 11:19am Actually, your headaches could be causing your blood pressure to elevate. Don't have ch, but when my migraines get out of control and the pain gets too bad, my blood pressure goes up.
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Joni

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Re: link between cluster headaches and high bp
Reply #4 - Dec 20^th, 2009 at 12:47pm

I'm glad you brought this topic up. I have spoken about it before here. My blood pressure is normally borderline, but when I am in a cycle, it is high! Of course that is typical when experiencing pain so I never thought of it as being a problem. I just considered it a side effect of the headaches, but my doctor saw it very differently. He felt that my elevated blood pressure due to the pain was in turn causing more opportunity for an increased number of headaches. He wanted me to take blood pressure medication which I fought for years since it was only 8 weeks out of the year. Then when in a particularly bad cycle, he asked me to just try it, so I did. I started on Corgard (an old BP medication) and it immediately gave me some relief in number of attacks per day.

This was a few years ago and after my cycle, I stayed on a very small dose. Now, when I am in cycle, I just add the Verapamil (which of course is also a BP medication). I take my blood pressure daily to make sure it is not high and if it is, I compensate with the medication. I am not saying that controlling my blood pressure rids me of cluster headaches, but I am convinced that, for me, controlling it has made a huge difference in the intensity and number of headaches as well as general well being during the cycle.

So, my advice when people get in a bind and nothing seems to be working, is to take your blood pressure and control it! It is simple to do and might be worth a try. I didn't believe it but it helped a lot! I hope this information helps someone else.

Joni

Experience: That most brutal of teachers. But you learn, my God do you learn. -C. S. Lewis

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candilicious

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Re: link between cluster headaches and high bp
Reply #5 - Dec 21^st, 2009 at 12:52am

i guess not everyone who suffers from ch will experience bp problems, but its good that i know i'm not alone with my high bp

i too am controlling it,tryna find the right dose to get it back to normal range and it not staying too low..but otherwise the imigran i'm taking for the headaches is tremendous,as well as the propanol for my high blood which combats both!!

good luck to eveyone here

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lorac

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Re: link between cluster headaches and high bp
Reply #6 - Dec 22^nd, 2009 at 10:36am

Welcome Candi.
Are you seeing a gp, or a neurologist? I would think that the later would be in order.
also...like joni, I take the verapamil, and it lowers blood pressure, (sometimes too much) so you need to be careful with taking too much, or mixing with other things.
Hope you are doing well... and wish you pfdans.
lorac

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LeLimey

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Re: link between cluster headaches and high bp
Reply #7 - Dec 22^nd, 2009 at 3:08pm

i have very low blood pressure. Active, it's 90 over 50. When I was on bed rest in hospital it would go down to 70/38. When I got hit it would go up to 170/90 (at highest) It scared the bejaysus out of everyone at first as I was hooked up to goodness knows how many heart monitors anyway but after a while they were quite fascinated I think.
It's "normal" for pain to elevate BP. That's temporary but if your BP is high when you aren't in pain thats when the problems arise.
I'm glad you're getting it sorted out!
Helen

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