Headache and Hypertension

There is some controversy in the relationship between chronic hypertension and headache, particularly migraine. Recent research suggests that there may be a link, but it is likely complex and multifactorial.Many recent studies and case reports demonstrate that the pathophysiology underlying the onset of headache as it relates to abrupt rises in blood pressure seems to lie at the cellular level and mechanically becomes an issue with disruption of the blood-brain barrier.Although not a formally defined headache entity, carotid revascularization syndrome demonstrates this phenomenon and also has a recent set of proposed criteria that include headache and elevated blood pressure.Summary: In this session I am going to review the various etiologies of hypertensive headaches, mostly in regard to headache as a secondary symptom of elevated blood pressure . Finally, I will touch on Controversy that exists in relation to chronic hypertension and its causal relationship to headache as well as the relationship between hypertension and migraine.