Hypertension and Headache

Abstract

The incidence of headache has been assessed in 100 patients with high blood pressure and in 100 normotensive controls. Headache was more frequent in patients with diastolic blood pressures of 130 mm. Hg and over, being typically diffuse, occurring in the morning and tending to ease after a few hours. It is likely to be relieved by control of the blood pressure. No difference in incidence of headache was found between the normotensive controls and the hypertensive patients with diastolic blood pressures less than 130 mm.Hg. In hypertensive patients with occipital headache unrelieved by moderate or good blood pressure control, cervical spondylosis should be considered as a possible cause of the headache.