Headaches are the universal bane, and a frequent interrupter of our routine. From a mild ache to a sharp stab, they can warn of an infinite array of problems. Most of us know the familiar ‘stress headache’, a band of tightness around the head after a long day at the office, but there is a second kind, one that is more serious, i.e. the hypertension headache.
Distinguishing between the two is crucial. While a stress headache is generally benign, a hypertension headache can be a warning sign of dangerously high blood pressure, a condition that silently damages your body and increases your risk of heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease. So, how do you tell the difference? We asked our expert, Dr Bhumesh Tyagi, Consultant, General Medicine and Physician at Shardacare, Health City, Noida, to break down the key characteristics and here is what he shared with us.
Cause of Normal and Hypertension Headache
Before diving into the specifics, let's briefly understand what causes each type of headache.
Stress Headache (Tension Headache): These are the most common type of primary headache. They're often triggered by emotional stress, fatigue, poor posture, eye strain, or even dehydration. The pain is typically due to muscle contractions in the head and neck.
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Hypertension Headache: These headaches result from a sudden increase in blood pressure to very high levels, usually within the range of a hypertensive crisis (systolic greater than 180 mmHg or diastolic greater than 120 mmHg). The high pressure may lead to the constricting and dilating of blood vessels in the brain, resulting in headache. It should be mentioned that not many individuals with hypertension have headaches. Headaches due to hypertension usually only appear when blood pressure is extremely elevated.
How To Differentiate Between Hypertension Headache And Normal Headache?
Here's a detailed look at how to tell a hypertension headache apart from a normal stress headache:
A normal stress headache often feels like a tight band around the head, pressing on both sides, and can also involve the back of the head and neck. The headache is normally mild to moderate, developing progressively, particularly at the end of a stressful day. It may be associated with muscle tenderness in the shoulders and neck but not usually by other systemic signs. Such headaches are responsive to over-the-counter analgesics, rest, and stress management methods.
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In contrast, a hypertension headache is typically felt on both sides of the head, often described as a pulsating or throbbing pain. It's less common for it to be a band-like sensation. The pain can be moderate to severe, often described as intense or excruciating. Its onset is often sudden and acute, coming on without much warning. Most importantly, hypertension headaches are often accompanied by other urgent symptoms such as nausea or vomiting, visual changes (blurriness, double vision, flashing lights), numbness or weakness on one side of the body, dizziness or lightheadedness, shortness of breath, nosebleed, chest pain, or confusion or difficulty concentrating. These headaches do not do well with standard headache treatments and are indicative of a medical emergency in which immediate treatment is needed to reduce blood pressure.
Bottomline
While stress headaches are a hassle of life, a hypertension headache is a warning sign that cannot be ignored. By knowing the unique features and being cognizant of concomitant symptoms, you are able to make rational choices regarding your health and obtain timely medical care when it really counts. Don't play games with your health, pay attention to your body. When in doubt, get a healthcare professional's opinion.