What Are the Causes of High Blood Pressure & Headaches?

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a serious condition that may cause headaches. Hypertension is defined as a systolic pressure that is consistently higher than 140 millimeters of mercury or a diastolic pressure that is consistently higher than 90 millimeters of mercury.

Malignant Hypertension

• According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, headaches are a symptom of malignant hypertension, a condition that causes a sudden increase in blood pressure. This condition causes extremely high diastolic pressure that can rise to greater than 130 milligrams of mercury and requires immediate medical help.

Malignant Hypertension Risk Factors

• Young adults, African American men and patients with kidney disorders have an increased risk of developing malignant hypertension.

Hypertension Causes

• Causes of hypertension include diabetes, obesity and arteriosclerosis, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. People who are under high levels of stress and individuals who abuse alcohol can develop hypertension.

Hypertension Symptoms

• Chest pain, irregular heartbeat and tiredness can occur with hypertension. Headaches are not a common symptom of hypertension unless blood pressure reaches very high levels.

Headache Causes

• According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, people may develop headaches from a variety of causes including tension in the muscles of the jaw, neck or shoulders, overwork or inadequate amounts of sleep. Sinus congestion, caffeine withdrawal and foods such as cheese or chocolate may cause headaches.