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Headache Disorders: Does Pain Affect Blood Pressure?

  • Hot Topics in Pain and Headache (N Rosen, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Pain and Headache Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

The perspective that pain corresponds to elevated blood pressure is overly simplistic. Our objective is to investigate and debunk misconceptions regarding the effect of pain on blood pressure.

Recent Findings

While pain can increase blood pressure in the acute setting, prolonged pain and migraine’s effect on blood pressure varies and can result in lower-than-expected blood pressure. Therefore, attributing pain as a sole source of elevation of blood pressure may lead to delays in diagnosing hypertension. Based on limited studies available, comorbid pain and chronic hypertension have a higher concurrence than in the general population.

Summary

We will review current literature to investigate the effect of pain on blood pressure and prevalence of hypertension in chronic pain sufferers. A better understanding of pain’s effect on blood pressure will help practitioners appropriately diagnose and counsel patients without disproportionately attributing high blood pressure to pain.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Duke University, 932 Morreene Road, Durham, NC, 27705, USA

    Sweta Sengupta & Timothy Collins

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  1. Sweta Sengupta
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Correspondence to Sweta Sengupta.

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Sweta Sengupta, M.D., and Timothy Collins, M.D., declare no conflict of interest.

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Sengupta, S., Collins, T. Headache Disorders: Does Pain Affect Blood Pressure?. Curr Pain Headache Rep 26, 821–826 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-022-01083-1

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