
Headache Disorders: Does Pain Affect Blood Pressure?
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. 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.
Duke Scholars
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Related Subject Headings
- Pain
- Neurology & Neurosurgery
- Migraine Disorders
- Hypertension
- Humans
- Headache Disorders
- Blood Pressure
- 1115 Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences
- 1109 Neurosciences
- 1103 Clinical Sciences
Citation

Published In
DOI
EISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- Pain
- Neurology & Neurosurgery
- Migraine Disorders
- Hypertension
- Humans
- Headache Disorders
- Blood Pressure
- 1115 Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences
- 1109 Neurosciences
- 1103 Clinical Sciences