Abstract
The relationship between blood pressure and headache in youth has not been explored and the objective of the present study was to provide data on this association in an adolescent population. Cross-sectional data from a large population-based survey, the Young-HUNT study, on 5,847 adolescents were used to evaluate the association between blood pressure (systolic, diastolic, mean arterial and pulse pressure) and recurrent headache, including migraine and tension-type headache. Increasing pulse pressure was inversely related to recurrent headache prevalence, and both tension-type headache and migraine. For systolic blood pressure such an inverse relationship was present for recurrent headache and tension-type headache prevalence. For migraine, the results were not significant, although there was a tendency in the same direction (p = 0.05). High-pulse pressure has previously been found to be inversely related to the prevalence of migraine and tension-type headache in an adult population. This inverse relationship has now been demonstrated to be present among adolescents also, supporting the results from a previous study in adults, that blood pressure regulation may be linked to the pathophysiology of headache.
Highlights
A relationship between migraine and blood pressure (BP) has long been suspected, but the direction of the association has been controversial [1]
There was a linear trend of decreasing prevalence of overall recurrent headache (Fig. 1) and tension-type headache (TTH) (p trend value\0.001) with increasing systolic blood pressure (SBP) values analyzing boys and girls together
For diastolic blood pressure (DBP), there was no association with the prevalence of overall recurrent headache (p trend value is 0.36), migraine (p trend value is 0.19) or TTH (p trend value is 0.64)
Summary
A relationship between migraine and blood pressure (BP) has long been suspected, but the direction of the association has been controversial [1]. It was assumed that hypertension might be a cause of headache. Studies supporting this connection were published and the pulsatile characteristics of some headaches and the introduction of b-blockers in migraine prophylactic treatment may further have supported this view [2, 3]. Epidemiological studies showing no relationship between headache and high-BP were published [4, 5], and in the International Classification of headache disorders II, it is stated that mildly or moderately elevated BP is not a cause of headache [6]. Recent epidemiological data in adult populations suggest even an inverse relationship between headache prevalence and both pulse pressure (PP), and systolic blood pressure (SBP) [7,8,9,10].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
