Can hypertension cause severe headaches?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 26 year old male, who weighs 173 lbs. I am having severe headaches for a few days now. I am currently taking Percocet for this headache. I was told that I have hypertension. My blood pressure is 168/98 mmHg, and pulse is 120 and steady. Please help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Your headaches are probably caused due to your high blood pressure. A headache can also increase the BP, but not this much.

As you are so young, the cause of hypertension should be found out first. So, I suggest you undergo tests like kidney function test, renal artery doppler, serum cortisol, 24-hour urine metanephrines, lipid profile, and sugar level.

Do you do any drugs like ecstasy, cocaine, etc.? As it can also cause hypertension.

Till you get all the tests done, I suggest you try doing the following.

Try taking tablet Telmisartan 40 mg once a day. Consult your specialist doctor, discuss with him or her and start the medicines after their consent.
You should follow a healthy lifestyle like avoiding fatty, oily, meat, and a high-calorie diet. Have low-salt diet, and monitor blood pressure regularly, thrice a day for one week then once or twice a week. If BP is persistently more than 140/90 mmHg, then we need to optimize medicines for it.
Regular exercises like brisk walking and jogging, according to your capacity for at least 30 minutes a day and five days a week.
Eat a lot of green leafy vegetables, fruits, fish once or twice a week, avoid meat.
Avoid smoking, drugs, and alcohol if any.

Hope this helps you and get back if you have any doubts.

Revert with more information to an internal medicine physician online.