Migraines Decreased By High Blood Pressure

April 15, 2008 12:24 p.m. EST

Trondheim, Norway (AHN) -New research shows that people who have high blood pressure are less likely to get migraines than those with normal blood pressure.

More than 51,000 people were studied by the researchers regarding their systolic, diastolic blood pressure and pulse pressure rates.

The findings revealed that those with higher systolic blood pressure were 40 percent less likely to have a headache or migraine than those with healthier blood pressures.

Study lead author Erling Tronvik, MD of the Norwegian National Headache Center , tells WebMD. "Several earlier studies have linked increasing blood pressure to a decrease in chronic pain in general, and this study suggests that the same is true for migraines."

High systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure are related to stiff arteries which causes a condition that makes a person less sensitive to pain.

He went on to note these findings support previous studies that show increasing blood pressure is linked to decreasing amounts of pain in all parts of the body.

Researchers published their findings in the April 15 issue of the journal Neurology.