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Hypertension, Vision Problems and Headaches

If you think of a person with high blood pressure, or hypertension, you probably picture them rubbing their throbbing temples, wincing in pain. An extensive research trial from Norway suggests that this stereotype isn't quite accurate. While extreme hypertension does cause tension headaches, the study reveals that mild to moderate high blood pressure may actually reduce their frequency.

Researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, ran the study, which examined 22,685 people over eleven years. Participants who began the study with systolic blood pressure readings of over 150 were less likely to report non-migraine tension headaches at the end of the study than participants with initial blood pressure readings of 140 or lower.

A systolic blood pressure reading of 150 or higher indicates mild to moderate hypertension. Why a higher than normal blood pressure should result in fewer headaches is not entirely clear. Dr. Lars Stovner, coauthor of the study, suggests one possible reason: high blood pressure appears to reduce the body's sensitivity to pain.

High blood pressure is a serious disease that leads to stroke, heart disease and other life-threatening conditions. Obviously, ignoring hypertension because it appears to relieve pain would be ill advised and dangerous. The importance of this research is this: many people believe that an absence of frequent headaches indicates healthy blood pressure levels. That belief has now been proven false; they can no longer be seen as a warning sign for high blood pressure.

Do Vision Problems Cause Headaches?
According to popular belief, uncorrected vision problems can cause headaches. A recent study, however, says they can't. The participants in the study say . . . maybe.

Confused? So are plenty of other people. The study examined 105 people with uncorrected vision problems, and a control group of 71 people with either normal or corrected vision. Headache frequencies were similar for both groups.

Only seven people with vision problems reported HARE (Headache due to Refractive Error). HARE symptoms include mild to moderate pain around the eyes and forehead. The pain is not present immediately upon awakening, but begins later and increases in severity throughout the day. The only vision problem that was conclusively linked to headaches in the study was farsightedness.

So why the confusion?
It seems that the study ruled out a connection between vision problems and headaches. Here's the problem: ten months after receiving vision correction, 15 of the participants reported that their headaches had disappeared, and 29 more reported that theirs were less frequent and less painful.

Look for the Obvious
Of course, you may be experiencing head pain and vision problems simultaneously for an entirely different reason. Think of the tension that builds up in your shoulders, your arms, you back and your head as you sit at your computer reading this information. Eyestrain is common after long hours of sitting at your computer. Your vision is strained because of poor lighting or poor contrast. (Many people keep the lighting low around their computers, but strain their eyes looking at the documents lying next to the computer that they need to reference as they work.)

You can decrease both your tension and your blurred vision by correcting your posture, your chair height, the contrast levels on your computer monitor, and the amount of glare on your screen.

Resources

American Council for Headache Education. (2002). Headaches due to vision defects are relatively rare. Retrieved August 7, 2002, from www.achenet.org/news/older/062002.php.

Marcus, A. (2002). Mild hypertension not a cause of headaches. Retrieved August 7, 2002, from www.healthscout.com/template.asp?page=newsdetail
&ap=1&id=506476

Renton Vision Source. (2001). Help for computer eyestrain. Retrieved November 22, 2002, from www.rentonvision.com/vision_problems.html
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