What Causes Chest Pressure With Headache?
Chest Pain or pressure is perhaps one of the most common symptom for which an individual goes to an emergency department for even though about 90% of individuals complaining of chest pain are not diagnosed of a cardiovascular condition as a cause of their chest pains.
There are cases when chest pressure occurs in tandem with headaches. When these two conditions occur together then it may indicate certain underlying medical conditions of which some may require emergent medical attention even though they may not be cardiovascular related.
Some of the cases for chest pressure with headaches are:
Depression: Depression is not a medical condition but is rather a state of mind of an individual. Excessive stress, discontent in family or work, deteriorating relationship all cumulate together and make an individual depressed. If an individual is under depression then he or she may feel helpless and hopeless and may feel like nothing is working out for them. Some of them may even go to the extent of attempting suicide.
An individual with depression will often complain of chest pressure along with headaches and is one of the primary symptoms of depression. An individual who is depressed needs to consult with a psychiatrist or a psychologist for therapies or medications to overcome their depression.
Hypertension: This yet another common cause for chest pressure occurring with headaches. Although hypertension or high blood pressure usually does not cause any symptoms unless the blood pressure really shoots up, it may cause chest pressure and headaches together if the readings are way too high for an individual. An uncontrolled high blood pressure is an emergency situation and needs to be treated immediately to prevent any major cardiovascular complications. The chest pressure that is caused due to hypertension is often due to the extra workload that is put on the heart as a result of hardening of the arteries which makes the blood flow difficult.
Legionnaires Disease: This is a medical condition characterized by an infection caused by bacterium Legionella pneumophila. This condition is found in people who drink contaminated water. This bacterium thrives in damp conditions and can be present in bath tubs, swimming pools, and fountains. In addition to chest pressure and headaches this condition can also cause high fever, persistent cough, difficulty breathing, nausea with vomiting, and altered mental state.
Lupus: This is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system of the body attacks the healthy tissues mistaking them for foreign invaders. Heart is the most common organ affected by Lupus. This condition can cause inflammation in different layers of the heart resulting in chest pain or pressure. When the inflammation extends to the blood vessels then it tends to cause headaches. Thus both chest pressure and headaches occur simultaneously as a result of lupus. Some of the other symptoms associated with lupus are blurry vision, loss of appetite, fever, and skin rash.
Migraines: Migraine is one of the most common medical conditions that more than 40% of adults in the United States suffer from according to studies. Studies have also mentioned that chest pain or pressure can be a symptom of a migraine disorder even though it is in extremely rare cases. There is no known cause as to why chest pressure occurs as a result of migraine headaches but it is seen that medications used to treat migraine attacks often treat the chest pressure as well.
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: This is a potentially serious medical condition characterized by bleeding in the subarachnoid space. Individuals who have had a head injury or are on blood thinners for a long period of time are often predisposed to subarachnoid hemorrhage. In addition to severe intensity headache, the affected individual may also experience chest pressure which may occur simultaneously with the headache, difficulty adjusting to bright lights, neck pain and stiffness, diplopia.
Other than the above mentioned causes for chest pressure with headaches, there are also certain other causes. These causes are lung conditions like pneumonia, anxiety disorder, costochondritis, peptic ulcer disease, and alcohol withdrawal. Certain cardiovascular conditions like myocardial infarction may at times cause chest pressure and headaches.
Hence it is advised that if an individual has frequent episodes of chest pressure with headaches then he or she must consult with a physician to identify the cause and formulate a treatment plan for chest pressure with headaches.
Also Read: