Could Your Migraine Headaches Be a Sign of High Blood Pressure?

Migraine headaches can be very uncomfortable. I know from personal experience. I started getting migraines at a young age when I was in college. The pain was terrible, and I did not know what was causing it. My Mother told me that it could be something I was eating. So I paid attention to my headaches and what foods I ate before they occurred. I noticed that whenever I ate a large quantity of very salty foods such as potato chips or bologna, or a large amount of sweets, such as candy, ice cream or cookies, soon afterwards I would feel a sharp pain at the top and side of my head. Then my head would become cloudy and heavy. The next day I would experience an awful migraine headaches, and I would have a strong salty or sweet taste in my mouth that would not go away.

I did some personal research and consulted a doctor and found that I was having migraine headaches because my blood pressure was high. The cause of my high blood pressure was the consumption of an excessive amount of salt and sugar.

What Is High Blood Pressure?
I did not understand what the doctor meant by blood pressure. He explained that blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the walls of the arteries. The blood is carried from the heart to all over the body through the arteries. Each time the heart beats it pumps out blood into the arteries. The faster the heart beats, the faster the blood is pushed through the arteries. The slower one's heart beats, the slower the blood it pushed through the arteries.

The blood pressure can change during the day. The blood pressure is at its lowest when one is sleeping and or doing little activity. The blood pressure rises when one awakens from sleep and become active.

How High Blood Pressure Causes Migraine Headaches
My doctor further told me that high blood pressure causes vascular headaches, which are also known as migraine headaches. These headaches are brought on when the blood flows fast through the blood vessels in the head. As the blood flows fast the blood vessels enlarge. As the vessels enlarge pain occurs. The pain can be intense, throbbing, or pounding in the temples, forehead, around the eyes or back of the head. The pain can also move around from one side of the head to the other. A person can have nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound, dizziness, and blurred vision, all of which I have experienced.

Salt Causing Migraine Headaches
I learned that a constant high salt intake can increase the blood pressure. The purpose of salt is to regulate the blood volume and blood pressure. It is needed to help the heart pump blood throughout the body. When the salt intake is low heart failure can occur because the lack of sodium lowers the blood pressure. However, if one takes in too much salt the blood pressure can become so high which can result in a stroke. As a high constant salt intake increases the blood vessels in the brain, migraine headaches occur.

Sugar Causing Migraine Headaches
My doctor explained that like salt a constant high intake of sugar can also increase the blood pressure. Sugar has been found to disrupt the metabolism of insulin, which is a hormone that can help to regulate the blood pressure. When a lot of sugar is consumed the blood glucose level increases quickly. As a result this stimulates the pancreas to secrete insulin to drop sugar levels. Then due to this the blood pressure increases causing migraine headaches.

Although they can be brought about through various causes, migraine headaches can be a sure signal that ones blood pressure is high. If the condition goes unchecked, a stroke can occur.

If you or someone you know suffer from migraine headaches and wonder could they be blood pressure related do the following:

Go to see a doctor immediately to have your blood pressure checked.

Monitor your salt and sugar consumption as I did.

The doctor will most likely treat your migraine headaches and high blood pressure with conventional medication. However, if it is determined that one migraine headaches are solely high blood pressure related, simply treating the blood pressure with alternative natural means can stop the headaches.

Reduce Your Salt and Sugar Consumption
One teaspoon of salt is enough to provide an entire day's supply of sodium for one person. However, large quantities of salt is put in different kinds of food we buy from the store and eat on a daily bases. Such foods are processed foods such as:
lunch meats
bacon sausages
snack foods
frozen meals
canned soups
canned vegetables
Avoid eating these foods to reduce your salt consumption and reduce your blood pressure.

To reduce your sugar consumption avoid eating sweets such as candy, cakes, cookies, and ice cream, an a daily basis. Also avoid eating:
soda
catch up(which has a high sugar content)
canned fruit sweeten with syrup
fruit juices sweeten with syrup and sugar

Food To Eat To Maintain Normal Blood Pressure
Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Instead of frying meat and fish, bake or broil it. Fried foods can increase the blood pressure. Avoid adding large amounts of salt and sugar to freshly cooked dishes. Whenever you get hit with the sweet tooth eat fresh fruits and drink fruit juices that are made with one hundred percent fruit juice. Also avoid eating sweeten yogurt. These yogurt have a high sugar content. Instead, eat plain unsweeten yogurt and add fresh fruit to it.

Natural Supplements To Reduce The Blood Pressure
Dandelion Tea
Dandelion tea made from the leaf and root has a diuretic effect. This lowers the blood pressure by running liquid and salt from the system through the urine, which results in relaxing the blood vessels.

Omega-3 Fatty Acid
This nutrient when taken in large amounts, can reduce the blood pressure. A good source of this nutrient is mackerel, salmon, and fish oil vitamins.

Magnesium
Enables a freer flow of blood by relaxing the muscles in the walls of the blood vessels, and making them more elastic.

Vitamin C and Hawthorn
These two supplements together can widen the veins and arteries so blood can flow more freely.

By keeping the blood pressure at a normal level one can prevent the likelihood of experiencing migraine headaches if they are blood pressure related. If you suffer from migraines and high blood pressure, do not fail to consult a doctor about your condition.