High blood cholesterol, defined as a total cholesterol level greater than 240 mg/dL or a LDL cholesterol level over 160 mg/dL, increases your risk for heart disease. In most people, high cholesterol causes no specific symptoms, which means you must get a cholesterol test to monitor your levels. High cholesterol and high blood pressure often occur together, and high blood pressure may cause headaches in some patients. Scientific research, such as that published in the May 2009 issue of "Neurology," links the occurrence of chronic headaches, specifically migraine with aura type headaches, with an increase in heart disease risk factors like high cholesterol.
High Blood Pressure
High blood cholesterol levels contribute to the process of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis occurs when plaque, a substance consisting of fat, cholesterol, calcium and other cellular waste, builds up along the walls of the blood vessels. This makes the blood vessels thick and hard, which can interfere with the flow of blood and cause an increase in blood pressure. Although most patients with high blood pressure feel no noticeable symptoms, high blood pressure can cause headaches due to the increased pressure in the blood vessels in the head. Headaches caused by high blood pressure usually occur at dangerously high levels reaching 200 mmHg systolic pressure and 110 mmHg diastolic pressure, according to the National Headache Foundation.
Migraine and Heart Disease
A migraine is a specific type of chronic and recurring headache that causes severe pain, usually on one side of the head, that can last from four to 72 hours. Some people experience visual disturbances, known as an aura, before the onset of a migraine. Migraines can interfere with daily life, and research published in "Neurology" suggests that migraine suffers may have more to worry about than just the headache pain. This study reveals that patients who suffer from migraines, especially migraines with aura, have a higher incidence of heart disease risk factors, including high blood pressure and high cholesterol. The scientists conducting the study do not suggest that high cholesterol and migraine headache share a cause-and-effect relationship but that they may share common risk factors.
Obesity
Obesity, defined as a body mass index of 30 or greater, increases your risk for high blood cholesterol. Obese patients are five times more likely to suffer from chronic daily headaches, and overweight people are three times more likely to suffer from chronic headaches than normal weight individuals. Another research study conducted by the same authors and published in the May 2007 issue of "Neurology" suggests obesity is a risk factor for migraines and confirms a complex relationship between obesity and migraines.
Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic syndrome, also referred to as insulin resistance syndrome or syndrome X, describes a group of risk factors that occur together to increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. PubMed Health, a consumer health website created by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, reports that doctors diagnose metabolic syndrome based on the presence of at least three of the following conditions: blood pressure greater than 130 mmHg over 85 mmHg, fasting blood sugar equal to or greater than 100 mg/dl, a waist circumference of 40 inches or more for men and 35 inches or more for women, a low HDL or good cholesterol level of less than 40 mg/dl for men or less than 50 mg/dl for women and a triglyceride level greater than 150 mg/dl. Metabolic syndrome is associated with chronic pain, including the pain of chronic headache. Patients with metabolic syndrome often have high LDL, or bad, cholesterol levels.
References
- National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute: High Blood Cholesterol; September 2008
- "Neurology"; Migraine and Cardiovascular Disease; Bigal, M.E. et al.; May 2009
- National Headache Foundation: Hypertension and Headache
- "Neurology"; Obesity, Migraine and Chronic Migraine; Bigal, M.E. et al.; May 2007
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Migraine Headache; Stephen Ehrlich; September 2009
- PubMed Health: Metabolic Syndrome; April 2010
