Headaches!!!!

[shirleymahoney]

I have been getting alot of headaches lately, and it is very out of the norm for me to have headaches does heart failure cause headaches, nothing has changed with meds for a long time, I go to bed with one and wake up with it and tylenol doesn't touch it it is really starting to get to me, just wondering if anyone else gets these headaches that have heart failure

Shirley

[Reenie]

I don't know of a correlation with heart failure. Do you have a history of migraines?

[progers]

Hi Shirley,

Yes, I have had cardiac-related headaches. First, I used to have sudden severe drops in BP prior to my myectomy and these were caught on holter monitor. My BP was like 70/40 one time - I was so ill I almost collapsed. I have had what I believe are cardiac-related headaches at other times too. I know that severe heart failure can cause memory problems and confusion due to lack of cerebral perfusion and excess sodium in the blood, so it makes sense that this can lead to headaches. Have you been diagnosed with severe heart failure (e.g. by signs of pulmonary edema, elevated BNP etc.)?

I hope you feel better,

Paul

[gfox42]

Headaches have a lot of different causes, and different types of headaches are treated differently. I'd suggest a need to be careful here, both because you want treatment that actually helps, and because some treatments can cause problems.

Are headaches they related to heart function? Well, Paul says his may be. And certain migraine drugs act as strong vasoconstrictors, which can make them a bad idea for people with HCM.

Ten or 12 years ago -- a bit before I was diagnosed with HCM -- I had really serious headache problems, and was misdiagnosed as having migraines. The drug treatment I was given led to an increase in the frequency and severity of my headaches, and (if anyone had checked my heart they'd have known this) was potentially dangerous to me.

My headaches got so bad that I finally saw a neurologist. In 15 minutes or so, she was able to tell me that I don't have migraines (they're tension headaches) and that the drugs were making my headaches worse. There's a phenomenon called rebound headaches: drugs kill the headache, your body clears the drug, and you get another headache. So most people take more drugs . . . you can see where this is going! I still get headaches, but not very frequently, and they're rarely severe.

I think the point is that headaches, while common, have some subtlety, and are fairly easy to misdiagnose and treat inappropriately. I'd really recommend that you see a neurologist (since headache is one of the most common things they treat) and make sure to discuss your heart with them (since even if your heart isn't causing the headaches, some of the treatments can affect your heart).

Gordon

[Pam Alexson]

Here are a couple of links to articles about HF.

http://www.cardioassoc.com/patient_pgs/conditions/congestive.asp

http://www.amc.edu/amr/archives/200201/review01.html

HCM people, as we all know have DHF, so pay close attention to that entity when trying to understand the effects of HF ( general term). IF you also have right sided failure; (systolic) HF then these descriptions of both will apply. There is controversial belief that those w/ DHF may also have subtle SHF as well but it often goes under determined and unappreciated in DHF individuals unless they present w/ symptoms similar to right sided; systolic failure. HCM individuals w/ DHF often do not have decreased EF( often it is greater then 50 or higher) and neither do the ventricles necessarily dilate in the traditional manner that general, clinically appreciated CHF individuals hearts do. ALSO BNP levels are not all that conclusive for HCM individuals w/ DHF. AS many have previously described in their very varied levels of BNP and it is well documented in the literature. Lungs do not have to be congested for an individual to be experiencing heart failure and all its troubling effects.

Headaches as previously mentioned have many causes.
As I recall.. Shirley you are on a lot of diuretic. Have you had your magnesium and/ or potassium levels checked recently? Do you also take supplement for either. High or low levels of each can result in headaches.

Do you presently take a blood thinning product as aspirin? I am a strong believer in blood thinning even if a little for HCM people and HCM experts do have a well based opinion on blood thinning for possible, preventative thromboembolitic( blood clot) events. All should ask their HCM doc about what is best and most agreeable to them.

Pam

[Midge Rollins]

Shirley, now you have heard from the pros. I am wondering since they just began, if first of all you are having any neck stiffness, as that can bring on headaches, treat the neck pain and the headache gets better. It is also that time of year for sinus headaches. I only throw these 2 ideas out there because this has been my experience for what it is worth. I do not remember headaches from CHF but then I don't remember a lot then.

[shirleymahoney]

Well I do have stage 3,4, HF, and My potassium was low last month so they increased my potassium to 40meq x 3 a day maybe it has gotten too high but then again my daughter and her kids moved back in and I babysit them but at least they are getting older and I send them to their room when they bicker back and forth, but it is weird when I get up and walk around it seems to feel better I know that sounds weird but it does. Thanks to all of you I think maybe I will call the doctor tomorrow, Thanks again

Shirley

[JudyA]

For what its worth...
I have rarely had many headaches my whole life. I have had plenty of sinus problems, but few headaches. After my sleep study was done( before HCM diagnosis) and I was placed on oxygen therapy during sleep(2liters/minute) I noticed that the only times I get headaches is if I forget to turn on my oxygen and take a long nap, or sleep the whole night without it.

In fact, last week I had 3 headaches in a row within 2 days. Trying to figure out why, I checked my concentrator and somehow my dial had gotten bumped and was only giving me 1.5 liters. After I fixed that... no more headaches.

Following this line of thought, HF means circulatory system slowdowns, perhaps not enough perfusion to your brain. I don't remember if you use oxygen either during the night , or daily, but it might be something to get checked out.

take care,

Judy

[shirleymahoney]

Judy

I do use oxygen at night because my oxygen drops into the 70's when I sleep I will check my machine, I have noticed I have I have alot of pressure on the right side of my neck lately also so I think I will call the doctor today Thank you

Shirley

[shirleymahoney]

Pam I do take a asprin daily as they have me on a 1000mg of Niaspan daily, believe me I do take at least one because of the flushing it causes

Shirley