Nirto and headache

During my cardiac rehab program I was informed that if I had chest pain to take one of my nitro.  If I got a headache from the nitro than it was not heart related pain.  If I did not get a headache than it was heart related.  Is this correct?

[kenkeith]

Some individuals get a headache from nitro.  I did ask a pharmacist about side effects (at the time I didn't know if chest pain was angina) and he stated if I don't have angina (chest pain related to ischemia) I may get a headache. I have never gotten any headache from nitro (fast acting and slow acting nitrate)!    

[JKJ]

i've taken nitro for quite some time...sometimes i get headaches from it and sometimes i don't.  from all the different cardio docs i've seen, none of them have ever said anything about the headaches being related to a true heart issue.  that sounds odd to me.  but i'm no doc.

hope you feel better...

[Flycaster305]

I use a spray, not the tablet, so I spray if I start getting heart pressure.  I always get a headache, but it relieves my heart pressure/pain.  The headache is caused by the dialation of the arteries in the head, heart pain is relieved because it dialates the heart arteries, lowering BP and opens the arteries to allow better blood flow.