Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

connection between cardiac abnormalities and headache disorders

I know of the PFO - headache connection.

My question is about my symptoms.   For 3 years I've had a serious headache disorder.  24/7 dull headache, with frequent migraine like headache in the mornings espeically.    I had an extensive neuro workup, negative.   Now recently  I've begun having atypical chest pain, fatigue, heart palps which are aggrivated by exercise during and after,  constant nausea,  episodes of breathlessness, eratic pulse.

Often when I first stand up, my heart beats very hard and pushes the blood into my head very hard making the same exact head pain syndome temporarily worse.

I have had a stress test and echo and chest xray...and of course labs which have all been normal.   However, I wonder sometimes,  is there another known connection between the heart or vascular system and headaches?    This seems too much of a coincidence to be randomly occuring illnesses in a 30 yr old man with unremarkable med history.  
2 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
I don't know if this will help, but my cardio surgeon told me that recently there was a large study done regarding PFO and migraine, and there was found to be no link.  He indicated that device closure of PFO in this study did not prove to have an impact on  migraines.  I agree with Dr. Conaway, and would be very careful about closing the hole unless you have had other problems.  I'm not a doctor, but both my surgeon and neurologist feel the same way.
Helpful - 0
298366 tn?1193102292
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I am not yet convinced about the data regarding PFO and migraines. It seems to me that you should discuss your headaches with a neurologist to see if they have any other options
If you have had an echo and it was normal then it is very unlikely that you have a clinically significant PFO. Point of fact- about 30% of the population has a PFO.
Helpful - 0

You are reading content posted in the Interventional Cardiology Forum

Popular Resources
Is a low-fat diet really that heart healthy after all? James D. Nicolantonio, PharmD, urges us to reconsider decades-long dietary guidelines.
Can depression and anxiety cause heart disease? Get the facts in this Missouri Medicine report.
Fish oil, folic acid, vitamin C. Find out if these supplements are heart-healthy or overhyped.
Learn what happens before, during and after a heart attack occurs.
What are the pros and cons of taking fish oil for heart health? Find out in this article from Missouri Medicine.
How to lower your heart attack risk.