Heart Arrhythmia and Headaches

[daisy924]

I was recently diagnosed with atrial tachycardia and PACs...I have them on a daily basis.  I also suffer from almost daily headaches.  Not migraines, but just annoying tension type headaches.  I was just curious if these headaches might somehow be related to the heart arrhythmia.  I am not currently on any heart medication (just Synthroid for my no longer existing thyroid)...waiting for my EP appointment to learn more.  By the way, had the arrhythmia and headaches before the thyroid removal, so don't think it's related.  Any experience or info would be appreciated...Thanks.

[UnityNow]

I have have had mild heart arrhythmia since 1990 and headaches that came along with. So this has been happening for years. For the most part I have been living a normal life, just the periodic tension like headaches almost daily.
Recently I was treated for CLL cancer, and that is under control now. However i still get the headaches and have the arrhythmia. Is there medicine that can help normalize the heart rhythm?   I do try to exercise at times, etc.

[ireneo]

I've had atrial tachy, PAC's and PVC's all my life. Even when I was younger (before ablations) and had tachy quite often, I don't recall having headaches with it. Then again, my heart rate in tach only goes in the 150-198 range. Not sure how it feels to be 220 bpm for example. Seems that would make a person light headed.

[Jerry_NJ]

I believe if your heart condition can cause an oxygen deficiency to the brain (and elsewhere/uniformly) and that can cause dizziness and even headaches.  Do you suffer from any dizziness or fainting?  You might try sitting still and breathing deeply for a few breaths, even power breathing for a few breaths (two or three - don't hyperventilate) and see if that reduces the headache.  

You are doing the right thing in having a full medical examination of your condition.  It may well be that some procedure/life-style-change/medication can reduce you heart symptoms and that may well stop the headaches.

I hope someone with experience can give you their first-hand information.