It looks like people with high blood pressure, which is called the “silent killer,” are less likely to suffer from frequent headaches compared to those who have normal blood pressure.

Dr. Eling Tronvik of the Norwegian National Headache Center at Trondheim University Hospital in Norway and his colleagues found that people with higher systolic blood pressure were up to 40 percent less likely to have headaches than those with normal blood pressure.

Those who had higher pulse pressure – the change in blood pressure which is observable when the heart contracts – were up to 50 percent less likely to have headaches.

People with hypertension have a lot of disadvantages because it can be a major cause of heart attacks and strokes but a new research study suggests that high blood pressure reduces the risk for migraines because it makes people less sensitive to pain. The new study was published in the April 15 issue of Neurology. It continued other two studies on this theme, one conducted from 1984 to 1986 and the other from 1995 to 1997.

“This is an epidemiological study, and the results cannot be used on an individual level,” said study author Dr. Erling Tronvik, according to the Washington Post.

“The results may, however, be used to try to explain some mechanisms involved in headache and migraine,” the researcher added.  

Tronvik said that he and his colleagues would like to continue the study and to examine whether there are “any common pathways in the autonomic nervous system with regard to blood pressure regulation and headache” and to find out whether this can be demonstrated on an individual level.