Symptoms in hypertension: Diagnostic challenges, clinical implications and management strategies for headache, dizziness and vertigo

Headache, dizziness and vertigo are non-specific but frequently reported symptoms in patients with hypertension. When evaluating headache, clinicians must systematically exclude primary headache disorders - such as migraine, tension-type headache and trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias - before attributing symptoms to hypertension....

Audiologists and vestibular specialists should be aware that dizziness and vertigo in patients with hypertension may have a cardiovascular origin, warranting communication with the patient's physician rather than assuming a peripheral vestibular cause.

Dizziness and vertigo are among the most common complaints seen in audiology and vestibular clinics, and hypertension is highly prevalent, meaning this diagnostic overlap has practical daily relevance for differential diagnosis.

1. 01Dizziness and vertigo are frequently reported by patients with high blood pressure but are non-specific symptoms.
2. 02Distinguishing hypertension-related dizziness from peripheral vestibular disorders is a significant diagnostic challenge.
3. 03Review covers management strategies including medication adjustment and lifestyle changes.
4. 04Hypertension-related vertigo may be under-recognized in audiology-referred patients.
5. 05Clinicians should consider cardiovascular causes when vestibular workup is unrevealing.

PMID

42230221

DOI

10.1016/j.acvd.2026.04.005.

Journal

Archives of Cardiovascular Diseases

Publication type

review

Evidence level

5

Population

Hypertensive patients presenting with headache, dizziness, and vertigo

Intervention

Review of diagnostic and management strategies for hypertension-associated headache, dizziness, and vertigo