Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesDiagnosisFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Diagnosis
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be scary to experiencechest painand aheadacheat the same time. The good news is that together the two symptoms usually don’t indicate a serious health problem.
Although it’s possible that having chest pain and headache at the same time could be the result of an urgent issue such as astroke, more likely, your symptoms are the result of a non-life-threatening condition such asanxiety.
This article examines the causes and possible treatments of chest pain and headache, plus when to see a healthcare provider and when to call 911.
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Causes of Chest Pain and Headache
There are several medical conditions in which both chest pain and headache could occur at the same time.
Chest Pain: When Symptoms Are and Aren’t Heart-Related
Anxiety Disorders
Roughly 40 million adults in the United States have anxiety disorders such asphobiasandgeneralized anxiety disorder.It’s common for anxiety to trigger both chest pain and headaches.In addition, headaches can be a common side effect of some of the medications frequently used to treat anxiety, includingbenzodiazepinesand antidepressants.
Migraine Headaches
Well-known symptoms ofmigraine headachesinclude sensitivity to noise or lights and nausea and vomiting, but chest pain, although less common, is also a known complication of migraines.
Depression
Approximately 1 in 15 adults experiencedepressionin any given year.People with depression are more likely to experience chest painas well astension headachesand migraines.
Lupus
Less Common Causes
Although they aren’t as common, these other conditions can also lead to chest pain and headache together:
Serious Causes of Headache and Chest Pain
Sometimes, having chest pain and headache simultaneously indicates a more serious condition that requires medical attention.
Malignant Hypertension/Hypertensive Emergency
Althoughhigh blood pressure(hypertension) doesn’t usually cause symptoms, having chest pain and headache at the same time could be the result of ahypertensive crisis, which is a sudden spike in blood pressure that can lead to life-threatening problems like a heart attack.
Stroke
A sudden, severe headache is a common symptom ofstroke.Some people will also experience chest pain or discomfort.Other major symptoms of stroke include:
Call 911 if experiencing additional symptomsIt’s important to seek emergency treatment if you experience headache and chest pain together with other symptoms like dizziness, vomiting, slurred speech, trouble seeing, or shortness of breath.
Call 911 if experiencing additional symptoms
It’s important to seek emergency treatment if you experience headache and chest pain together with other symptoms like dizziness, vomiting, slurred speech, trouble seeing, or shortness of breath.
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Legionnaires’ Disease
Occurring in people who breathe inLegionella pneumophilabacterium,Legionnaires’ diseaseaffects the respiratory system similar to pneumonia. In addition to chest pain and headache, other symptoms include cough, shortness of breath, and fever. Legionnaires' disease can be deadly and requires immediate medical treatment.
Diagnosing Chest Pain and Headache
To determine the cause of chest pain and headache, your healthcare provider may order diagnostic tests, including:
Summary
Having chest pain and a headache at the same time doesn’t necessarily mean you have a serious medical issue. Many health conditions can cause you to have both symptoms simultaneously, including anxiety, lupus, and alcohol withdrawal.
A Word From Verywell
Although having a headache and chest pain together isn’t necessarily cause for alarm, you should never dismiss your symptoms or ignore a gut feeling you have that something isn’t quite right. Because there are many underlying health conditions that can trigger these two symptoms, it’s a good idea to see your healthcare provider to get an accurate diagnosis.
Frequently Asked QuestionsFour signs of an impending heart attack are chest pain or discomfort, feeling weak or light-headed, shortness of breath, and pain or discomfort in one or both arms or shoulders.Yes, COVID-19 can cause persistent pain or pressure in your chest as well as difficulty breathing. If you experience these symptoms, seek immediate medical care.Yes, many heart conditions, including stroke, can cause headaches.
Four signs of an impending heart attack are chest pain or discomfort, feeling weak or light-headed, shortness of breath, and pain or discomfort in one or both arms or shoulders.
Yes, COVID-19 can cause persistent pain or pressure in your chest as well as difficulty breathing. If you experience these symptoms, seek immediate medical care.
Yes, many heart conditions, including stroke, can cause headaches.
23 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Anxiety & Depression Association of America.Facts & Statistics.National Institute of Mental Health.Anxiety disorders.National Institute of Mental Health.Panic Disorder: When Fear Overwhelms.Harnod T, Wang YC, Lin CL, Tseng CH.Association between use of short-acting benzodiazepines and migraine occurrence: a nationwide population-based case-control study.Curr Med Res Opin. 2017;33(3):511-517. doi:10.1080/03007995.2016.1266313Roldan CJ.Chest pain a manifestation of migraine.J Emerg Med. 2014;46(3):420-427. doi:10.1016/j.jemermed.2013.08.019American Psychiatric Association.What Is Depression?Hayek S, Soto A, et al.Depression is the Strongest Predictor of Angina and is Independent of Underlying Coronary Artery Disease Severity in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease. Presented at: August 2015 Conference of the European Society of Cardiology; London, United Kingdom.MedlinePlus.Headache.Minen MT, Begasse de dhaem O, Kroon van diest A, et al.Migraine and its psychiatric comorbidities.J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2016;87(7):741-9. doi:10.1136/jnnp-2015-312233Lupus Foundation of America.How lupus affects the lungs and pulmonary system.Biscetti L, De Vanna G, Cresta E, et al.Headache and immunological/autoimmune disorders: a comprehensive review of available epidemiological evidence with insights on potential underlying mechanisms.J Neuroinflammation18, 259 (2021). doi:10.1186/s12974-021-02229-5Friedlander AM.Clinical aspects, diagnosis and treatment of anthrax.J Appl Microbiol. 1999;87(2):303. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2672.1999.00896.xCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical guidance for carbon monoxide poisoning following disasters and severe weather.Chakrabarty S, Zoorob R.Fibromyalgia.Am Fam Physician. 2007;76(2):247-254.Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research.Symptoms.American Heart Association.What Are the Symptoms of High Blood Pressure?American Stroke Association.Stroke Symptoms.Gorson KC, Pessin MS, DeWitt LD, Caplan LR.Stroke with sensory symptoms mimicking myocardial ischemia.Neurology. 1996;46(2):548-551. doi:10.1212/wnl.46.2.548Lebedeva ER, Ushenin AV, Gurary NM, Gilev DV, Olesen J.Sentinel headache as a warning symptom of ischemic stroke.J Headache Pain. 2020;21(1):70. Published 2020 Jun 10. doi:10.1186/s10194-020-01140-3Casetta I, Granieri E.Subarachnoid hemorrhage presenting as chest pain.Am J Emerg Med. 2004;22(3):227-228. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2004.02.041MedlinePlus.Complete Blood Count (CBC).American Heart Association.Warning Signs of a Heart Attack.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of COVID-19.
23 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Anxiety & Depression Association of America.Facts & Statistics.National Institute of Mental Health.Anxiety disorders.National Institute of Mental Health.Panic Disorder: When Fear Overwhelms.Harnod T, Wang YC, Lin CL, Tseng CH.Association between use of short-acting benzodiazepines and migraine occurrence: a nationwide population-based case-control study.Curr Med Res Opin. 2017;33(3):511-517. doi:10.1080/03007995.2016.1266313Roldan CJ.Chest pain a manifestation of migraine.J Emerg Med. 2014;46(3):420-427. doi:10.1016/j.jemermed.2013.08.019American Psychiatric Association.What Is Depression?Hayek S, Soto A, et al.Depression is the Strongest Predictor of Angina and is Independent of Underlying Coronary Artery Disease Severity in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease. Presented at: August 2015 Conference of the European Society of Cardiology; London, United Kingdom.MedlinePlus.Headache.Minen MT, Begasse de dhaem O, Kroon van diest A, et al.Migraine and its psychiatric comorbidities.J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2016;87(7):741-9. doi:10.1136/jnnp-2015-312233Lupus Foundation of America.How lupus affects the lungs and pulmonary system.Biscetti L, De Vanna G, Cresta E, et al.Headache and immunological/autoimmune disorders: a comprehensive review of available epidemiological evidence with insights on potential underlying mechanisms.J Neuroinflammation18, 259 (2021). doi:10.1186/s12974-021-02229-5Friedlander AM.Clinical aspects, diagnosis and treatment of anthrax.J Appl Microbiol. 1999;87(2):303. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2672.1999.00896.xCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical guidance for carbon monoxide poisoning following disasters and severe weather.Chakrabarty S, Zoorob R.Fibromyalgia.Am Fam Physician. 2007;76(2):247-254.Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research.Symptoms.American Heart Association.What Are the Symptoms of High Blood Pressure?American Stroke Association.Stroke Symptoms.Gorson KC, Pessin MS, DeWitt LD, Caplan LR.Stroke with sensory symptoms mimicking myocardial ischemia.Neurology. 1996;46(2):548-551. doi:10.1212/wnl.46.2.548Lebedeva ER, Ushenin AV, Gurary NM, Gilev DV, Olesen J.Sentinel headache as a warning symptom of ischemic stroke.J Headache Pain. 2020;21(1):70. Published 2020 Jun 10. doi:10.1186/s10194-020-01140-3Casetta I, Granieri E.Subarachnoid hemorrhage presenting as chest pain.Am J Emerg Med. 2004;22(3):227-228. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2004.02.041MedlinePlus.Complete Blood Count (CBC).American Heart Association.Warning Signs of a Heart Attack.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of COVID-19.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Anxiety & Depression Association of America.Facts & Statistics.National Institute of Mental Health.Anxiety disorders.National Institute of Mental Health.Panic Disorder: When Fear Overwhelms.Harnod T, Wang YC, Lin CL, Tseng CH.Association between use of short-acting benzodiazepines and migraine occurrence: a nationwide population-based case-control study.Curr Med Res Opin. 2017;33(3):511-517. doi:10.1080/03007995.2016.1266313Roldan CJ.Chest pain a manifestation of migraine.J Emerg Med. 2014;46(3):420-427. doi:10.1016/j.jemermed.2013.08.019American Psychiatric Association.What Is Depression?Hayek S, Soto A, et al.Depression is the Strongest Predictor of Angina and is Independent of Underlying Coronary Artery Disease Severity in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease. Presented at: August 2015 Conference of the European Society of Cardiology; London, United Kingdom.MedlinePlus.Headache.Minen MT, Begasse de dhaem O, Kroon van diest A, et al.Migraine and its psychiatric comorbidities.J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2016;87(7):741-9. doi:10.1136/jnnp-2015-312233Lupus Foundation of America.How lupus affects the lungs and pulmonary system.Biscetti L, De Vanna G, Cresta E, et al.Headache and immunological/autoimmune disorders: a comprehensive review of available epidemiological evidence with insights on potential underlying mechanisms.J Neuroinflammation18, 259 (2021). doi:10.1186/s12974-021-02229-5Friedlander AM.Clinical aspects, diagnosis and treatment of anthrax.J Appl Microbiol. 1999;87(2):303. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2672.1999.00896.xCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical guidance for carbon monoxide poisoning following disasters and severe weather.Chakrabarty S, Zoorob R.Fibromyalgia.Am Fam Physician. 2007;76(2):247-254.Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research.Symptoms.American Heart Association.What Are the Symptoms of High Blood Pressure?American Stroke Association.Stroke Symptoms.Gorson KC, Pessin MS, DeWitt LD, Caplan LR.Stroke with sensory symptoms mimicking myocardial ischemia.Neurology. 1996;46(2):548-551. doi:10.1212/wnl.46.2.548Lebedeva ER, Ushenin AV, Gurary NM, Gilev DV, Olesen J.Sentinel headache as a warning symptom of ischemic stroke.J Headache Pain. 2020;21(1):70. Published 2020 Jun 10. doi:10.1186/s10194-020-01140-3Casetta I, Granieri E.Subarachnoid hemorrhage presenting as chest pain.Am J Emerg Med. 2004;22(3):227-228. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2004.02.041MedlinePlus.Complete Blood Count (CBC).American Heart Association.Warning Signs of a Heart Attack.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of COVID-19.
Anxiety & Depression Association of America.Facts & Statistics.
National Institute of Mental Health.Anxiety disorders.
National Institute of Mental Health.Panic Disorder: When Fear Overwhelms.
Harnod T, Wang YC, Lin CL, Tseng CH.Association between use of short-acting benzodiazepines and migraine occurrence: a nationwide population-based case-control study.Curr Med Res Opin. 2017;33(3):511-517. doi:10.1080/03007995.2016.1266313
Roldan CJ.Chest pain a manifestation of migraine.J Emerg Med. 2014;46(3):420-427. doi:10.1016/j.jemermed.2013.08.019
American Psychiatric Association.What Is Depression?
Hayek S, Soto A, et al.Depression is the Strongest Predictor of Angina and is Independent of Underlying Coronary Artery Disease Severity in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease. Presented at: August 2015 Conference of the European Society of Cardiology; London, United Kingdom.
MedlinePlus.Headache.
Minen MT, Begasse de dhaem O, Kroon van diest A, et al.Migraine and its psychiatric comorbidities.J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2016;87(7):741-9. doi:10.1136/jnnp-2015-312233
Lupus Foundation of America.How lupus affects the lungs and pulmonary system.
Biscetti L, De Vanna G, Cresta E, et al.Headache and immunological/autoimmune disorders: a comprehensive review of available epidemiological evidence with insights on potential underlying mechanisms.J Neuroinflammation18, 259 (2021). doi:10.1186/s12974-021-02229-5
Friedlander AM.Clinical aspects, diagnosis and treatment of anthrax.J Appl Microbiol. 1999;87(2):303. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2672.1999.00896.x
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical guidance for carbon monoxide poisoning following disasters and severe weather.
Chakrabarty S, Zoorob R.Fibromyalgia.Am Fam Physician. 2007;76(2):247-254.
Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research.Symptoms.
American Heart Association.What Are the Symptoms of High Blood Pressure?
American Stroke Association.Stroke Symptoms.
Gorson KC, Pessin MS, DeWitt LD, Caplan LR.Stroke with sensory symptoms mimicking myocardial ischemia.Neurology. 1996;46(2):548-551. doi:10.1212/wnl.46.2.548
Lebedeva ER, Ushenin AV, Gurary NM, Gilev DV, Olesen J.Sentinel headache as a warning symptom of ischemic stroke.J Headache Pain. 2020;21(1):70. Published 2020 Jun 10. doi:10.1186/s10194-020-01140-3
Casetta I, Granieri E.Subarachnoid hemorrhage presenting as chest pain.Am J Emerg Med. 2004;22(3):227-228. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2004.02.041
MedlinePlus.Complete Blood Count (CBC).
American Heart Association.Warning Signs of a Heart Attack.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of COVID-19.
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