Early Blood Pressure Screening Matters as Teens with Migraines Linked to Hypertension, According to Large Study

JERUSALEM, November 12, 2025 -- A striking connection between migraine headaches and high blood pressure, conditions that are rarely studied together in teens, has been revealed in a new study by researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU).

The study, published in Hypertension and including two million adolescents, is the largest of its kind to examine this relationship in adolescents using verified medical diagnoses rather than self-reported symptoms. Previous research mostly focused on adults, leaving a gap in understanding how these conditions interact during youth when prevention can have the greatest impact.

The study reveals that teens diagnosed with migraines were three times more likely to have hypertension than their peers, suggesting that what may seem like “just headaches” could signal deeper vascular issues, with the link being strongest among those with severe or frequent migraines. The findings suggest that early blood pressure screening for teens with migraines could help detect cardiovascular risks before they develop into chronic disease.

“Migraines are often dismissed as a temporary neurological complaint,” explains Prof. Ronit Calderon-Margalit from the Hebrew University’s Faculty of Medicine, one of the study’s senior authors. “But our findings suggest it may also serve as a marker for early vascular dysfunction—meaning these young people could be at higher cardiovascular risk long before adulthood.”

The study analyzed medical records from Israel’s national health screenings between 1990 and 2019, covering adolescents aged 16 to 20. Among more than 61,000 teens diagnosed with migraines, nearly one in 150 also had hypertension, compared to one in 500 among those without migraines. The link remained strong even after accounting for factors like age, gender, body mass index, and socioeconomic background.

What stood out most was the severity of connection: adolescents with severe migraines were over four times more likely to have high blood pressure than those with mild or no headaches. Similarly, cases of severe hypertension were more common among those with frequent or disabling migraines.

While the findings don’t prove that migraines cause high blood pressure, the researchers emphasize the importance of screening adolescents with migraines for early signs of hypertension. Identifying elevated blood pressure early could help prevent long-term complications such as heart disease, stroke, and kidney damage later in life.

The results also raise intriguing biological questions: both migraines and hypertension involve the body’s vascular system, and recent genetic studies have pointed to shared pathways influencing blood vessel function and inflammation.

For parents and teens, the takeaway is clear—don’t ignore frequent or severe headaches. They may be more than a passing pain.

The research paper titled “Association Between Migraine and Hypertension in 2 Million Adolescents is now available in American Hearts Association Journal and can be accessed at https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/abs/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.125.24861.

Researchers:

Inbal Akavian^1,2, Itay Nitzan^1,3, Gilad Twig^4,5,6,7, Estela Derazne⁸, Arnon Afek^5,9, Bar Cohen¹, and Ronit Calderon-Margalit¹⁰

Institutions:

1. Department of Military Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel (I.A., I.N., B.C.).
2. Division of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Hadassah University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine (I.A.), the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel.
3. Department of Ophthalmology, Hadassah University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine (I.N.), the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel.
4. The Institute of Endocrinology Diabetes and Metabolism (G.T.), Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel.
5. The Gertner Institute for Epidemiology and Health Policy Research (G.T., A.A.), Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel.
6. Department of Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences (G.T.), Tel Aviv University, Israel.
7. Incumbent of the Hella Gertner Chair for Research in Hypertension, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences (G.T.), Tel Aviv University, Israel.
8. Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences (E.D.), Tel Aviv University, Israel.
9. Dina Recanati School of Medicine, Reichman University, Herzliya, Israel (A.A.).

Braun School of Public Health, Hadassah Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine (R.C.-M.), the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel.

About the Hebrew University of Jerusalem

This year marks 100 years of excellence in research, education, and innovation at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel's premier institution of higher learning and research. The University is dedicated to advancing knowledge, fostering leadership, and promoting diversity, serving over 23,000 students from over 80 countries. As home to founder Albert Einstein's archives, the University produces nearly 40% of Israel’s civilian scientific research and has received over 11,000 patents. Faculty and alumni of the Hebrew University have won nine Nobel Prizes and a Fields Medal, and continue to shape the future. For more information about Hebrew University's academic programs, research, and achievements, please visit http://new.huji.ac.il/en. 

About American Friends of the Hebrew University

American Friends of the Hebrew University (AFHU) is a national, not-for-profit organization based in the United States. AFHU is headquartered in New York and has seven regional offices working in close partnership with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. AFHU provides supporters, Hebrew University alumni, and the public with stimulating programs and events, and organizes missions to Israel. For the past century, the organization’s activities have supported scholarly and scientific achievement at HU, created scholarships, funded new facilities, and assisted the University’s efforts to recruit outstanding new faculty. For more information, please visit http://www.afhu.org.

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