What causes severe head and chest pains?

He is going downhill and it does not take a rocket scientist to figure it out. The doctors at the hospital told me they did not know why he was so ill. I got more out of the discharge papers then the doctors. Yes they always give him IV fluid and he bounces back until the next crises. I just though others might be going through the same caregiving problems as me that why I asked. You all have been very helpful Thank you.

SuePeace: If your mother has head pain, she could benefit from a compression head wrap (with velcro) that you put in the freezer. She puts it on and keeps it on even after the coldness has worn off because the compression is helping her. These are a Godsend to me when I have migraines that meds won't touch!

My mom, who is 88, also has frequent head pain. I took her to the hospital, and they checked her thoroughly. Nothing. I was thinking it could be her teeth. I bought one of those packs you heat in the microwave and that seems to help, but other than that it is a daily struggle. On top of everything else. . . . . . . :-(

I meant PropranOlol.

Grace: Which migraine med-Propranalol, which is a prophylactic or Sumatriptan, which is an abortive?

Any pain WILL raise blood pressure always.

As stated above Calcium, potassium (K)& magnesium cause a lot of problems. Low K causes severe muscle cramps. Just the pain can raise blood pressure (BP).
You stated stage 2 kidney diease and dehydration. What was his Albumin? Normal is 2.5-4.5, but normal healthy adult is 4.2! An ER doc will see 2.3 or 3.0 & say nothings wrong. At that level the blood is getting thick because fluids, along with K & other essential nutrients are flushing down the toilet.

Migraine medication will open blood vessels and jelp headaches more than narcotics. High BP aggrivates & causes mote dage to kidney. If he is not flushing out albumin, K, etc then high K can cause Angina or stop the heart.
I am a stage 2 kidney patient in remission. The medical problem cause stress, anxiety, depression. Often Thyroid & PTH issues missed ( high Calcium - PTH issue)

Remember ER docs look for things that are extreme. acute, and not a complex puzzel. A negative heart attack lab just means heart problem did not last long enough to kill heart muscle. ERs miss mild strokes and anurisms all the time.

Get you lab results- the details. Look up what each means online. Best sites include normal healthy level.

upallnight: For his dehydration, did the doctor suggest getting an IV line with fluids in a hospital setting?

upallnight: You have to understand that we are a caregiving forum on here. Your question needs to be addressed to the Emergency Room physician.

Here's another thing that can cause chest pain like a heart attack. For years I would get this feeling right after drinking apple juice/cider, something really sweet, or a sweet alcoholic drink. One time a doctor said it was costachondritis, but that wasn't what it was. Turns out that sweet drinks sometimes trigger esophageal spasms. It really does feel like a heart attack, but goes away in 20-30 minutes. That wouldn't explain the headaches though...

Ask home health to draw blood and do a complete metabolic profile (CMP). Something has changed since discharge.

08/22/16..... upallnight, is the chest actually hurting or what feels like pain behind the chest wall. Acid reflux can make one feel like they are in pain. Try something as simple as Tums to see if that can help, if he can take them.

Blood pressure always goes way up any time someone is at the doctor or in the ER.... it's the "white coat" effect.

As for head pain.... make a daily journal of what he is eating and the weather. Never know it could be a food allergy, and/or barometric pressure any time a storm is approaching. Antihistamines helps for air pressure, with doctor approval.

quest is right about the potassium. We had to call 911 cause Mom thought she was having a heart attack. After several tests with no answers, the ER doc stuck his head around the curtain and asked if blood had been drawn to check her potassium. It had not and sure enough, she had NO potassium in her system. Then, just before giving her the potassium he said he had better check her magnesium. He said if her magnesium was low he could give her all the potassium in the world and without the magnesium the potassium would go straight through her. And...that too much calcium affects magnesium. Needless to say, Mom's magnesium was nonexistent as well. From that point on she had to take oral magnesium and potassium as part of her daily routine.

It's difficult to say with those symptoms, if the tests don't really reveal much. My mom had severe headache, nausea, chest tightness and numbness. MRI and all tests ruled out stroke, heart attack and anything else. It came down to her depression and anxiety and that's what the doctor told her was causing her symptoms. Once she went on meds for depression/anxiety, she's doing much better and symptoms are almost gone!

My husband had severe chest pains and thought he was having a heart attack. His potassium levels were almost non-existent - potassium and calcium deficiencies can cause heart attack symptoms, even a heart failure. That is an option also.

Could be a symptom of a stroke. It can happen with high blood pressure or heart problems. I had a TIA (Trans-ischemic attack) and it affected my speech, but there are heart problems in my family also.