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Migraines & Stroke Risk

Migraines are very painful headaches and can be debilitating. However, research has found that migraine disease may have more significance and the presence of migraines may indicate a higher risk of ischemic stroke. It is very important for those who suffer from migraines to be aware of this relationship between migraines and strokes.

  1. Relationship Between Migraines and Strokes

    • A study published in the Jan. 8, 2005, issue of the British Medical Journal found that migraine sufferers are twice as likely to suffer a stroke when compared with people who do not have migraines.

    Risk with Migraines With and Without Auras

    • The British Medical Journal study also found that people who have migraines associated with auras (visual symptoms) are at slightly higher risk of a stroke than those people who have migraines without auras.

    Stroke Risk with Migraines and Birth Control Pills

    • Researchers also found that women who took birth control pills and had migraines were eight times more likely to have a stroke than migraine sufferers who did not take birth control pills.

    Risk of Stroke with Migraines During Pregnancy

    • Another study published in the March 10, 2009, issue of the British Medical Journal found that women who had migraines while pregnant had a 15 times higher risk of stroke and were at higher risk of other cardiovascular diseases; although strokes during pregnancy are very rare, this is an important association.

    Considerations

    • The exact mechanisms for these relationships are not fully understood; however, there may be a relationship between the reduced blood flow in the brain during a migraine and the stroke risk. The presence of migraines during pregnancy could be an indicator of vascular disease.

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