Migraines Raise Risk of Blocked Arteries (Ischemic Stroke)

Both men and women who suffer migraine headaches can expect a higher risk of experiencing an ischemic stroke concurrent with their often-debilitating affliction. In addition, women can expect a higher chance of heart attack and blood vessel bursting (the latter known as hemorrhagic stroke).
Cecilia Hvitfeldt Fuglsang of Arhus University in Denmark published the results of the study in the peer-reviewed, open access publication PLOS Medicine on June 13.
People diagnosed with migraines are commonly thought to carry a higher risk of having a heart attack or stroke prior to the age of 60.
Fuglsang’s team collected data emanating from Danish medical records from 1996 to 2018 with respect to individuals between age 18-60. Both men and women were identified as experiencing migraines based on prescription drug records, and the heart attack and stroke risk levels of those studied were compared with those of men and women in the general population without migraines.
In contradiction of prior determinations, the analysis demonstrated that both men and women with migraines had a commensurately elevated risk of ischemic stroke; however, the women were inclined to be in slightly higher danger of heart attack and hemorrhagic stroke, relative to both men and the general population as a whole.
Overall, data leaned toward women being more profoundly impacted by migraines in terms of prevalence.
The researchers did, however, wish to convey some of the limitations of the study; in particular that since they utilized prescription drug records to identify those suffering from migraines, they may have glossed over untreated individuals. This could have resulted in the underestimation of migraine occurrence.
Also, since heart attack and stroke can lead to chronic disabilities and death, the team stressed that it is crucial to identify those at risk in the beginning stages of any diagnosis in order to facilitate prompt medical intervention.
Fuglsang added, “Migraine was associated with a similarly increased risk of ischemic stroke among young men and women. However, migraine may be associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction and hemorrhagic stroke only among women.”