Frequent migraines may signal stroke risk

by Chris Sparling (Subscribe to Chris Sparling's posts)
Aug 14th 2008 7:00PM

Categories: Womens Health, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Nutrition & Supplements, Men's Health

I've thankfully never experienced a migraine myself, but people I know who have describe them as being tremendously debilitating. And, the fact that their migraines sometimes keep them locked in a dark room for hours on end, it's quite clear that migraines are no ordinary headaches.

But, are there health risks associated with migraines beyond the terrible discomfort and occasional vomiting? There are indeed, according to an article that appears in this month's edition of Women's Health magazine. Citing a recent study presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, the article suggests that migraine frequency may indicate an elevated risk of stroke.

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In the study, almost 28,000 women were followed for an average of 12 years. Those who had migraines with aura or visual disturbances of any kind were found to be three times more likely to have a stroke than women who did not suffer from migraines of this kind or at all. However, researchers stated that more investigation into this possible link needs to be conducted before any determination can be made conclusively.

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Comments (41)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

boots 8-14-2008 @ 10:23PM

I had migraines related to a tumor on my ovaries.

Tara 8-18-2008 @ 2:08AM

How were the 2 connected??? I have both as well

Earthlyone 8-14-2008 @ 10:39PM

I have dark spots or holes in my vision when a bad migrain is coming on and during it. Also have the vomiting and light/sound aversion. There are times I am down for entire day with a migrain so bad I swear my brain is bleeding!! And for a day or two after a 'bad one' I feel hungover like I drank for a week straight. I have come to find some of my triggers (stress & alcohol being two of the biggest) and try to avoid them at all costs but stress isn't always easy to avoid!! I would not be the least suprised to find that those who suffer migrains are prone to stroke - there is NOTHING normal about one of these headaches!

Telise 8-14-2008 @ 10:43PM

My maternal grandmother and paternal grandmother both died of strokes.
I suffer terrible migraines.
I'm betting this is a familial, hereditary trait just like breast cancer, which runs in families. Now what I'd like to know is how to lower my risk. I'm betting on Aspirin and Black Tea. So far so good.
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Melissa 8-14-2008 @ 10:57PM

I suffer from red migraines also known as cluster headaches. It always occurs on the left side of my head and is excrutiating!!!! Unfortunatley the only medicine that seems to work is around $20/pill. Maxalt 10mg. I pray they find a cure one day soon!

mary 8-14-2008 @ 11:38PM

I'm in the same situation I have to spend $ 25 in a pill/ zomig 5 mg without it I just can't funtion.

Robin 8-14-2008 @ 11:17PM

Recently, I found out that the migraines I've been experiencing for a couple of years is related to the veritigo I just began to experience. In addition, I have hearing loss which the Dr has diagnoised thecombination as Menieres Disease.

Maria 8-14-2008 @ 11:30PM

Ladies: Stop waiting for a cure, be proactive! I've been getting migraines since I was about 10 years old, I'm now 28. It got to the point where every day was a struggle, I was always tired and run down and the most minor activities would drain me, it's taken a toll on my life needless to say. Nobody believed that there was something wrong, finally, I got a CT scan and was sent to a specialist. There I learned that in most cases, sinusitis mimics and causes migraines. I also found out that my septum was severly deviated and was the source of most of my migraines because it was sitting on a nerve it was not supposed to be on. I just had surgery, it hasn't even been a week yet, and while I'm still on the long road to recovery, I still feel like a brand new person! Keep pushing, migraines are not a catch-all diagnosis, something is always causing them! Good luck!

Beth 8-14-2008 @ 11:38PM

Melissa,
Where can you find 10 mg Maxalt for $20/pill? It's the only thing that works for my migraines too, but I can't find it for less than $30/pill.

Jude 8-14-2008 @ 11:40PM

I'm 70 now - although I'm convinced I'm only 35. I started with classic migraines in my early teens. They scared me to death. After college I worked in a chemical lab and they began to come more often. Luckily I found a doctor who, among other things, had me keep a diary of what I ate each day. He also prescribed pills that stopped the attacks when I had the arch of light start. There is an OTC medicine that does the same. I know that I can't tell you what it is, but you might also want to start reading the ingredients on packages. MSG triggers mine... and they hide that substance under different names like autolized and hydrolized ... try that and see if it helps.

Jo Baecker 8-14-2008 @ 11:52PM

I had consistent migraines for several years (2-3 per month?) and also mild depression. Funny I should discover that both can be triggered by a deficiency of omega 3 fatty acids and magnesium. Since I started supplementing, I average about 1 migraine per year -- and that's only when I miss several doses.

Stacey 8-15-2008 @ 12:45AM

I read your comment, about migraines I also have mild depression for almost two years, I also suffer from migraines sometime more than five times a month. I was wondering if th omega III fish oil worked for you. I usually take ibu and tried to watch the food that triggers them. Would you mind telling me what you take. I will be wiling to try anything. THANKS for your help

SeptHart 8-15-2008 @ 2:17AM

Sounds funny to say, but I wish I had only 2-3 migraines a month. Lol. I could easily get four per week. That happened for almost a year. My friend's were getting incredibly concerned. I happened to be watching a medical show about two months ago. They briefly mentioned chocolate causing headaches. Being someone who would eat only one chocolate bar a year, I realized I was eating far more than that. I immediately stopped. No migraines for that week. Forgetting that I wasn't supposed to eat chocolate, I ate some the next week. Within hours, yup, a migraine. I have been migraine, and chocolate, free for two months now! I can't believe it!
The other thing that causes me migraines... rain. Change in the barometric pressure, is what I'm told. I now place bets with my friends on bright, sunny days, that it's gonna rain- just because I can feel it in my head. Haha.
Lastly, I am cursed with a wicked sense of smell. So to all the ladies who feel it necessary for everyone to smell you hours after you've left the room, you're causing headaches to lots of us. Literally.

Ginger 8-14-2008 @ 11:48PM

I too had migraines for years and sometimes I would be stuck in the dark for a day even 2 days at a time, it was horrible and on top of that I also suffer from chronic headaches. Most of the medications given , imitrex, amerge etc etc did absolutley nothing for me except make me feel worse. After my dr retired I went to another dr who started trying me on different seizure medications and anti-depressants (effexor worked for me) which are subscribed to migraine patients and since then I have been migraine free for 2 years now. I still have the chronic headaches but I will take those over a migraine any day.

barbara 8-15-2008 @ 12:04AM

Im 39 and I used to get really bad migraines that would hit me out of a dead sleep before dawn .I got pregnant at 28 with twins and it seems that ever since I was pregnant and had them I havnt really had any really bad episodes in over 10 years .I think migraines are a hormonal issue .And also I would like to know if any other women out there get really blurry vision a few days before they start their period .I asked my eye dr about that and she said that i need to get on the pill because of hormone imbalances .

danielle 8-15-2008 @ 5:22AM

That is funny that you mention blurry vision. About 2 months ago, out of no where, I've been experiencing blurry vision myself. I've been to the eye doctor and they say I am nearsighted and have astigmatism in my left eye. So suddenly? Then I found out that the BC pill can cause blurry vision, so I am discontinuing after this cycle and HOPING it clears because it is very annoying and upsetting. I have glasses I've never worn and don't know if I can get used to contacts. FInd out more before you begin the pill.

Jen 8-15-2008 @ 12:46AM

I have suffered from migraines for 20 years 2-3 a week. Things that worked to prevent migraine : propanolol, Amytriptyline, topamax, Welbutrin. I was on the first two for 10 years, they stopped working. Topamax was fantastic!! side affects were not. The welbutrin has cut the severity of mine so much that instead of 6-8 vicodin per migraine, I can get by with 1 or 2. I am unable to take the "new" migraine meds (maxalt, relpax, frova) for those of you that do Imitrex is generic now and much cheaper. Ask to try it and see if it works. Try vitamine B2 400mg, magnesium 500mg and fish oil pills 3 a day.

bgpng04 8-15-2008 @ 12:47AM

I know this article was directed at women but I am a 49 year old man and have been getting combination Migraines and Tension headaches since I was in the 3rd grade. I survived all of these years with getting them twice a year a week at a time. about 7 years ago they started coming on and frequently. I have one nearly everyday and it has shut me down. The only thing nearly as hard as dealing with the pain is that people do not understand that when its really going you just do not want to be around noise, smells, lights.

Beth 8-15-2008 @ 1:08AM

What negative side affects does topamax have? (my dr. is trying to tell me it has none)

Scarlett 8-15-2008 @ 9:44AM

Hi Beth..I took Topamax for over a year and the first couple weeks I was incredibly weak/tired but that got better, it also makes ya kind of "loopy" or some even call it DOPAMAX...I also had to take REGULAR blood tests for liver enzyme levels and then the medication after a year, shot my liver enzyme levels up thru the roof, which could cause LIVER ISSUES much worse than migraines...and now I can never take it again...the BEST side effect...weight loss...so I am not sure IF I had known how my body would react IF I would have tried it...it did decrease my migraines tho...so maybe ya might want to EDUCATE that DR...personally ..I might find a new one with more knowledge...good luck !!

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