Migraine a Risk Marker for Stroke, Heart Attack

Everyone knows migraines hurt horribly, but it’s not just an issue unto itself, but also a symptom. According to a study out of Germany and published in British Medical Journal, researchers have now been able to establish the following: female migraine patients have a higher risk of stroke or heart attacks than women without migraine.

In Germany, according to the Professional Association of German Neurologists, migraine headaches affect approximately one in five women. Migraines are known to be linked to an increased risk of stroke, only a few studies exist that demonstrate the relationship of migraines with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality.

In the study, the participants were aged between 25 and 42 years at the beginning of the study and were free from cardiovascular disease with only just more than 15 percent reporting a physican’s diagnosis of migraine.

“Our analysis suggests that migraine should be considered an important risk marker for cardiovascular disease, particularly in women,” said one researcher. “The risk of developing cardiovascular events was shown to be 50 percent higher in women with a diagnosis of migraine. When compared to women unaffected by the condition, the risk of developing a heart attack was 39 percent higher for women with migraine, the risk of having a stroke 62 percent higher, and that of developing angina 73 percent higher.”

Further research is required to understand individual biomarkers regarding migraines and develop preventative treatments.

Razi Berry, Founder and Publisher of Naturopathic Doctor News & Review (ndnr.com) and NaturalPath (thenatpath.com), has spent the last decade as a natural medicine advocate and marketing whiz. She has galvanized and supported the naturopathic community, bringing a higher quality of healthcare to millions of North Americans through her publications. A self-proclaimed health-food junkie and mother of two; she loves all things nature, is obsessed with organic gardening, growing fruit trees (not easy in Phoenix), laughing until she snorts, and homeschooling. She is a little bit crunchy and yes, that is her real name.