Migraine May Raise Women’s Heart Attack and Stroke Risk

Research shows that women who experience migraines face a significantly higher chance of serious cardiovascular events than women who don’t get migraines. According to the study, women with migraines had roughly a 50% greater overall risk of experiencing a heart attack, stroke, or needing open-heart surgery. When broken down by event type, the risks were particularly elevated: about 39% higher for heart attacks, 62% higher for strokes, and 73% higher for heart surgery compared with women without migraines. These increased risks persisted even after accounting for other common cardiovascular risk factors like age, high blood pressure, and smoking.

The study followed over 16,000 women for two decades, all of whom started the research without a known history of heart disease. Approximately 15% of participants reported having migraines at the beginning of the study, and their health outcomes were tracked over the ensuing 20 years.

While this investigation focused solely on women, researchers note that additional studies would be needed to determine if similar patterns exist in men. In the meantime, experts encourage women who suffer from migraines to discuss cardiovascular risk assessment with their healthcare provider. Standard strategies for reducing risk of heart disease, such as a balanced diet, regular physical activity, and effective blood pressure management, may also help lower the chances of heart attacks and strokes.

Source:

Kurth T, Winter A, Eliassen A, et al. Migraine and risk of cardiovascular disease in women: prospective cohort study. BMJ, 353:i2610.