In addition to sensitivity to light and noise, nausea, vomiting,
dizziness and visual disturbances, those who suffer from migraine
attacks may have another, more serious, side effect to worry about:
An increased risk for cardiovascular disease.
A study, which involved nearly 6000 participants provided a cardiovascular
risk profile of those who suffer from migraine attacks and those
who suffer from migraine with aura--referring to a visual or other
form of hallucination prior to a migraine attack. One-third of the
participants who suffered from migraines experienced aura symptoms
before a headache arose.
The Study Results
People with migraines, particularly those with aura, may be more
likely to present risk factors associated with cardiovascular conditions.
In fact, it has been found that migraine with aura increases the
risk of stroke before the age of 45; however, the reason for this
statistic is not yet known. Findings showed:
-
Those with migraine were 43 percent more likely to be smokers,
though less likely to consume alcohol
-
Those with migraine with aura symptoms were 43 percent more
likely to suffer from high cholesterol; they were also 76 percent
more likely to suffer from high blood pressure
-
People with migraine with aura were more likely to report a
history of either stroke or heart disease before the age of
45
The Gender Role
Women with migraine were twice as likely to be using oral contraceptives;
they were also more likely to report a history of high blood pressure
during pregnancy than those without migraine.
Men with migraine, on the other hand, were almost twice as likely
to have a father with a history of heart attack--though both men
and women with migraine overall were nearly two times more likely
to have a mother with a history of early heart attack.
Neurology February 22, 2005; 64(4): 614-20
Medical
News Today February 22, 2005
| 