Are Migraines a Symptom of a Stroke?

Overview

Migraine headaches are a source of intense pain, frustration and recurring misery for those who suffer from them. Migraines are a troubling disorder in and of themselves, and medical researchers have spent considerable time and effort in trying to find causes and cures for them. In 2009, however, researchers discovered a connection between migraines and strokes in women that may make the headaches even more medically significant.

Stroke

Strokes are a curious medical phenomenon, appearing suddenly and not always with clear signs, and potentially causing major damage if not treated within a short period of time. Strokes are caused by diminished blood flow to the brain due to an arterial blockage and are often initiated by a blood clot. It is a tremendous advantage for symptoms of a stroke to be recognized either by the victim or by others nearby and to call 911 quickly for quick-response emergency care.

Stroke Symptoms

Since stroke symptoms can occur singly or in combination, it is essential to be able to spot them as they occur. Sudden terrible headache (not necessarily identical to a migraine) is one known sign of a stroke. Others include weakness in the face, arms or legs, difficulty with walking, confusion, trouble speaking, problems understanding others' speech, and difficulty seeing from one or both eyes. Another stroke symptom recently discovered to be unique to women, according to the National Stroke Association, is pain in the face, chest or limbs.

Migraines With Aura

One type of migraine is of particular concern in relation to risk of stroke. Some people who suffer migraines also see flashes or jagged patterns of light, or experience blind spots. According to the Mayo Clinic, this condition is referred to as "migraine with aura."

Greater Risks for Women

A report in the journal "Neurology" on June 24, 2009, reported "an increased risk of ischemic strokes in women with a higher frequency of migraine headaches with aura ... [particularly] in the high-frequency migraine group, those who have headaches at least weekly." Their research also discovered increased risk of heart attack associated with migraine with aura, although not correlated directly with stroke risk.

A Fourfold Increase of Risk

While stressing that much more data and research were needed, the researchers who conducted the 2009 study did quantify the increased risks for stroke. While women who suffered migraines with aura once per month or less were not perceived to incur increased risk, those who had migraines with aura once per week or more are estimated to be at four times the risk of stroke of women who do not suffer migraines at all.

Other Considerations

Despite the fourfold increase in stroke risks for women suffering frequent migraines with aura, researchers still characterized that level of risk as being extremely low. However, additional factors can worsen the odds. The Mayo Clinic reports that "women with migraines have an even higher risk of stroke if they smoke, take birth control pills or have high blood pressure."

More Research Needed

Data on the connection between migraines with aura and strokes must be regarded as incomplete, even with the information presented in the 2009 study. The researchers point out, for instance, that nothing is yet known about whether medicines administered to prevent migraines also reduce the risk of strokes.