A blood test reveals the level of cholesterol in your bloodstream. High-density lipoprotein is commonly referred to by its acronym, HDL, and is known as "good" cholesterol. Low-density lipoprotein is commonly referred to by its acronym, LDL, and is known as "bad" cholesterol. Though headache might seem an unrelated condition, it in fact shares some links with cholesterol levels.
Cholesterol
Your liver manufactures cholesterol, which is a waxy, fat-like material. Essential to proper body functioning, cholesterol helps in the production of healthy cells and some hormones. The Harvard School of Public Health explains that you add extra LDL cholesterol to your bloodstream by eating a diet containing a disproportionate amount of saturated fats, which come from animal sources like meat and dairy products.
Stroke
High LDL cholesterol levels in your bloodstream causes cholesterol to build up on the walls of your arteries, which can cause a stroke. A stroke is a medical condition that occurs when clogged arteries prevent your brain from receiving the blood it needs. Signs of a stroke, the U.S. government's WomensHealth website reports, come quickly and often involve multiple symptoms including a "sudden bad headache with no known cause," dizziness, loss of balance and trouble talking.
Statins
In the United States, statin drugs are the best-selling prescription medication, the Harvard Medical School Family Guide reports. The most effective drug for treating high LDL cholesterol, statins may be prescribed in conjunction with other medications. Side effects from statins, as listed by the University of Maryland Medical Center, include headaches, gastrointestinal discomfort and sexual dysfunction.
Niacin
Your doctor may recommend adding a niacin supplement --- prescription or over-the-counter --- to treat low HDL levels. Niacin raises HDL cholesterol levels more effectively than anti-cholesterol drugs, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. The center cautions that rapidly absorbed forms of niacin cause side effects, including headaches and flushing of the face and neck --- effects that lead about 25 percent of patients to stop taking these supplements.
Migraine and Stroke
Women suffering from active migraine headaches with aura may be at a higher risk for strokes, according to a study whose results were published in 2010 in the "British Medical Journal." Researchers found no increased risk for women with any reported history of other types of migraine headaches.
References
- Harvard Medical School Family Guide: Statins and Prostate Cancer
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Cholesterol --- Medications
- Harvard School of Public Health: The Nutrition Source: Fats and Cholesterol
- WomensHealth.gov: Stroke, Frequently Asked Questions
- "British Medical Journal"; Migraine and Risk of Haemorrhagic Stroke in Women; Aug. 24, 2010
