SNF Brain Stroke Samachar-437

[SN Foundation]

Migraine with aura increases stroke risk in women
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By Geoff Michaels, April 27th, 2013 |
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Courtesy: Newsfix. California
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Migraine with aura appears to be a risk factor for stroke in women,
according to a new study. But the absolute risk is modified by other
stroke risk factors. Migraine may cause changes in the brain that
predispose to stroke.

Migraine with aura increases the risk of cardiovascular events like
stroke and heart attack. A new study shows that the magnitude of this
risk, in women, depends upon the presence or absence of other risk
factors. The risk posed by migraine is higher for those with a low
cardiovascular risk score from other factors. Further investigation is
needed into how migraine with aura should be viewed when it comes to
averting cardiovascular events.

Migraine with aura affects around 7% of the United States population
and it is known to increase the risk of stroke, heart attack and other
vascular problems. It is not clear what the underlying mechanisms are.
There are many other, better understood, cardiovascular risk factors
such as high blood pressure and diabetes. What is not clear is how
important migraine is as a risk factor in comparison with these more
conventional factors.

Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, and colleagues
carried out an investigation within a large study on the effects of
aspirin and vitamin E among female health professionals. The group of
27,519 women was free of cardiovascular disease at the start. They
were assessed for their Framingham risk score, which is a standard way
of assessing someone’s cardiovascular risk, and their migraine status
recorded.

Thirteen percent of the women reported active migraine at the start of
the study, of whom 40 % had migraine with aura. During nearly 12 years
of follow up, there were 697 cardiovascular events, including stroke
and heart attack. Women who had migraine with aura were, overall,
nearly twice as likely to develop cardiovascular disease.

The researchers divided women into four groups depending on their
Framingham score and looked at how this affected the risk posed by
migraine with aura. The link proved strongest for those with low
Framingham scores and were lowest for those with higher Framingham
scores. Women who had migraine without aura were not at increased risk
of cardiovascular events, regardless of their Framingham score.

Where a woman has a low risk of cardiovascular disease as measured by
Framingham scores, the risk posed by migraine with aura attains more
significance. It is possible that treating migraine in this group may
provide significant benefit. For those who have a high risk determined
by the Framingham scale, the relative risk from migraine is less
significant. They should be counseled to reduce their risk from
modifiable factors like overweight or high blood pressure, because
migraine adds to their overall risk. Further investigation is needed –
particularly into whether treating migraine reduces cardiovascular
risk. Meanwhile, women who have migraine with aura need to consider
their overall cardiovascular risk and see what can be done to modify
it. Migraine causes changes in blood flow in the brain and releases
chemicals which may cause damage to the blood vessels, thereby setting
the scene for a cardiovascular event.
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